How to Spot a Phishing Email
Phishing emails are a type of scam where attackers will try to impersonate legitimate brands in an attempt to trick you into handing over personal data, or to get you to click a link that will download malicious data onto your device.
It’s important you know what to look out for in a phishing email, so you can avoid being tricked into doing what they want.
7 Things to Look Out For in a Suspicious Email
1. Poor Spelling & Grammar
Make sure to read the email thoroughly and look out for any simple spelling mistakes or use of poor or incorrect grammar within the email.
2. Use of General Greetings
A legitimate company will send emails addressed to you and will make use of your name. Phishing emails, however, will use a more general greeting such as ‘Dear Customer’.
3. Is it too good to be true?
If you find yourself thinking this is too good to be true, it probably is. The aim of a phishing attack is to try to get you to do something such as clicking a link, and if they can do that by telling you that you could get the latest iPhone for free, then that’s what they’ll say.
4. If there’s a sense of real urgency
Is the email trying to push you to do something immediately? Are they asking you to transfer money immediately? Or to change your password right this minute? If so, treat the email suspiciously.
5. The email was sent from a public domain
Most legitimate company’s don’t send emails from an address that ends in something like @gmail.com or @hotmail.com. Check the email address that the email was sent from. And, if you’re still unsure, you can always go onto your search engine and search for the company’s email.
6. It includes suspicious links or attachments
Phishing emails are likely to include a link or attachment that if clicked will likely do one of 2 things: install malicious hardware onto your device or try to capture your username and/or password.
7. The email makes unrealistic threats or demands
Phrases such as ‘urgent action required’ or ‘your account will be closed’ are common, unrealistic threats associated with phishing messages.
Phishing Email Example
