Think before you click
Most break-ins start with one email. Learn the five signs.
Checklist · Scams and email
Scam or safe? Ten-email quiz
Tick one box for each. Answers are on the back. Great for a 10-minute team meeting.
Free to print and share
2 pages, US Letter, in color. Tick the boxes and type on the lines right in your browser or PDF reader, then save or print it.
Filling in online works in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Adobe Reader. Your answers stay on your computer.
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What's inside
The full text
- 1IT Help Desk <it-desk@helpdesk-mail.net> Your mailbox is full
Your mailbox is 98% full. Sign in within 24 hours to keep receiving email.
SafeScam - 2Your coworker Jamie Lunch Friday?
Want to grab lunch Friday at the usual place? Let me know by Thursday.
SafeScam - 3CEO (personal email) Quick favor
Are you at your desk? I need you to pick up some gift cards for a client. I'll explain later.
SafeScam - 4Shipping Notice <track@parcel-delivery-update.co> Delivery attempt failed
We couldn't deliver your package. Pay a $1.99 redelivery fee at the link below.
SafeScam - 5Your bank (real address) Your monthly statement is ready
Your statement is ready. Sign in to your account the usual way to view it. No link included.
SafeScam - 6Vendor you use (real address) Updated payment information
We've changed banks. Please send all future payments to the attached account details.
SafeScam - 7Document Share <noreply@docs-share.info> Jordan shared "Q4 Bonus List.xlsx" with you
Click to open the file. You'll need to sign in with your work email.
SafeScam - 8Your IT company (known address) Planned update this Saturday
Computers will restart Saturday at 10 PM for updates. Please save your work Friday. Questions? Call our main number.
SafeScam - 9Payroll <payroll@yourcompany-hr.com> Action needed: confirm your direct deposit
Confirm your bank details by end of day or your next paycheck may be delayed.
SafeScam - 10A client you work with often Re: contract draft
Thanks, I've made the changes we discussed on the call. Attached is the version we talked about.
SafeScam
Answer key
- 1
Scam.
Not your real IT address, a 24-hour deadline, and a request to sign in.
- 2
Safe.
Expected, nothing to click, nothing asked for.
- 3
Scam.
Personal address, secrecy and gift cards. Call the CEO to check.
- 4
Scam.
Lookalike shipper address and a small fee to get your card details.
- 5
Safe.
Real address, no link, and it tells you to sign in the usual way.
- 6
Scam, even from a real address.
Changed bank details always need a phone call. The vendor's email may be hacked.
- 7
Scam.
A juicy file name, a strange sharing address, and a sign-in to open it.
- 8
Safe.
Expected sender, nothing to click, points you to a number you know.
- 9
Scam.
Lookalike company address, a deadline, and bank details by email.
- 10
Probably safe, but check.
It matches a real conversation. If the attachment asks you to sign in or enable anything, stop and call.
The pattern
Most scams ask you to sign in, pay, or open something, with a reason to hurry. When you see that mix, slow down and check another way.
Scams and email
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Scammers get busy when we do. Watch for these from November to January.
Questions about anything in here?
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