E-Mail Safety Tips

Tips for avoiding E-Mail viruses:

1. Unless you’ve sent yourself an e-mail, delete any messages that list you as the sender and recipient. There is nothing ever useful or good in these e-mails. It’s either SPAM or possibly a Trojan Horse Malware.

2. Never click on a hyperlink in an e-mail. Manually go to the website in question. If it is for tracking purposes such as UPS, Fedex, etc., copy the tracking number and paste the it into the appropriate section of the shipper’s website.

3. Don’t open attachments unless you are expecting them, know the sender, and that they were sending an e-mail with an attachment to you. If you weren’t expecting a message with an attachment from them, it is a good idea to reply to them asking if they sent you the message with attachment prior to opening it (verify their e-mail address in the To field prior to sending a reply as an e-mail address can be spoofed in the original message, the actual sender will show up in the reply message). Wait for their answer before you open any attachments.

4. We strongly recommend that fiscal transfers NOT be processed by e-mail. If it is a necessity for your organization to do so, come up with a safe word that changes from time to time included in the e-mail so you know it is from whom it is supposed to be. If you hit reply on such a message, you’ll notice that it will be that of the person trying to scam you.

5. Banks won’t typically send you e-mail asking you to update your information. If you do get such an e-mail, go to the banks website manually (See rule #2) and try logging in. If they want information, they’ll ask for it then. Make sure you use the correct URL and look for the Secure Socket Layer Lock!

6. Don’t reply to SPAM. You’ll just verify you’re an actual person and it will likely increase the amount you receive.

7. Don’t unsubscribe from SPAM e-mail that aren’t from legitimate sources (stores, etc.), this is also a tactic to verify there is a real person at the other end of an e-mail address.

Be Vigilant. Look at any messages with attachments or hyperlinks as suspicious. Use E-Mail Safely!