Recognize Phishing Emails Before You're Caught | Stewart Title Blog

Phishing emails meant to steal email credentials continues to get through our mailboxes. In our industry, anything to do with closing files gets the easy catch - familiar words used in subject lines, body copy, and attachments. Hackers know and use our timing to their advantage; they know the ends of the week and month are the busiest time for us. That’s when we’re more stressed and most vulnerable. Remember:

• Examine the initial email for any red flags. Ask yourself:
  • Do I know the sender?
  • Is it addressed to me?
  • Is it relevant (my file, my customer, my property)?
  • Am I expecting it?
  • Does it have proper language, punctuations, formatting, signature?
• If you can check off those questions, which is rare, click on the link, but ask:
  • Is the web page asking me for corporate or other credentials to get what I need?
  • How does the sender know my address?
  • Would it be smarter to just run away?
• If you’re in doubt or uncomfortable with anything about the email, always pick up the phone and call IT before clicking.

Examples of how these emails may look

In examples 1 and 4, if you click on the link, you’ll land on the website with every possible login option, as examples 2 and 5 show. That’s a pretty sneaky way to try and steal information. In examples 3 and 6, once you enter your password, the hacker has access to your email account. If you went all the way through, now would be a good time to reset your password.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 6