Malware can sneak in when you least suspect it.
Always be alert
Please remain cautious when receiving unsolicited email messages that could be part of a potential phishing scam or malware campaign.
Take a close look at your email and immediately delete anything that looks suspicious.
As different types of phishing scams and malware campaigns are always changing, we are republishing this entry to increase user awareness.
There have been an increased number of phishing scams and malware campaigns that take advantage of different seasons and world events. Some popular phishing scams and malware campaigns can include the following:
- Electronic greeting cards that may contain malware
- Requests for charitable contributions that may be phishing scams and may originate from illegitimate sources claiming to be charities
- Screensavers or other forms of media that may contain malware
- Credit card applications that may be phishing scams or identity theft attempts
- Online shopping advertisements that may be phishing scams or identity theft attempts from bogus retailers
Please use caution when you see these types of email messages and take the following preventative measures to protect themselves from phishing scams and malware campaigns.
- Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.
- Use caution when opening email attachments from email addresses you know and avoid opening attachments from addresses you don't know.
- Maintain updated antivirus software.
- Review the Federal Trade Commission's Charity Checklist.
- Verify charity authenticity through a trusted contact number, which can be found on the Better Business Bureau National Charity Report Index.
- Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams document for more information on avoiding email scams.
- Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks Cyber Security Tip for more information on social engineering attacks.
Berkshire Bank is a full-service financial institution with branches in MA, CT, VT, NY, and RI.