The festive season is around the corner and so are the scammers with new ideas of targeting people. Most of the fraudulent activities are done during the peak time of weddings, festivals, casual or private events, concerts, and much more. In line with the goal of a ‘secure festival,’ Google is warning its users about the rising threat of online email scams. Through its built-in Gmail security options, the company is underlining the need to protect your Gmail accounts from spam mail.
Along with the awareness, the company is offering valuable insights and guides to help users being targeted by scammers. Additionally, Google in its blog post highlighted the new Gmail security features that helped them in identifying spam mails. The blog read, “Thanks to the new Gmail security features introduced over the past year, users reported a 35% decrease in scams (such as phishing, malware, and more) reaching their inboxes during the first month of the holiday season compared to last year.
Additionally, millions more unwanted and potentially harmful messages were blocked before they even had a chance to reach users’ inboxes.”
What are the Common Season Scams Shared by Google?
Googles highlights few and most common mail scams that are sent during the holiday season. Here’s the list of scams that Google asked its users to watch out for:
Phishing Scams
Fraudulent emails designed to steal personal information, such as login credentials or financial details, often disguised as legitimate messages from trusted sources.
Charity Appeals
Scammers take advantage of the holiday spirit by creating fake charity requests, often claiming to support disaster relief, children’s causes, or other philanthropic efforts, in order to steal donations.
Fake Greetings
Fraudulent holiday greeting cards or e-cards that contain links or attachments, which, when clicked, can install malware or lead to phishing sites.
Fake Delivery Orders
Scammers send fake emails claiming to be from delivery services, asking recipients to click on malicious links or provide personal details to track a non-existent package.
Protective Features That Google Offers
There are several built-in features that Google Gmail provides to assure users’ safety from scams. Some of the major security options include:
Spam and Phishing Detection
Google Gmail has an in-built feature of automatically detecting and filtering suspicious emails. After identifying it by default places the mails in the spam folder, restricting phishing attempts and emails that contain harmful links or attachments.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Gmail users can enable 2FA to add an extra layer of security to their accounts, requiring a second verification step (like a code sent to your phone) in addition to your password.
Suspicious Activity Alerts
Upon detecting unusual or suspicious activities, Gmail sends alerts. These alerts include logins from unfamiliar locations or devices. This option allows users quickly spot unauthorized access.
Secure Browsing
Gmail scans emails for harmful links and attachments and warns users before clicking on unsafe websites, preventing malware and phishing sites from compromising your device.
Security Checkup
Google Gmail offers another useful tool, a Security Checkup. This tool enables users to review and enhance their account’s security settings, such as reviewing connected devices, account permissions, and recovery options.
Additional Guide to Stay Safe from Google Gmail Fraud
- Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown senders. Always verify the source before interacting.
- Use Google Security Checkup to review recent activity on your account and ensure no unauthorized access has occurred.
- Gmail shows a lock icon to indicate that an email is securely encrypted. Always check this to ensure your communication is protected.
- Ensure your devices and security tools are updated with the latest patches to protect against new threats.
- Report any suspicious activity detected.
By following these simple tips, one can safeguard his/her Gmail account and personal information from potential scams and security risks. Alongside this, one should always stay updated and aware with new to know such kinds of scams.
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Naina Jaggi is an author deeply rooted in Journalism, mainly writing on lifestyle, entertainment, travel, politics and financial markets. This diverse experience has allowed her to blend rich details with engaging narratives that capture the essence of various worlds. When she is not crafting tales, you’ll find her immersed in music and enjoying the company of dogs. She is also into K-dramas, thriller and horror movies that fuel her imagination, bringing the same spark to her stories.
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