A fraudulent (spoof) email pretends to be from a company, such as Humboldt Internet, PayPal, or eBay, in an attempt to get personal information from you. People who send spoof emails hope to use your information - such as credit and debit card numbers or account passwords - to commit identity theft.

Spoof, or "phishing," emails - and the spoof websites often associated with them - are deceptive in appearance. However, they contain content that reveals they're fake. The most important thing to do to protect yourself is be able to spot this misleading content.

1. Generic greetings. Many spoof emails begin with a general greeting, such as: "Dear Humboldt Internet Member". If you do not see your first and last name, be suspicious and do not click on any links or button.
2. A fake sender's address. A spoof email may include a forged email address in the "From" field that says humboldt1.com. This field is easily altered.
3. A false sense of urgency. Many spoof emails try to deceive you with the threat that your account is in jeopardy if you don't update it ASAP. They may also state that an unauthorized transaction has recently occurred on your account, or claim Humboldt Internet is updating its accounts and needs information fast.
4. Fake links. Always check where a link is going before you click. Move your mouse over it and look at the URL in your browser or email status bar (at the bottom of the screen). A fraudulent link is dangerous. If you click on one, it could:
• Direct you to a spoof website that tries to collect your personal data.
• Install spyware on your system. Spyware is an application that can enable a hacker to monitor your actions and steal any passwords or credit card numbers you type online.
• Cause you to download a virus that could disable your computer.
5. Emails that appear to be websites. Some emails will look like a website in order to get you to enter personal information. Humboldt Internet never asks for personal information in an email.
6. Deceptive URLs. If you see an @ sign in the middle of a URL, there's a good chance this is a spoof. Legitimate companies use a domain name (e.g. https://www.company.com).
7. Misspellings and bad grammar. Spoof emails often contain misspellings, incorrect grammar, missing words, and gaps in logic. Mistakes also help fraudsters avoid spam filters.
8. Unsafe sites. The letters "https" should always precede any website address where you enter personal information. The "s" stands for secure. If you don't see "https" you're not in a secure web session, and you should not enter data.
9. Pop-up boxes. Humboldt Internet will never use a pop-up box in an email.
10. Attachments. Like fake links, attachments are frequently used in spoof emails and are dangerous. Never click on an attachment. It could cause you to download spyware or a virus. Humboldt Internet will never email you an attachment or a software update to install on your computer.