Frustrated by spam and scam emails? You’re not alone! It’s hard to pin down an exact number of daily scam or spam phone calls but depending on the information source, it’s tallied in the billions!
Expect the volume of scam emails to increase. We have entered the Medicare Open Enrollment period and holiday shopping is heating up. Criminals love this time of year!
The reasons we are being scammed or spammed to death is simple: the necessary technology to send for messages is readily available, and emails are practically free. There is no guaranteed way to stop this flood.
Blocking individual email addresses is easy but not very effective. Criminals use countless email addresses chances of blocking all of them are very low. Purchasing and installing malware or spam-blocking software helps, but there’s no such thing as a 100 percent solution to the problem.
In the end, protection comes down to individual action. Here are 10 tips to consider:
1. Don’t let curiosity, behavior, or emotion dictate decisions. Beware of clickbait; words that draw attention, such as “congratulations, you’ve won.” A clever subject line or inclusion of odd graphics piques your interest into opening an email message.
2. You cannot win a “loyal customer” award if you aren’t a loyal customer. You cannot win a lottery prize if you don’t buy a lottery ticket.
3. Security specialists agree that opening an email poses very little danger. The danger in opening links and attachments. The problem rests with links to websites or downloadable attachments. My read on this varies from that statement. Opening an email takes you halfway into the danger zone and tempts you to click on something in the message.
4. Government agencies do not initiate communications by text message, email or phone call. These methods are used when you have an ongoing relationship or issue.
5. Check the email address of the sender. Company email addresses rarely involve GMail; an address usually includes the company name followed by “.com.” An example: an email message from Verizon but the sender’s address is “@gmail.com”.
6. Don’t use contact information provided in an email message requiring action. Take the necessary time to independently verify contact information.
7. Email (client) software allows you to block individual addresses. While effective, it can be burdensome given the vast number of addresses used by scammers; generally, addresses are not reused. (See if your email software allows you to designate messages as junk).
8. Do not click “unsubscribe” unless you know that the email came from a legitimate source. Clicking unsubscribe on a spam message confirms your email address as valid (prepare for more messages).
9. Steer clear of email surveys offering rewards, even if they appear to be from legitimate companies. Imposter emails try to lure you into providing personal information. Check the sender email address to see if that survey is really from “Ace Hardware,” or“Home Depot” or another well-known company.
10. Slow down, step back, and think. One scammer tactic is to focus on urgency: you must act now to avoid penalties, win a prize or special discount, or help save someone in harm’s way. A call for immediate action triggers emotions and can result in mistakes.
An email inbox filled with spam and scam messages can be irritating but you can lessen risks by taking the right steps. Be well; Be safe! Questions/Comments? Email egreenblott@aarp.org
Elliott Greenblott is a retired educator and currently coordinator of the AARP Vermont Fraud Watch Network. Reach him at egreenblott@aarp.org.
