Elements of the Email Hoax: 5 Tips to keep you Safe

The internet is a wonderful thing. It can cross thousands of miles in just moments, delivering information, news and correspondence from all over the world. Unfortunately, some internet users have created an internet dark side and the email hoax is at its epicenter. However, these 5 tips from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) will help keep you from falling victim to internet crime.

1. Be leery of "business opportunities" or "employment offers" (including work at home opportunities) that arrive in your inbox unsolicited. Indications of a potential hoax:
a. The claims of profits or earnings is very high or exaggerated
b. Money is required up front
c. They request your social security number or other personal information
d. They are outside of your own country
Research the company and check on them through the Better Business Bureau as well as their local Chamber of Commerce to determine their legitimacy as well as reputation.

2. Phishing emails try to trick you into going to a deceptive site (that looks very much like a legitimate site) and entering your personal information such as password, credit card number and other information in an effort to collect it for less than honorable uses. Protect yourself from a phishing email:
a. Unsolicited emails that request personal information should be viewed as suspicious
b. Don't complete forms that arrive in email messages, particularly if they request personal information
c. When the email directs you to a link, compare the actual link to the text of the link; in fact, don't use the link provided, go directly to the official website instead
d. Verify the authenticity of the email by contacting the business itself

3. Unless you have been living under a rock, you are familiar with the "Nigerian Letter," also known as "419." Tips to avoid this infamous email hoax:
a. The opportunity is just too good to be true
b. It asks for personal banking information
c. The individual poses as a foreign government official
d. It asks you to help put a large sum of money in a bank account that is overseas
e. It promises a large sum of money for you, your business or charity

4. Lotteries are another way that scammers try to get personal information from people and get money in very illegal ways. First of all, it is a violation of federal law to engage in playing a foreign lottery via phone or mail. But if you are presented with this and feel tempted:
a. If you don't remember entering a lottery or contest, you probably didn't and it is likely a scam
b. If you receive a telephone call or email or even letter stating that you are a winner, be very wary
c. Fees required prior to the delivery of your prize and additional funds to keep you eligible for winnings in the future are hallmark traits of this email hoax.

5. We all know about spam, know what spam can do and how annoying it can be. Still, many people continue to fall for the scams and do things that cause them to get even more spam. Don't get taken for a ride:
a. Delete spam without reading it
b. Never respond to spam because then it tells the sender that your email address is "live"
c. Keep two email addresses, one for people that you know and one for everything else
d. If you don't know how your email address will be used, don't give it out
e. Never purchase something that you saw advertised in an email that was unsolicited

Protect yourself from unsavory and illegal email hoaxes. Don't fall victim. Know the facts, think critically and don't be tempted. All that glitters isn't gold.