Tips to Identify a Scam Email

Scam emails, also known as phishing emails, often feature the following:

• Legitimate company logos and return addresses,
• Phone numbers such as 1-800 numbers.
• Will use real employee names from a company
• Emails addresses and websites will use similar variation of the company’s website or email address

Small Changes to websites and email addresses:  This is usually the first and best tip-off that something is not legitimate.

Email Example:

• Legit:  jade@schlesingergroup.com
• Fraud:  jade@schlesingergrp.com (group truncated)

Mouse over a hyperlink to see actual address vs what is displayed, hyperlink example:

• Legit:  http://www.schlesingergroup.com/
• Fraud: http://www.schlesingergroup.com/
• When hovering over the above hyperlinks, the fraud link goes to schlesingergrp.com even though display name is the same

Spelling and grammar:  If you’re looking at an email with a lot of spelling or grammatical errors, it may be a scam.

• Legit:  “It has come to our attention that your account may need to be updated”
• Fraud:  “It has come to our attentions that you’re accoutns has need to be updated”

Mass mailings:  If you receive an email and there are a ton of other recipients listed in the “to” or “cc” fields, chances are it’s a scam.

Punctuation or overuse of CAPS:  Beware of emails that try to get your attention by using all capital letters, especially in the subject line.  Over-the-top emotional content or messages of dire warnings may be a scam.

• Legit:  “You’re Invited: Shopping research happening Between 18-Jan-2018 and 22-Jan-2018”
• Fraud: “URGENT RESEARCH!!!!!  MUST RESPOND IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!”

Receiving money unprompted:   Payments are usually provided after you have completed a task.  If you are receiving a payment without any prior knowledge or approval, this is most likely a scam.

Here is an example of a recent scam that used our name and logo and highlights some of the tips above.  If you have received something similar, it is not valid

One final tip: Don’t respond to a spam email.  By doing so, you confirm that your email account is active and could receive even more spam as a result.

If you are unsure of an email’s authenticity and it appears to be from Schlesinger Group or Inspired Opinions, forward the email to help@inspiredopinions.com and we will provide confirmation of the validity.