SPM Wire

Sometimes it seems that nearly every email you receive is either junk mail or a scam trying to separate you from your hardearned cash.

Some of the more nefarious emails are known as 'spoof' emails that lead consumers to counterfeit Web sites designed to trick them into divulging financial data such as credit card numbers or other sensitive account information.

"With the growing complexity of online fraud and brand abuse on the Internet, it has become increasingly difficult for consumers and email account holders to identify fraudulent mail and they are often times subject to attack simply by opening the email," said Hugh Hyndman, the Chief Technology Officer at BrandProtect, an online brand protection company.

To help protect email account holders from being targeted by these types of email scams, the experts at BrandProtect are offering ten ways to help avoid having your email account compromised:

• Avoid entering your email address on mass email sites, such as some newsletters, "Joke of the Day" emails and coupon distributions.

• Do not click on unknown emails you receive. Spam emails can contain reply scripts that inform spammers that your email account is active - and that you click on links!

• Stay clear of chain emails and do not reply to any you receive. Often times, these can be illegitimately sent from an email account address book.

• Avoid publicly listing your email address on any Internet forums.

• Do not participate in sending any mass forwarded emails. You don't know who your email address can be passed along to in the chain.

• Set up a spam filter that will weed out emails with malicious coding.

• Use an alternate email address for your banking information that you do not share elsewhere. This will help you to avoid confusion when receiving inbound emails regarding banking accounts and also better protect your personal information.

• Use a separate low-limit credit card for online transactions. If the information is 'hijacked' somehow, there is low credit limit to which fraudulent charges can be made.

• Avoid the checkboxes during any online transaction. These boxes are often pre-selected, including your email on a mailing distribution or permitting it to be 'shared.'

• Be proactive and stay aware of current email scams. Many organizations and technology publications report on current trends and spreading emails scams.

To learn more about how to protect your personal information or your company's brand from online infractions, visit www.brandprotect.com.