Scams & Fraud
# Awareness of Scams and Fraud
Be cautious: criminals may impersonate representatives from InteXMetals to execute scams or fraudulent activities.
## Red Flags to Watch For
Scams typically arise through email and can take various forms, such as:
- Requests for sensitive information like passwords or banking details, often accompanied by links to deceptive websites
- Claims of urgent actions required (e.g., immediate payments)
- Unsolicited monetary offers
- Threats of legal consequences for non-response
- Attachments disguised as harmless documents, like industry updates, that may contain malware
Fraud relies on tricking the victim into engaging with the scammer. This often involves misleading tactics to prompt actions, such as clicking on dubious links. Always verify links in emails before accessing them. Be especially wary if the link contains the name InteXMetals but is formatted in a way that looks similar, such as "intexmetlas.com" or "inteexmetals.org".
For your reference, legitimate InteXMetals websites include:
- intexmetals.com
- intexmetalsnews.com
### Common Fraudulent Tactics
Communications misrepresenting InteXMetals may display these concerning characteristics:
- **Altered Bank Account Information:** InteXMetals strongly cautions against sharing personal information, making payments, or changing bank details based solely on email requests. We will never communicate changes to our bank account information via email. If you receive such a message, please confirm with an InteXMetals contact before proceeding with any payments.
- **Suspicious Email Addresses:** All authentic InteXMetals emails use the format {name}@intexmetals.com. Any email that claims to be from InteXMetals but deviates from this format is likely fraudulent. Be aware that email addresses can be spoofed; always check the reply-to address for legitimacy.
- **Missing Attachments:** Scammers might send emails without the expected invoice attached, encouraging recipients to reply and request the attachment, thereby establishing a false sense of trust.
- **Fake Job Offers:** Fraudsters may pretend to be employees or recruiters, offering fictitious job positions and seeking sensitive information (e.g., bank details). Victims may even be asked to pay fees related to the job or interview.
Any communication displaying these warning signs is unlikely to originate from InteXMetals and should be treated with skepticism. If you receive any suspicious emails or invoices, do not engage with the sender. Instead, report the incident to it-security@intexmetals.com right away.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. We urge you to exercise caution regarding any emails that seem suspicious, regardless of whether they feature these specific indicators.
## Ensuring Secure Communication
For secure interactions, always validate emails that claim to be from InteXMetals by following these email security measures:
- Utilize TLS encryption for SMTP connections between mail servers
- Implement SPF/DKIM/DMARC protocols to confirm the authenticity of mail servers
- [Optional] Consider end-to-end signatures and encryption methods like S/MIME
## Reporting Suspicious Activity
If you receive a message claiming to be from InteXMetals that appears suspicious, or if you wish to verify the authenticity of any invoices or emails you think may be fraudulent, please reach out to us at