6 Ways to Spot a Spam Email at Work

Spam email can be a big problem, even while you‘re at work. Fortunately, if you know the signs of a spam email, you can quickly and easily identify and delete a malicious message and block its sender.  

Some of the signs of a spam email at work include: 

1. Request for Personal Information

Most business professionals would not send an email in which they request personal information from colleagues or clients. Much in the same vein, you should not expect an email sender to ask you to share your personal information. Thus, if you get an email that requests you provide your bank account information, social security number, or other personal data, this message may be spam.  

2. Suspicious Link

An email may contain a link that seems innocuous but can lead you into a cyberattack. For instance, hackers use phishing emails in which they include malicious links in these messages. If you click on the link in a phishing email, you may be taken to a web page where you are asked to submit personal information. And if you provide your personal information, you risk identity theft and other dangers. So, if you see a suspicious link in an email, err on the side of caution, as the message may be spam.  

3. Suspicious Attachment

A hacker may include an attachment in an email; if you click on this attachment, you may inadvertently download a virus onto your device. As such, an email that contains a suspicious attachment may be spam.  

4. Unknown Sender

You may have spam filters in place that help you block messages from unknown senders. But, there may still be times when an email appears legitimate but comes from an unknown sender. If you receive an email that includes links or attachments but comes from an unknown sender, you should avoid clicking on any links or downloading any attachments, as the message may be spam.  

5. Poor Spelling and Grammar

Cybercriminals are rarely wordsmiths, and they may use poor language in email-based attacks. Therefore, if an email is filled with spelling and grammatical errors, it may be spam.  

6. Fear- or Panic-Driven Subject Line

Hackers may use fear and panic to drive email recipients to act irrationally and click on malicious links and attachments. If an email contains a subject line that makes you fearful or incites panic, the message may be spam.  

There may be no stopping spam, so it pays to be proactive to combat this ongoing issue. Because, if you can identify the signs of a spam email, you can prevent a malicious message from causing long-lasting problems for you and your business. 

Take the Next Step Forward in Your Career 

At HCR, we offer tips to help employees and businesses combat spam. We also are ready to assist job seekers who want to further their career growth. To learn more about how we can help you find a great job in the Greater Toronto Area or Southwestern Ontario, please contact us today.