At Hills Accounting, we know that Cyber Security for small business is becoming more and more important. And of the many ways that scammers and hackers can affect your business, Email Scams are amongst the most prevalent.
Email Scam Awareness is becoming a real concern for local businesses and individuals alike, in Hobart just as it is around the world. And scam emails are becoming harder and harder to spot.
If you read our article last week, you’ll know these emails don’t arrive looking suspicious.
They look normal.
They feel routine.
And that’s exactly the problem.
💻 Most Scam Emails Don’t Look Like Scams
The days of obvious spelling mistakes and strange formatting are mostly behind us.
Today’s scam emails are:
- Polished
- Well-timed
- And often based on real business activity
But even the best fake still leaves clues.
Here are top five to watch for.
🚩 1. The “From” Email Address Isn’t Quite Right
At first glance, everything looks fine.
But take a closer look.
You might see:
- One extra letter
- A missing character
- A slightly different domain
Example 1:
accounts@suppllier.com.au instead of accounts@supplier.com.au
Example 2:
Why would a business you have worked with previously many times, like www.hillsaccounting.com.au, suddenly have an email address like noreply.hills.accounting@yahoo.com
These are subtle — and they are easy to miss.
🚩 2. Urgency Appears Out of Nowhere
The message suddenly needs action:
“Please process today”
“Urgent payment required”
“Final reminder”
You are wondering what this email is all about, you don’t recall an invoice for $637.11, and now you are being asked for immediate payment.
That sense of urgency is deliberate.
It’s designed to stop you pausing… and checking.
🚩 3. Bank Details Have Changed
This is the big one.
If an email asks you to:
👉 Update bank details
👉 Send payment to a new account
Stop.
Always confirm changes like this by phone to the business being represented in the email, using a trusted number — not the one in the email. Or looking them up on the internet manually, not using the link in the email.
🚩 4. The Tone Feels Slightly Off
This one is harder to explain — but you’ll feel it.
The wording might be:
- Slightly more formal
- Slightly rushed
- Or just not quite how that person usually writes
- You have been doing business with them for years, and now the email is addressed to Dear Business Owner, and not you by name.
Trust that instinct.
🚩 5. Unexpected Attachments or Links
If you do not, normally, pay the company that is being misrepresented in the email via a link in an email. Check with them by another method before paying anything to anyone.
If you weren’t expecting an attachment or link, treat it carefully.
Even if it looks legitimate.
Especially if it asks you to:
- “Log in”
- “Download …….”
- “Or the infamous “review this document urgently”
🛡️ A Simple Habit That Makes a Difference
Any time something lands in your email inbox that involves money — pause.
A quick phone call to confirm details can prevent a very expensive mistake.
It might feel unnecessary at the time…
…but it’s a lot easier than trying to recover funds later.
📌 Final Thought
Email scams don’t succeed because people are careless.
They succeed because they look convincing.
Being aware of these small warning signs can make all the difference.
For more information on recognising and avoiding scams, visit the government website Scamwatch.
Remember, this article is general in nature and doesn’t take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, or needs. For advice tailored to your circumstances, have a chat with us at Hills Accounting Hobart.
Talk to Kathy and the team today and stay ahead with Hills Insights.
Call Now! 03 6273 7800, or email admin@hillsaccounting.com.au.
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