Internet & email safety require all of us to be a bit suspicious. I know of three instances last year where online address books of personal friends got hacked and emails were sent to all their contact claiming that they were victims of theft while on vacation in a foreign land and begging for help…money, of course. The scary part was that one of those friends was actually on her honeymoon and had purposely not told most people where she was going, so the fake email would seem plausible to some.
My rule of thumb is to look at the language of any email I get. Is it in character for the sender? Does it use hyperbole designed to stir emotions and arrest logical thinking? Does it feel wrong? If any of these questions raise your suspicions about an email or a web site, check it out if possible and above all DON’T CLICK ANY LINKS! Clicking on suspicious links greatly increases the chance that you will get a virus or other malware in your computer. If necessary close your browser or email program to make the page go away. In rare cases it may be necessary to shut down your computer.
If your email provider provides a spam reporting button be sure to report any suspicious email.