Statistics say that approximately 300 billion emails are sent every day, worldwide. So, it’s fair to say there are a few people out there emailing! Whether you use to keep in touch with friends or family on the other side of the world, or just for sending your friends funny pictures of a hamster you found on the internet, it’s a fair certainly that if you own a computer, smartphone or tablet connected to the internet, then you’re also using email on a daily basis.

With every technology comes the need to take certain precautions. It’s important to know how to protect yourself against unscrupulous opportunists attempting to take advantage, and relieve you of your hard-earned cash. Email scams are rife these days, and come in all shapes and sizes. From the oft quoted “Nigerian Prince” scam (usually involving promising the victim a significant share of a large sum of money, in return for a small payment, which the fraudster needs to obtain the bigger payment), to the particularly distasteful “Disaster Relief” scam (where someone sets up a fake charity website and steals the money donated to the victims of disasters), there are seemingly countless ways you could be taken advantage of via email.

Phishing, Not Fishing

From recent client experience, we’ve seen several suspect emails claiming to be from the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, announcing that the recipient is due a tax rebate. These are generally known as phishing emails, where they try to trick an individual into giving personal information, such as credit card details. If you have any suspicions at all about such an email you receive, delete it immediately. Do not be tempted to click on any links in the email, nor give any information the emails asks for, no matter how good it sounds. Especially if it sounds too good to be true. It probably is. IRD have even published examples of such phishing emails on their website with advice to call their 0800 number to report receiving one. This is a good rule of thumb – if you think you’ve received a phishing email, get in touch with the company the email appears to be from. They’ll be able to tell you if it’s genuine.

A Spoof-ful Of Sugar

Spoofing is when someone forges an email to make it look like it has come from a specific email address. If, for example, you get an email from a friend or family member that either makes no sense at all (for whatever reason), or when asked, the sender tells you they never sent that email, then someone has spoofed their email address. People, and systems (known as ‘bots’) who send spam or create computer viruses use spoofing, to trick people into opening the email, as they think it’s from a trusted source, or someone they know. Many companies make a point of saying they will never ask you for passwords or account information (for example). So, even if the email appears to have come from a, let’s say, IRD email address, be wary of the content before you consider it to be genuine and take any action the email may ask for.

Spam, Bam, Thank You Ma’am

Spam emails are (almost) as old as the hills. Spam is unwanted email from someone you don’t know. Their contents could be telling you that you’ve won a wonderful (and non-existent) prize of some kind, or an offer for the latest wonder pill to help with your…acid reflux. Spam email may also try to get your personal information, and as with spoofing, they may also hide their real identity behind that of a trusted company or person. Some simple advice when it comes to spam:

• Don’t reply to these emails
• Do not click on links, images or attachments in the email that might be spam
• Add spam email addresses to your email’s blocked senders list.

So, email safety in a nutshell – just be vigilant with emails and who they come from. Don’t click on random links that promise the earth (or large sums of cash). And, if you get an email from the President of some far-flung nation, offering you the keys to the kingdom for just a small cash injection, just hit ‘Delete’!