If you’re like me, you’ve probably received personal emails from everyone in-between Chief Justice John Roberts and the Director of the IMF, Jihad Azour, claiming that I have an “incredible inheritance” coming to me if I only send them the required $500 fee for processing and the unlocking of my funds.  

You’ve probably also received solicitations from various companies wanting you to “click on this link” which will take you to their site where you can receive a “very valuable gift” just for your time, and of course, after providing your date of birth, social security number, mother’s maiden name, and bank account information.  

Why do we keep getting these emails, texts, and phone calls?  BECAUSE THEY WORK!  Occasionally, someone will trust the sender, click on the link, then land on a site that quietly installs malware. That malware can hijack their computer, steal passwords, and siphon off credit card and bank account information before they even realize what’s happened.  

What’s the bottom line?  Be skeptical of…Everything!  Rather than taking the posture “most communications I receive are legitimate,” take the mindset that “any item in my inbox is potentially fake until proven otherwise.”  

Over 90% of all cyber-attacks start with a phishing email.  Don’t fall victim to clicking on a link because it looks legit.  If you’re curious about an offer, go directly to the site through your browser rather than clicking the link.  Often, Google or other search engines will tell you that the site is potentially dangerous before you visit.  If you have digital newcomers in your family -older folks who didn’t grow up with this technology, or younger ones like Junior and Buttercup who are just starting out in the tech world, teach them how to recognize suspicious links and messages. Encourage them to ask before clicking or sharing personal info.

Want some other Cybertips?  Implement multi-factor authentication on all your accounts; Update your software often; Use strong passwords, and ideally a password manager to generate and store unique passwords; Use secure Wi-Fi networks; Install reputable antivirus and malware protection software.  

The internet can be a wonderful thing – if used carefully and appropriately.  Don’t let yourself or your family fall victim to scammers and other malicious actors.  

If you want a good resource for all things internet safety-related, or to report that you became a victim of an online scam, go to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center – www.ic3.gov.