Today, email is one of the most common forms of communication. While convenient, email poses certain risks. Phishing and fake emails are widespread and can lead to identity theft, financial losses, and other security breaches. It's crucial to learn how to recognize and protect yourself from fraudulent emails.
Here are some tips to help you distinguish between legitimate emails and malicious ones:
Example of a Mollie Invoice email:
Remember, phishers try to make their emails appear as legitimate as possible. You should not rely solely on format similarities, such as recognisable logos or a company name.
Check the sender's email address:
Always verify the sender's email address. Phishers often use email addresses that resemble legitimate ones but contain subtle misspellings or extra characters. Double-check the sender's details to ensure they match the official source.
Invoice payment requests sent via Mollie Invoicing will be sent from "noreply@invoicing.mollie.com".
Inspect the salutation:
Authentic emails from businesses typically address their customers by name. Be cautious of emails that begin with generic greetings like "Dear Customer" or "Hello User."
Beware of urgency or threats:
Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency. They may claim your invoices are overdue, and you'll face consequences if you don't act immediately. Be sceptical of emails like this and rather verify the email with the organisation itself (through a different communication method or a known valid email address).
Look for spelling and grammar errors:
Phishing emails often contain spelling and grammatical mistakes. Legitimate organisations maintain a professional standard of communication. Typos can be a sign of a fraudulent email.
Examine hyperlinks and URLs:
Hover over any links without clicking on them to see the destination URL. If the URL seems suspicious or unrelated to the purported organisation, do not click it. Always cross-verify with the official website or domain.
Invoice payment requests sent via Mollie Invoicing will be sent from "noreply@invoicing.mollie.com", and the “Pay Invoice” URL will lead to https://invoicing.mollie.com.
Avoid sharing personal information:
Be cautious of emails requesting sensitive information like passwords, or credit card details. Mollie will never ask for this information via email.
Educate yourself:
Learn about common phishing techniques and stay informed about the latest scams so you know what to look out for. Awareness is your best defence against phishing attempts.
Phishing and fake emails can be dangerous, but with awareness and vigilance, you can protect yourself. Always double-check the sender's information, scrutinise email content, and never share sensitive data without verification. By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing scams and maintain your online security.
Report (suspected) phishing:
If you suspect that a Mollie invoicing email you received might be fake, you can report this to phishing@mollie.com - please include a copy of the email, ideally with the technical email headers.