We want to alert you to a recent increase in scam emails targeting our community. Some of these fraudulent emails pretend to be from fellow u3a members, particularly targeting those who have a dedicated Sevenoaks u3a email address.
Scammers often harvest names and email addresses from public spaces. To help protect you, our policy is never to publish personal email addresses or phone numbers on our website, in newsletters, or in other public documents. Please take a moment to review this more detailed guide below on how to protect yourself.
🛡️ How to Spot a Scam Email
- Check the Sender’s True Address: Don't just trust the display name.
- On a computer: Hover your mouse over the sender's name to see the actual email address behind it.
- On a phone or tablet: Tap on the sender's name to expand the details and view the full email address. Does it look legitimate, or is it a random string of characters?
- Be Careful with Links: Before clicking any link:
- On a computer: Hover over the link to see the destination URL.
- On a phone or tablet: Press and hold (long-press) the link for a second to bring up a preview of the actual web address without opening it. If it looks strange, do not tap it.
⚠️ Red Flags to Watch Out For
- Urgency or Panic: Messages demanding immediate action, making threats, or offering things that seem "too good to be true."
- Vague Greetings: Generic openings like "Dear Member" or "Hi Friend" instead of your name, often accompanied by poor spelling and grammar.
- Unexpected Attachments: Never open attachments (like unexpected invoices or receipts) that you were not anticipating.
A Note on Your Spam Folder
Major email providers have recently strengthened their security filters. While this helps stop scams, it also means that legitimate u3a emails are increasingly ending up in Spam or Junk folders.
Please remember to check your Spam folder periodically to ensure you haven't missed any important emails. If you find a legitimate email there, mark it as "Not Spam" to train your provider for the future.