"Your invoice is attached."
"Your payment has been deposited. See attached receipt."
Our CEO recently received a scam email with similar language to the above from someone pretending to be associated with QuickBooks/Intuit. We want to use this experience to remind you that you should be on the lookout and be alert that this type of phishing scam is very dangerous and can cause great harm to your business.
Most likely, this linked file will have a virus or ransomware. Never open, or download attachments or click on any of the links presented in the phishing emails. You can hover your mouse over links to see where the link will end up taking you to if you click on it. Never open a linked file unless you are expecting a file from your contact. I have seen emails like this come from contact addresses that I know, but that is because the true identity of the sender has been masked.
Here are some guidelines from QuickBooks to always follow to help combat this type of bad behavior. What can I do to protect myself from a phishing attack?
•If you suspect you have received a phishing email targeting the Intuit brand, go to the Intuit Online Security Center for further information. If you don't find a similar email within the Security Alerts, select the Report Suspicious E-mail to file a report.
•Install antivirus software and make sure to keep it up to date.
•Make sure you use a modern browser, and keep it up to date.
•Keep your operating system and any critical programs up to date with the latest patches. These updates are frequently security-related.
•Do not respond to emails asking for details about your account, password, banking, or credit card information.
•Do not open up any attachment that claims to be a software update. We will not send any software updates via email. It’s a good idea to never open any attachments unless you both know the sender and you’re expecting an attachment from them.
•Make sure you have strong passwords on your computer and your payroll files.
•Never share your passwords with anyone.
If you are ever concerned, you may find the exact and same type of email at Intuit online Security center. Be safe and keep your computer safe as well.