Everyone needs to be aware of scam emails presenting as potentially related to legitimate business, such as invoices, contracts, receipts, refunds or subpoenas.

Scam emails tend to have the following components:

1.  The subject includes “RE:” indicating that it is a response to an email the recipient sent. The subject also includes a relevant business topic like, “invoice,” “work contract,” “payment,” or “lawsuit.”
2. Back in the day, scam emails came from addresses like “Unknown@XYZcorp.” Now, scam emails come from ordinary people named “acpoper,” “Randy,” “marie” and “cwalters2” who work at seemingly legitimate businesses.
3. There is seldom an address used, such as “Dear Mr. Sparks…” Instead, the email starts with the body of the email and is not addressed to any specific recipient in the body of the email.
4. The email references some previous or existing business activity and directs you to click an attachment.

Here is a file with examples of scam emails I have received just in the past couple of weeks. I’ve added some witty observations for fun  (e3Business eMail Scams).

If you have any question, DO NOT OPEN the email or the attachment, (use your preview screen). Email Brett and ask if he knows anything about it. Thank you!