"Hackers know password from your account. Password must be changed now." the subject screamed.

Apparently I was working hard at 2.42am last Wednesday sending myself a blackmail attempt, whilst I have been known to put in long hours, this wasn't one of those nights. 

Of course, I knew it was just a scam attempt, but I decided to include it as this weeks' blog to highlight just how easy it is for scammers to send you emails from cloaked addresses and how it can catch uneducated users unaware, especially in more tame circumstances like requests for invoice payments, where someone could impersonate the email address of one of your real suppliers requesting payment for an invoice (which is why it is always good to advise your clients by phone in person of any bank account changes or chasing invoices).

Have a read of the email in full and see how many of the red flags you can spot that indicate that the email isn't legitimate:

I am happy to note I am neither $997 poorer, nor have my dirty deeds been spread wide and far to my contacts. The eagled-eye readers will note that I have waited more than 48 hours since opening the email just to be sure!