Despite years of security awareness training, phishing remains one of the most common ways attackers gain access to accounts and networks. A message that looks like it came from a bank, a delivery company or your own employer can trick even careful people, especially when they are busy. Knowing what to look for makes you a harder target.
Check the Sender Carefully
Look beyond the display name and examine the full email address. Attackers often use addresses that are close to the real thing, such as an extra letter or a different domain ending. An unexpected message from an executive, a vendor or a government agency that asks you to act quickly deserves extra scrutiny.
Watch for Urgency and Pressure
Phishing messages often claim that your account will be closed, a payment failed, or a package cannot be delivered unless you act immediately. Pressure is a tactic meant to stop you from thinking. Real organizations rarely demand instant action by email alone.
Inspect Links Before Clicking
On a computer, hover over a link to see the actual destination in the corner of your browser. On a phone, press and hold the link to preview it. If the web address does not match the organization it claims to be, do not click. A safer approach is to type the website address yourself or use a saved bookmark.
Be Careful With Attachments
Unexpected attachments, especially invoices, shipping documents and files that ask you to enable macros or content, can carry malware. If you were not expecting a file, confirm with the sender using a different channel such as a phone call.
Look for Other Red Flags
- Generic greetings such as "Dear customer".
- Spelling and grammar mistakes, although modern scams can be polished.
- Requests for passwords, verification codes or payment details.
- Unusual payment methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Messages that ask you to keep something secret.
What to Do If You Clicked
If you entered a password on a suspicious page, change it right away on the real site and on any other account where you used it. Turn on multi-factor authentication, check account activity for anything unfamiliar and tell your IT team if it involves a work account. If you opened a suspicious file, disconnect from the network and run a security scan.
Report It
Use the report phishing option in your email service, and forward scams to the impersonated organization and to authorities such as the Federal Trade Commission. Reporting helps protect others, and it helps security teams block the campaign.
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