Subj : Dont fall for the latest Gmail scam heres how to protect your in To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Thu Apr 27 2023 13:00:03 Dont fall for the latest Gmail scam heres how to protect your inbox Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2023 11:43:12 +0000 Description: Nasty new Gmail scam offers fake Google Rewards heres how to not fall victim. FULL STORY ====================================================================== A nasty new Gmail scam appears to be doing the rounds, with some users finding emails with the subject line Online Reward Program landing in their inboxes but as with most unsolicited emails, its too good to be true. Despite claiming that the email is from Google and that the recipient has won a prize due to being the person to make the 18.25 billionth search on its search engine, the email is not legitimate. Users are asked to click on a link to claim their prize, which takes them to a web page asking them to enter personal details. Theres no prize Google doesnt offer rewards to people using its search engine and instead, the victims personal information is stolen. How to avoid email scams Sadly, email scams like this are commonplace and they dont just target Gmail users. No matter what email provider you use, theres a chance that at some point a scam or spam email could land in your inbox. However, weve got some easy tips to help make sure you dont fall victim to these kinds of email scams: 1. Be vigilant (Image: Shutterstock/Billion Photos) The most effective - and easiest - way to avoid email scams is to keep a careful eye on your inbox. Avoid opening emails from contacts you dont know - and certainly dont click on any links or open any attachments included with those emails. Most email services should display the subject of the email and the name of the sender. If those raise any red flags - such as poor spelling, spammy wording, and strange user names, avoid opening them and simply delete and block the sender. This also goes for emails claiming youve won competitions you dont remember participating in, which is how this latest Gmail scam works. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, sadly, that means it could be a scam. If you do slip up and click a link or download an attachment, use anti-virus software to scan your device to make sure youve not been compromised. 2. Avoid being phished (Image: Proofpoint) The most common email scam is known as phishing, which involves a malicious user sending you an email made to look like its from a legitimate source such as a store or bank. They will ask you to provide personal information and login credentials; by doing so, youre essentially giving scammers keys to your digital life. Sadly, phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and that can make it hard to determine if its a real email or a scam. If you get a suspicious email, check for spelling mistakes, wrong images, and other errors that may suggest that the email is not legitimate. The email address it is sent from can also be a clue, as it wont be the official address. Also, bear in mind that institutions such as banks will never ask you to provide personal details or login information via email. To be on the safe side, ring the business or bank the email is apparently from (using a phone number on their real website, not any number included in the email) to confirm. 3. Be smart when it comes to passwords (Image: Outer Corner) Most email scams will try to get hold of your password and login credentials, so making sure your passwords are hard to crack is essential. Using the same password for multiple accounts should be avoided because if one password gets compromised, it means scammers could easily gain access to all your other accounts as well. Password manager tools are worth using, as you may soon find that you have a lot of different, complex, passwords, and remembering them all will be pretty much impossible. These tools will securely store all your passwords so you can enter them quickly when needed, and most will also offer tools for suggesting strong passwords, meaning you can easily come up with new, uncrackable, passwords if one of your accounts gets compromised. ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/dont-fall-for-the-latest-gmail-scam-heres-how-t o-protect-your-inbox --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .