Practice Email Safety
There are frequently new virus and phishing attacks on the internet. Very often these are propagated by our email accounts. We have to be very careful and use common sense on which emails we open. My IT department at Carrington Real Estate Services just sent these tips to me and I thought I should pass them along to my friends at Ocean Hills Country Club.
Warning signs that an email may be suspicious:
- Email requests money to be sent ASAP. Cyber criminals are always looking at new ways to gain information and steal information and/or capital. Be diligent and always validate the request before sending any information or money.
- Spelling and bad grammar. Cyber criminals are not known for their grammar and spelling. Professional companies or organizations usually have a staff of copy editors that will not allow a mass email like this to go out to its users.
- Beware of links in email. If you see a link in a suspicious email message, don’t click on it.
- Have you ever received a threat that your Hotmail account would be closed or immediate action is required by a client or vendor if you didn’t respond to an email message? This is reason to be cautious. If you are not normally the recipient of notices, DO NOT OPEN.
- Do not open any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source.
- Do not open any files attached to an email unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a friend or someone you know. Some viruses can replicate themselves and spread through email. Confirm that your contact really sent an attachment.
- Do not open any files attached to an email if the subject line is questionable or unexpected.
- Delete chain emails and junk email. Do not forward or reply to any to them. These types of email are considered spam – unsolicited, intrusive messages that clog up the inboxes and networks.
- Do not download any files from strangers.
If you have any questions relating to real estate in Ocean Hills, please contact me, Gary Harmon.
Speak Your Mind