Fraud prevention is paramount and this includes email phishing attempts. These scams are as tricky as a leprechaun hiding his pot of gold and can cost you valuable time, data, and money. Be on the lookout for:

Emails that ‘appear legitimate’ such as …

·      Official-looking logos or images

·      Professional tone and grammar

·      Personalized greetings

Watch for these ‘red flags’ indicating an email phishing attempt …

·      Unfamiliar senders or email addresses

·      Unusual requests asking for your confidential information, login credentials, or account numbers

·      Generic greetings

·      Attachments or links that are unexpected or misspelled

What to do if you Suspect a Phishing Attack:

1.      Report it to the platform – forward the email to the official phishing reporting address (e.g., phishing@yourcompany.com, phishing@apple.com, or reportphishing@apwg.org for general reporting.

2.      Block and delete – mark the message as spam or phishing in your email app.

3.      Inform IT or security – If it’s a work account, notify your IT/security team immediately.

4.      Monitor your accounts – watch for suspicious activity and update passwords if needed.

Don’t reply to the sender or engage with the message.

Don’t act in panic, even if the email conveys a sense of urgency.

As tempting as it may sound, no legitimate business or organization will ask you to “claim your pot of gold” via an unsolicited email. If an email offers you a prize, reward, or exclusive deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Wishing you a secure and flourishing March! 🍀