How to Spot Phishing Email: 7 Red Flags
- Cybersecurity
Phishing emails are a common way for cybercriminals to steal your personal information or to infect your computer with malware. These emails often appear to be from legitimate companies, such as your bank, credit card company, or online retailer. However, they are actually fake. The goal is to trick you into giving up your personal information or clicking on a malicious link.
Here are 7 red flags that can help you spot a phishing email.
1. Generic Greetings
Phishing emails often use generic greetings like “Dear User” or “Dear Valued Customer” instead of your name. This is because phishing emails are often mass-sent, so it is not practical for the sender to address each recipient by name.
2. Urgency and Threats
Phishing emails often use a sense of urgency or threatening language to try to scare the victim into responding. This is because they know that people are more likely to act quickly when they feel that they are in danger.
They use some common phrases like these:
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Your account will be suspended if you …
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Your credit card will be cancelled if you …
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Your computer has been infected with malware. Click on this link …
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You have won a prize, but you must click on …
Any of these phrases is a red flag that the email may be a phishing attempt. Do not click on any links or open any attachments in the email. If you are unsure, its better to contact the company directly to verify the request.
3. Suspicious Links
Be cautious of links in emails. Phishers may disguise malicious links by displaying a legitimate-looking text but it will direct you to a different website instead. Hover your mouse cursor over the link (without clicking) to see the actual URL. If the URL does not match the website you are expecting to go to, it is likely a phishing link.
4. Poor Grammar and Spelling
Poor grammar and spelling in phishing emails are often used as a red flag to indicate that an email may be fraudulent. This is because many phishing emails are created by scammers who are not native English speakers or who do not speak good English.
In addition, it is also possible that the phishers use poor grammar and spelling deliberately for another reasons:
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To weed out smart people Scammers might want to target only the people who are most likely to fall for the scam. By using poor grammar and spelling, the scammers hope to weed out the people who are most likely to be suspicious of the email.
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To make the email look more urgent Phishing emails often use a sense of urgency to try to scare the victim into responding quickly. By using poor grammar and spelling, the scammers hope to make the email look more urgent and important.
5. Request for Personal Information
Phishing emails often request personal information from the recipient such as: name, credit card number, social security number, and other information.
They often request this information under the guise of verifying your account, updating your information, or providing you with a refund. The real goal is to steal your personal information so they can use it for fraudulent purposes.
6. Unusual Sender’s Email Address
Pay attention to the sender’s email address. Phishers may use addresses that look like the legitimate ones but have slight variations or even different domain names. Watch out for any inconsistencies or unfamiliar email addresses.
7. Unfamiliar or Unexpected Attachments
Be cautious of unexpected email attachments, especially if they come from unknown senders. Phishing emails often include attachments that are infected with malware, which can steal your personal information or damage your computer.
Key Takeaways
Phishing emails are designed to trick you into giving up your personal information or downloading malware. But there are some red flags that can help you to identify phishing emails. If you receive an email that you think suspicious, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Instead, contact the company directly to verify the request.