Before You Open a .Zip File

If you receive an email with any kind of attachment, especially a .ZIP file that is suspicious, it is most likely a scam. Organizations such as American Express, Amazon, Wells Fargo, USPS, FedEx, IRS, Dun & Bradstreet, educational institutions, etc., do not send this type of information in a zip.file format. When in doubt, verify the document before you open the zip file.

If you believe that something malicious happened to your personal computer, please reach down and immediately pull the power cord out of the wall and contact someone in your IT department immediately.

For any email that you suspect may be a phishing scam:

• Do NOT click on any links or attachments.

• Read the email carefully for signs that it may be fake (for example, misspellings, grammar, generic greetings such as “Dear member” instead of a name, etc.).

• Be wary of any urgent instructions to take specified action such as “Click on the link or your account will be closed.”

• Hover your mouse over links without clicking to see if the address is truly from the sender. The URL in the text should match the URL that your mouse detects. If the two do not match, it is most likely a scam.

- Delete the email from your computer completely (be sure to empty your “trash can” or “recycling bin,” as well).

• Run anti-virus software updates frequently and do a full system scan. Keep a close eye on your bank statements for any unexpected or unexplained transactions.

Use common sense with any files off the internet because cyber criminals are getting more sophisticated than ever.