5 Golden Rules to Avoid Being Scammed by Malicious Emails

No matter how hard we try, our inboxes are always filled with suspicious emails. And sometimes, no matter how careful we are, we still accidentally click on them. This is completely normal. However, with the following rules, you can significantly reduce the risk of being scammed and keep your inbox safe.

1. Hover over links before clicking

Before you rush to click on any links in an email, take a few seconds to hover over them. This simple action will reveal the actual web address the link is pointing to.

Think of links in emails as doors that lead to different rooms. Hovering over a link is like looking through a small crack to see what’s inside the room. Remember, scammers often use very sophisticated tricks to trick you, so it’s important to double-check links.

Before clicking any link, take a few seconds to double-check the URL to make sure it is correct and matches the website you want to visit. If the URL looks strange or untrustworthy, it is best to stay away from it.

In particular, be extremely cautious with shortened links. They are like black boxes that can contain anything from harmless websites to dangerous malware. Bad guys often use shortened links to hide their malicious intentions. So before clicking on any shortened link, consider using a URL checker to be safe.

2. Set up email rules and filters

To proactively protect your inbox from phishing emails, take advantage of the filtering and rules features in Outlook or other email applications. By setting up smart filtering criteria, you can automatically categorize emails, making it easier to identify and remove suspicious emails, keeping your inbox safe.

Start by setting up filtering rules based on sender addresses. If you frequently receive spam or phishing emails from a particular email address, create a rule to automatically move these emails to your junk or junk folder. This helps you eliminate unwanted emails immediately and keeps your inbox safe.

Another way to increase inbox security is to use language filters. Many phishing emails contain grammatical errors, spelling errors, or unnatural phrasing. By setting up filters to identify these unusual emails, you can easily filter out and eliminate suspicious emails, reducing your risk of being scammed.

In addition to language-based filtering, you can set up more extensive filtering criteria to enhance your security. For example, you can create rules to automatically send emails with subject lines that contain urgent or threatening language or emails with attachments from unknown senders to your spam folder. You can even filter emails from countries you rarely communicate with.

3. Block suspicious email addresses

If you notice an email address that keeps sending you phishing emails, take proactive steps to protect your inbox. Most email clients allow you to completely block a specific email address, preventing any information from that address from reaching your inbox.

Blocking suspicious email addresses is an effective way to protect yourself from scammers. When you block an email address, you are effectively closing the door to their intrusion. This greatly reduces your risk of being scammed and protects your personal information.

While blocking emails is an effective measure, scammers are always looking for ways to bypass it. They can constantly create new email addresses to continue sending spam. Therefore, you need to be vigilant and proactive in blocking suspicious email addresses to protect your inbox.

4. Report phishing emails as spam

When you spot a phishing email, don't just delete it. Help build a safer email community by reporting it as spam. Your small actions will help protect not only you but also other users from unnecessary trouble.

Plus, when you report an email as spam, you're helping email providers improve their spam detection capabilities, thereby protecting millions of other users from phishing attacks.

5. Update your email app regularly

To protect yourself from sophisticated phishing emails, it's important to keep your email client updated. Software updates often include important security patches and enhancements that can help detect and block the latest phishing techniques.

Most email clients update automatically, making it simple to stay protected. However, if you are prompted to update manually, take the time to do so. With just a few simple steps, you can add a solid layer of protection to your inbox.

In short, by following the rules above, you have created a solid layer of protection for your inbox. If you accidentally open a suspicious link, quickly exit the site and change the passwords for important accounts. By taking timely action, you can minimize the potential damage.

Phan Van Hoa