Fake emails (sometimes known as phishing) are spam emails cleverly disguised to trick the reader into thinking they're from someone they trust, when in fact they could contain a virus or malware to infect your computer.
Unfortunately this is a reality for the digital age, but the good news is if you know what to look for, you wont get stung.
If you have received an email you think is fake, follow these steps BEFORE opening the email.
1) Who is the sender?
Have a look at the very top of the email. The sneaky spammers may mask the name making it say the company you trust, but pay close attention to the email itself. Does it look suspicious? At Bingle, all our email addresses end in @bingle.com.au, or @suncorp.com.au. If you receive an email that is from anyone else, you can treat it as suspicious.
2) Did I know it was coming?
Were you expecting this email? Never open or take action on an email that is suspicious, not addressed directly to you, or didn't use your correct name. For example, an email saying "Dear User, download this document due to an error on your policy".
3) Does this look like a chain, or forwarded email?
An easy way to hide a virus or malicious email is to make it look like someone you trust has forwarded it to you. If Aunt Jenny sends you a forwarded email out of the blue with an attachment with a suspicious title, give her a call and ask if she sent it before you open it.
If you've received an email, from someone pretending to be Bingle or otherwise, and any of the above flag something suspicious - delete the email without opening it, and let the business know (if they didn't know already).
More information about how to stay safe online can be found here