Next time you scroll through your emails and see an unfamiliar message, don't be so quick to open it.
You would think by clicking 'unsubscribe' to some of these annoying emails would be the best thing to do to get off that mailing list, but in reality you could be opening up a whole new can of worms.
Online security expert Tom Siu, of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, says look carefully while sorting through your e-mails.
"If you didn't subscribe to it, it's probably not for you," says Siu.
Siu says best to just drag that message to your spam folder so your email provider, like Google for instance, will recognize that sender in the future, and in turn, place another message like that one in your spam folder before it gets to you, or anyone else.
Clicking unsubscribe to some of these e-mails tells these frauds you're a live person and your e-mail address is active.
Now, if you think these scams only come to your computer, think again, more cell phone users are getting attacked through text messages.
In some cases, these phishing scam texts will say there's an issue with your bank account, and then direct you to call a number to get reactivated.
Doing that allows the scammer to collect your personal information, including Social Security number, address and account details.
"The world is changing every day. You may have been sophisticated last month, and this month, there's gonna be something new," says Siu.
So, bottom line, if the message looks suspicious, or if an offer sounds too good to be true, like 'click here' for a new iPad, don't open it.
Some safety tips can be found here at securingthehuman.org.
WKYC-TV