Stay Alert: How to Spot and Avoid Email Phishing Scams
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Understanding Phishing Scams
In recent times, phishing scams have become increasingly prevalent, exploiting unsuspecting individuals through deceptive emails.
With a small soap-making business established in 2016, I took a significant step in August 2020 by launching my own website. My husband helped me set up a Squarespace account, and I devoted countless hours to perfecting the design. YouTube tutorials were invaluable during this process, guiding me through the more complex tasks until I was finally satisfied with the outcome.
My design journey included utilizing a library of royalty-free images offered by Squarespace, akin to resources like Unsplash. Once my site went live, I received a concerning email via the “Contact Us” page, which I’ve quoted below:
Hello there!
I’m Melinda, a licensed photographer. I was disheartened to find my images on your website. Using copyrighted images without permission could lead to serious legal repercussions.
It’s illegal to use stolen images, and I find it quite upsetting!
Attached is a document with links to the images you used, along with proof of my copyright.
Download it immediately and verify for yourself:
[Link Deleted]
If you do not remove the images referenced in the document within a few days, I will file a complaint with your hosting provider for copyright infringement.
Rest assured, if that doesn't work, I will take legal action without any prior notice.
Upon reading this, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. Though I suspected it was a scam, the prospect of legal trouble weighed heavily on my mind. My husband reassured me, recognizing it as a scam, and promptly deleted the email.
Drawing from my experiences in cyber security training, I understood the importance of avoiding suspicious links and attachments. It’s all too easy to be deceived by an email that seems legitimate, especially when it involves potential copyright issues. As a small business owner, adhering to legal standards is critical; I certainly did not want to jeopardize my enterprise.
The email lingered in my thoughts throughout the day, prompting me to take action upon returning home. I dedicated hours to replacing every image that I did not own, even substituting the single properly credited photo from Unsplash used in a blog post. Thankfully, my computer housed a plethora of images from our camping and hiking trips, making the task manageable.
Ultimately, I was pleased with the new look of my website, which now featured images that reflected my soap designs' outdoor theme. However, months later, I received another email with the same claims. By then, I was entirely confident it was a scam, as I had ensured all images were my own.
The Reality of Scams
As noted by interscorp.com, this is a typical phishing tactic aimed at tricking recipients into clicking malicious links that can compromise their devices or networks.
These emails often feature similar text and display poor grammar. Common names in these scams include variations of Mel, Melinda, or Melynda.
I stumbled upon a discussion on a Squarespace forum where others reported similar emails, some even from illustrators. One participant noted, "Form submissions are unfortunately magnets for scammers and spammers."
Preventive Measures
To protect yourself from falling victim to such scams, verify that you have the right to use the images in your content. Free resources like Unsplash and Pexels are excellent for sourcing images, and I still utilize them frequently.
An insightful article by Annelise Lords, titled “Creating Your Own Photos Will Save Editors A Lot Of Time,” emphasizes the benefits of producing original photos for your work. Annelise illustrates how using personal images can significantly enhance a writer’s visibility and originality.
I was motivated by her insights. Although I still rely on stock photos, I have increasingly incorporated my own images into my articles.
Take a moment to explore your surroundings—are there unique images you could capture to enhance your storytelling?
For further reading, check out Annelise’s article here:
Creating Your Own Photos Will Save Editors A Lot Of Time
The Importance of Cyber Awareness
By staying vigilant and informed about potential scams, we can better protect ourselves and our businesses.