All emails from external senders are tagged with [*EXTERNAL*] in the Subject field to assist you with recognizing outside emails.
- Check the Sender's Email Address: Always scrutinize the sender's email address. Sometimes, spammers use email addresses that look similar to legitimate ones. Look for any irregularities or misspellings. For example, an email from anyname@sjprep.org will never have an [*EXTERNAL*] tag in the Subject field.
- Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: If an email contains links, hover your cursor over them without clicking. Gmail will display the actual URL, helping you identify if it's legitimate or not. If the link seems unfamiliar or directs you to a suspicious website, refrain from clicking.
- Be Cautious with Attachments: Similarly, be cautious with email attachments. Only open attachments from senders you trust. Malicious attachments can contain viruses or malware.
- Inspect the Email Content: Look for signs of poor grammar, strange phrasing, or urgent requests for personal information. Spammers often use these tactics to manipulate recipients into taking action. Google scans images that are embedded in emails for signs of suspicious content before you receive them. These scans make images safer because senders can’t use image loading to get information about your computer or location and senders can’t use the image to set or read cookies in your browser. If Gmail thinks a sender or message is suspicious, images aren’t shown and you’ll be asked if you want to see the images.
- Check for Unusual Requests: Be wary of emails requesting sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or Social Security numbers. Legitimate organizations rarely ask for such information via email.
- Phishing Alerts: Gmail often marks potential phishing emails with a red banner and a warning message. Take these alerts seriously and avoid interacting with the content.
- Use Gmail's Reporting Features: Gmail provides options to mark emails as spam or report phishing attempts. These actions not only help you but also contribute to Gmail's filters, improving its overall security. You can read more details about using Gmail’s Reporting tools here.
- Regularly Review your Spam Folder: Gmail automatically identifies suspicious emails and marks them as spam. When you open your Spam folder, you'll see emails that were marked as spam by you or Gmail. Each email will include a label at the top that explains why Gmail sent it to Spam. Make it a habit to review your spam folder because sometimes, legitimate emails end up there by mistake. Messages that have been in your Spam folder for more than 30 days are automatically deleted.
Please review the attachments “Social Engineering Red Flags” and “How to Block Mobile Attacks”. By following these guidelines, you'll be better equipped to identify and handle spam emails effectively.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.