Concerning e-mails, pay attention to the following features:
- Impersonal form of address:The sender of the e-mail does not know your correct name. The mail begins with “Dear costumer” instead of “Dear Mrs. / Mr. XY”. Perhaps you name is inserted, but misspelled.
- The sender is using threads:The sender threatens you, e.g. “if you don’trefresh your password you account will be locked”.
- Request for confidential data:You are straightforwardly asked for confidential data like your PIN / password, your online bank access or your credit card number.The whole thing is backed up with a threat.
- Links and forms:The e-mail contains forms and links which you are obliged to use if you do not want to receive any disadvantages.
- Bad language:Sometimes, not always, the messages are written in bad English, sometimes interspersed with Cyrillic letters or special character like $ or &.
Be vigilant even with well-worded texts! If in doubt, always check with the alleged sender, for example you house bank or Amazon. Go to the original website to contact the real customer service, don’t use any links or e-mail-addresses you find in the mail.
Phishing Dark Waters: The Offensive and Defensive Sides of Malicious E-mails
