Online fraudsters are apparently targeting Microsoft Office 365 users. Online fraud is becoming ever more prevalent but where and how they are getting their data?
With information that appears genuine, what can we do to stay secure? Make sure your team knows about the dangers of these and how to be vigilant.
Just this week I had an email, apparently from Office 365, advertising a new service that Microsoft has launched for the customers. For someone a little less savvy than we digital marketing sleuths, one click could easily have opened the door to a wealth of personal knowledge and a king’s ransom.
Of course, it is ludicrous for Microsoft Office 365 to be offering their customers a Tax Refund Service, but what happens if a more junior member of staff received this? They may have been tempted to find out more and bring this ‘new service’ to your attention.
Make sure your staff know the dangers of clicking and responding to any of these fraudulent emails.
The above email was addressed to me and I knew it was fraudulent.
There are some simple ways to 1. check the validity 2. keep safe
- A quick hover over the sender’s name revealed that it was not genuine or from the Microsoft Office 365 team. It was in fact from an unrelated email address – noreply@cloud.baddogwebdesign.com
- Never click on any link whatsoever. Always log onto your own account by going online, not from an email link. And never click the unsubscribe button.
A second attempt to access my details also came in to my in box on the same day:
Never click on a link that you are not 100% certain is genuine. Not only are you putting your own data at risk, but you may be enabling access to your contacts’ details and their own emails.