Google warns billions of Gmail users to look for ‘six-word alert’ that means you must send an email to avoid danger

GOOGLE users have been warned to never ignore an important Gmail notification that could signal a scam.

In the hopes of combating scams and malware, Google administers warnings whenever someone receives a suspicious-looking email.

WHAT IS MALWARE?

Malware is a malicious file or code that can infect your phone or computer.

These dangerous files can attack your device using different methods and typically hope to steal sensitive information.

They can also monitor and record your device's activity without your knowledge.

Malware detection is turned on by default on Google Chrome, and because of this, users may receive messages alerting them to dangerous emails.

WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE?

If Gmail deems a message in your inbox potentially dangerous, it will read, "This message could be a scam."

You'll typically see this warning above any email that looks like a scam but comes from an address in your Gmail contacts list.

There are two steps to take if you see this warning: Investigate and determine if it's safe.

IF YOU THINK THE EMAIL IS A SCAM

"If the email has suspicious links or asks you to do unusual things like send money or personal information, the message may be a scam sent without permission from your contact's email account," Google notes on its webpage.

In this instance, don't reply to the email or click on any of the attached links.

You can also report the email to Google by clicking "Report this suspicious message."

The message will be marked as "sent from a compromised account," and will notify the Gmail team.

"This helps protect the sender's account from abuse. You'll still get messages from them in the future," Google added.

Lastly, if the suspicious email came from a trustworthy person, inform them about the message (but not over email).

You can recommend that they go through these Gmail Security Tips.

Phone scam statistics

Americans are bombarded with three billion spam phone calls a month. What are the figures regarding the number of victims and the amount of money lost to fraudsters

• In 2022, Americans lost some $39.5 billion to phone scams, with 68.4 million US citizens affected, according to TechReport.
• The average phone scam victim lost $567.41 each in 2021, a major rise on the 2021 figure of $182 per victim, according to Hiya.
• The majority of scams happen over the phone, with fraudsters twice as likely to call compared to text in 2021, as reports the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• In 2021, the US saw a 56% increase in spam phone calls with 60% of those being robocalls.
• US residents experienced an average of 18 spam phone calls per month, although some experts believe the true figure may be as high as 31 per month.
• Many phone calls from reputable businesses may be marked wrongly as spam, but 38% of companies have no idea whether they’re being marked as “potential fraud” or not, according to Hiya.
• Never hand over any personal or financial information if you suspect a phone call is a scam. For instance, your bank will never ask you for such details in full over the phone.
• To cut down on spam phone calls and scams, sign up for the Do Not Call Registry. Telemarketers, by law, will need to check that list before they call you up.
• Downloading third-party apps such as Hiya, Nomorobo, or Truecaller can help filter out annoying spam calls.
• Try not to share your phone number unless you have to, especially online or with sketchy sources.

IF YOU THINK THE EMAIL IS NOT A SCAM

If you're sure the message is not a scam, click Looks Safe or Ignore, I trust this message.

You can assess if an email is a scam by its contents, including spelling and grammar, the tone of the message, and attachments.

Below we have shared some red flags to watch out for that indicate an email is a scam, regardless if it's from a contact.

RED FLAGS

There are a few sentences in emails that can indicate it's a scam, according to cybersecurity firm McAfee:

• “You’ve won our cash prize drawing! Send us your banking information so we can deposit your winnings!”
• “You owe back taxes. Send payment immediately using this link or we will refer your case to law enforcement.”
• “We spotted what might be unusual activity on your credit card. Follow this link to confirm your account information.”
• “There was an unauthorized attempt to access your streaming account. Click here to verify your identity.”
• “Your package was undeliverable. Click the attached document to provide delivery instructions.”

Most scammers will employ a sense of urgency to get you to send over money or information.

Bad actors know that victims who feel pressure tend to act less rationally when making decisions.

Moreover, legitimate entities will never ask you to send money or banking information on the spot.

Instead, they will give you information and a specific time frame to act