Phishing emails are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to steal personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data. These emails often appear to be from legitimate sources, making them difficult to identify. In this blog, we’ll explore how to spot phishing emails, provide examples, and offer guidance on what to do if you encounter one.
What is Phishing?
Phishing is a type of cyber attack where attackers send fraudulent messages designed to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. These messages can come in various forms, including emails, text messages, and even phone calls.
Common Signs of Phishing Emails
- Generic Greetings: Phishing emails often use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” instead of your name.
- Urgent Language: They create a sense of urgency, such as “Your account will be suspended” or “Immediate action required.”
- Suspicious Links: Hover over links to see the actual URL. Phishing emails often contain links that lead to malicious websites.
- Unexpected Attachments: Be cautious of unexpected attachments, especially if they are from unknown senders.
- Spelling and Grammar Errors: Many phishing emails contain spelling and grammar mistakes.
- Mismatched Email Addresses: Check the sender’s email address. It may look similar to a legitimate one but with slight variations.
Examples of Phishing Emails
Bank Alert:
- Subject: “Urgent: Account Suspended”
- Content: “Dear Customer, your account has been suspended due to suspicious activity. Click here to verify your account.”
- Signs: Generic greeting, urgent language, suspicious link.
Social Media Notification:
- Subject: “Password Reset Request”
- Content: “We received a request to reset your password. If this was not you, click here to secure your account.”
- Signs: Generic greeting, unexpected request, suspicious link.
What to Do If You Spot a Phishing Email
- Do Not Click on Links or Attachments: Avoid clicking on any links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.
- Verify the Sender: Contact the organization directly using a known and trusted method to verify the email’s authenticity.
- Report the Email: Forward the phishing email to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org or report it to your email provider.
- Delete the Email: Once reported, delete the email from your inbox.
- Scan Your Device: Run a security scan on your device to ensure it hasn’t been compromised.
By staying vigilant and following these guidelines, you can protect yourself from falling victim to phishing scams. Always remember to think before you click and verify the authenticity of any suspicious emails.
For more information, advice or guidance on how to spot phishing emails or how to put security controls in place to protect yourself from them please contact the Secure Chain technical team who will be happy to help!
