'Confirm Ownership' Email Scam
The 'Confirm Ownership' email is an ill-minded attempt by con artists to obtain sensitive information from unsuspecting recipients. It is part of a phishing campaign and should be avoided at all costs. Recipients should not respond to the email or provide any personal information but instead delete it or mark it as spam. Phishing emails are becoming increasingly common, so users should remain vigilant when dealing with suspicious emails. If in doubt, contact the senders directly to verify their identity before providing any confidential information.
Details about the 'Confirm Ownership' Scam
The deceiving emails are designed to look like they have been sent by the email service provider of the recipients. The messages contain a 'Confirm Ownership Here' button and imply that users have to click on it to continue using their email accounts. However, clicking on the link will take users to a phishing website where they are asked to sign in using their email account credentials. By doing so, the fraudsters can gain access to the victim's login information and then use it to access not only the compromised email account but other accounts as well if the same password has been reused. Therefore, it is crucial that users ignore these emails and be aware of the potential risks associated with clicking on suspicious links or providing personal information online.
Typical Signs of Phishing Emails Like the 'Confirm Ownership' Scam
Phishing emails are cyber attacks that rely on social engineering to obtain sensitive information, such as user credentials or financial information. Falling victim to one of these attacks can have serious consequences, so it's important to learn how to identify phishing emails and protect yourself.
- Check the Sender's Email Address
One of the primary signs that an email is a phishing tactic is if the sender's address does not match the company or organization named in the message itself. Legitimate organizations will generally include an 'email signature' with their company logo and other contact information at the bottom of the message—this signature should always match the sender's email address.
- Look for Unusual URL Links
Phishing tactics often use unusual URL links within their messages that look like they link back to legitimate websites but, in reality, lead somewhere else entirely. To protect yourself, never click on any URL link if you do not know exactly where it will take you.
- Verify Any Requests for Sensitive Information
Legitimate companies will rarely ask customers or clients for personal or financial data via email - if you receive a request from any agency asking for your Social Security Number or bank details, then chances are this is part of a phishing tactic! To protect your identity, never provide any confidential data over unsecured channels like email - always confirm requests through another channel before sending private details.
