1. What is Bad Email? Spam, Phishing, Scam, Hoax and Malware distributed via Email
is one of the most effective tools in the cybercriminals arsenal. Spam filters stop much of the bad that would otherwise end up in your inbox, but crafty cybercriminals know how to design their s in a way that can circumvent your these filters. This tutorial was created to address the question, what is bad ? Several examples have been identified for you on the following slides.

2. Spam: Spam is unsolicited or undesired electronic junk mail
Spam: Spam is unsolicited or undesired electronic junk mail. Characteristics of spam are:
Mass mailing to large number of recipients
Usually a commercial advertisement
Annoying but usually harmless unless coupled with a fraud based phishing scam
What is spam?
Spam is unsolicited or undesired electronic junk . Some characteristics of spam are:
Mass mailing to a large number of recipients
Usually a commercial advertisement,
Annoying but usually harmless unless coupled with a fraud based phishing scam

3. EXAMPLES SPAM Advertising and great deals Do I know this person?
Warning from Google-nice job Google
Sent to a large number of users at once
Lets review one that we received here at SLU.
Notice the Super Offer advertised
Pfizer Sale is the supposed sender (hmm-someone doesn’t know their grammar very well). Who is I don’t know this person and I am certainly not buying pharmaceuticals from her.
A red flag that this is spam is that it is sent to a large number of users as one time.
This one ended up in our spam folder due to the spam filters set in place. Thanks Google for the warning notice.
Now they want you to click on a link in this . Too many red flags in this one, I think I’ll get a prescription from my doctor.
These s often end up in our spam folder because of our spam filters in place
Is this a trusted website?

4. EXAMPLE SPAM & PHISHING
americanexpress.com is the legitimate address not aexp.com
EXAMPLE
Sent to a large number of users at one time
Generic greeting
Asking you to click on a link that goes to a fraudulent website. Hover over the link to see where it really goes

5. Phishing
A phishing is a fraudulent message carefully crafted to trick you into giving up your password or other sensitive information. Financial gain and criminal activity are the key motivations for phishing. Characteristics of phishing s are:
Invoke a sense of urgency
Asking you to click on a link embedded in the that has no affiliation with the organization it is masquerading as
Asking for passwords or other sensitive information such as a social security number
Generic greetings and signatures
Odd spelling or grammar

6. PHISHING
EXAMPLE

7. Scam
fraud or scams can come in many different forms such as job scams and lottery scams. They are cons and share the same characteristics:
Requests for money
Requests to cash a check, wire money, or set up a bank account
Promises of money for little or no effort
Odd grammar and misspellings

8. JOB SCAM EXAMPLE Email address looks real but does not actually exist
Asking you to respond to a non-SLU address
EXAMPLE
Odd grammar
Too good to be true
Not a SLU person and no contact information

9. JOB SCAM
EXAMPLE
Asking you to send personally identifiable information such as SSN, drivers license or other ID

10. Hoax
A hoax is also known as a spoof . The sender alters part of the such as the senders name or address so it appears to come from a legitimate source. Characteristics of hoax s are:
Spread urban myths or outlandish stories
Sell a bogus product or market an online service
Spoofed address to appear legitimate
Odd spelling or grammar
Promise or request of money

11. This could be a spoofed email address or compromised account of a SLU student so it looks legitimate
HOAX & SCAM
EXAMPLE
Invoke of sense of urgency or need
Sent to a member of the students contact list
Poor punctuation and odd grammar throughout body of message
Actual signature of SLU student

12. Malware distributed via Email:
Malware, or malicious software, is software used to disrupt computer operation, gain access to private computer systems or gather sensitive information. Attachments in s and internet advertising are two ways malware is distributed. Some types of malware include:
Viruses, ransomware, worms, Trojan horse, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware and adware
A common Trojan horse masquerades itself as anti-virus software. The Trojan presents itself as something harmful or useful in order to get victims to install it on their computer
Could be a keystroke logger that can capture all your passwords!

13. MALWARE
EXAMPLE
Often sent from someone you trust without their knowledge
Enticing subject line
Generic looking attachment or link that will download malware to your computer without your knowledge

14. What do I do with Bad Email?
Spam or phishing from an unknown sender can be marked as spam within your program. This alerts Google to begin blocking the sender address. Other bad such as hoaxes, can just be deleted unless…..
Bad from a known sender such as someone in your SLU contact list might indicate they have a compromised account. Forward the to so it can be investigated.
Phishing that is concerning, can be forwarded to the helpdesk so they can be investigated. Once forwarded, choose the report phishing option within Google. This alerts Google of the fraudulent activity.
Other bad that is concerning, such as those that might contain a malware attachment or job scams, can be forwarded to the helpdesk.
If you have responded to any of these s with personal information, or clicked on links that may have downloaded malware, please contact the ITS Service Desk at or
The helpdesk will involve Information Security when necessary

15. Summary:
The easiest way for cybercriminals to gain access to our resources is through unaware end users. Because this activity will continue to increase, it is imperative that we critically evaluate s we receive. We cannot stop cybercriminals from sending bad , however, by becoming aware of what we should be looking for, we can limit our response to them which in turn will protect our resources as well as our personal information.
More info:
For more examples on phishing s, visit:
Take the anti-phish IQ Test hosted by Dell SonicWall visit: