SPAM Tips and Tricks: How do you know when to click delete?

As the users of various social media sites grows, so too does the number of people who will try to take advantage of those users. This morning has been filled with all kinds of SPAM so we wanted to take a second to pass on some quick tips and tricks for identifying those pesky spammers and help you avoid falling prey for those who’d just love love love your password.

Let’s start with Facebook.

If you get an email that looks like THIS (minus the pink arrows of course) it is a spammy scam and you should not click on any links in the email… I have received three of these emails this week.

Let’s talk about how you identify these email hoaxes:

1. Who is the email from? If it’s not coming from the actual site that is requesting action from you then it is probably spam. But beware. Email addresses are super easy to spoof. Our example email looks like it’s from Facebook but when we check out the rest of our criteria for IDing spam, it’s clearly not.
2. Who is the email to? If it’s not “to” the email address that is tied to the account that is requesting action then ignore it. The example email was sent to a group address at Schipul but my Facebook account is tied to my gmail address so I know this is fake.
3. Who is the email addressed to? Social Media sites are created to be your buddy, so when they reach out to you via email they will almost ALWAYS use your real name (Dear Maggie McDonald) or your username (Dear MagsMac), if they don’t use a familiar name when they, then they do not know your account. SPAM!
4. Are they asking you to click a link in the email? If an email has failed all of the prior tests then most assuredly DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS in the email. Go directly to the site and check their to see if they need any info from you. If they really need something, you can bet they’ll tell you right when you log in and not just in some random email.
5. Even if the email looks like it’s from the site, beware! See point #1. Emails are easy to spoof. The example email includes the correct address for Facebook headquarters but that doesn’t mean it’s really from Facebook.

For a GREAT example of a company that takes internet security very seriously, check out ebays guidelines for IDing a legitimate ebay email.

So in summary, be careful what you click. If in doubt don’t click anything and head on over to the site requesting action for more information!!