Protecting Vantage Apparel from Phishing and Credential Theft
Email is a primary communication tool for our business—and a common attack vector for cybercriminals. As a distributor of promotional products, we often receive purchase orders, art files, and product images via email with attached documents or shared links. While Microsoft 365 security features help block most obvious threats, malicious links often appear harmless at first and may only become dangerous after a redirect or during login prompts.
To maintain cybersecurity hygiene, all employees should follow link validation steps before clicking any link in an email—even from known contacts.
Attackers can:
Use lookalike domains or fake sender names (e.g., mypromooffice.com vs. mypromo0ffice.com)
Send links that initially load a safe-looking site, but then redirect to phishing pages
Embed credential stealers behind legitimate-looking requests (e.g., “View Sample Order” or “Download Art File”)
Even HTTPS links (secure connections) can still host malicious content. That’s why multiple checks—technical and contextual—are essential.
Hover your mouse over the link (don’t click).
Look in the lower-left of your screen or tooltip to see the actual destination URL.
Validate that it:
Begins with https://
Matches the sender's company and purpose
Contains no misspellings or suspicious extra characters
Right-click the link and choose “Copy link address”.
Paste it into Notepad or TextEdit to see the full, raw URL.
Be cautious of:
Shortened URLs (e.g., bit.ly, tinyurl)
Unexpected file types (e.g., .exe, .scr) - NEVER CLICK on this types of links.
Overly complex strings that don’t match your expectations
If you're unsure, use one of the following free tools to scan the link before clicking:
| Website Name | URL | Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VirusTotal | https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/url | Scans URLs with 70+ antivirus engines | Clean results ≠ guarantee; use context |
| URLVoid | https://www.urlvoid.com/ | Checks domain against 30+ blacklists | Great for spotting historically malicious domains |
| Google Safe Browsing | https://transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search | Reports if Google sees the site as dangerous | May not show recent or highly targeted threats |
Always evaluate the email itself for red flags:
Sender's name and domain (look for slight misspellings or impersonation)
Unexpected or urgent language (“ASAP”, “Click now”, “Immediate response needed”)
Spelling/grammar errors - With AI this advice is no longer valid.
Unusual attachments or shared drives not typically used by the sender
Forward suspicious emails to PCSupport@VantageApparel.com
DO NOT open links or attachments you are unsure about
If urgent, call the sender using known contact information—not the number in the email.
Even with advanced security systems in place, individual vigilance is the final line of defense. By hovering over links, checking for HTTPS, validating full URLs, and using scanner tools, you help prevent attacks that could compromise your data, your credentials, or our company’s systems.
Stay alert. When in doubt—ask IT.