How to Protect Your Business from E-mail Spoofing Scams

Tuesday, 29 March 2016

b2ap3_thumbnail_Internet_Explorer_Web_Browser_60162-1.jpg Imagine you got an e-mail from your CEO asking you to wire money to a new vendor account. This is an unusual and out-of-character request, but he's your boss so you shrug it off and wire the money. The next day your CEO says he never sent you anything. Turns out, his e-mail was spoofed and that money was stolen.

E-mail spoofing is the modification and forging of an e-mail so that the message appears to have originated from someone other than the actual source. Spammers often spoof e-mail in an attempt to get recipients to open and respond to their requests. They can make it seem you are receiving an e-mail from your bank, your CEO, or any other trusted sources.

Spoofing scams can attempt to obtain your password, have you transfer large sums of money to them, obtain sensitive information about you or your company, and much more.

Here are some tips on what to do if you think you received a spoofed email:

What to look for:

Atypical use of language
Out-of-place requests (Wire Transfer, Pay Stubs, Financial Information)
No signature
Incorrect user display "friendly" name
Misspelled e-mail address
Requests to change your password

How to protect yourself:

Do not reply to to the sender
Do not open any links / websites
Do not open attachments

Techworks wants to ensure your business does not become the next target. Your security is our number one priority.

For our Techwatch Managed Service clients, security updates to prevent spoofed messages from getting to your Inbox are automatically included. If you'd like to inquire about our Techwatch Managed Services, please feel free to reach out to us.

It's important to keep yourself safe. If you have any questions or believe you have received a spoofed e-mail, call us ASAP at (631) 285-1527 or e-mail us at

About the author

Yelena Mirsakova

As Marketing Coordinator at Techworks, Yelena adds creative flair to the world of technology. She digs into innovative ways to spread awareness of new services and programs and is here to get the word out to you.

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