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Spotting a Scam Email

How to Spot a Scam Email
 

Tiger with computer

Email scammers are tricky! They send emails that look legitimate but are actually viruses in disguise. The email may look like it is from someone familiar - our Technology Department, a teacher, or even a friend – but it’s actually an internet crook trying to steal information from you or infect your account with a computer virus. 

Clicking on a scammer’s bad link can cause big problems, slowing down our network and even resulting in the need for a new password or disabling of your account.   

Helpful Hints and Tips 

  • Only click on links when you are 100% certain that you know the person and the reason for an email.
    • Emails that come from your teachers or another Tenafly staff members are usually okay, but verify the email address (name@tenafly.k12.nj.us) and
    • Verify that the content make sense coming from the sender (i.e., a fellow student will never ask you to click a link to update account information or contact IT).
    • When a teacher shares something with you through Google, the sender will look like this: “Name” (via Google Docs) <drive-shares-noreply@google.com> OR “Name” (via Google Docs) name@tenafly.k12.nj.us. These emails will typically be okay to click, but always check the content.
    • Emails that end with @google.com are usually safe – this is NOT @gmail. Most spam will typically come from Gmail accounts, not the @google.com.
  • Not sure if an email is spam? Send a SEPARATE NEW email message to the sender (do not select Reply) and ask if they sent the information. Chances are, it’s spam! OR If you get an email that is suspicious just delete it. Most importantly – DO NOT click on any links.


How to identify a suspicious email

From a Tenafly email address:

SPAM 1

 

From a non-Tenafly address:

SPAM 2

 

Another example:

SAM3