Identifying phishing emails.

Identifying a phishing email can be straightforward if you follow these steps:

Steps to Identify a Phishing Email:

1. Check the Sender’s Email Address:

• What to Look For: Verify that the sender’s email address matches the official domain of the company or person it claims to be from. Be cautious of slight misspellings or unusual characters.
• Example: An email from PayPal might come from “su*****@pa****.com,” but a phishing email might come from “su*****@pa*****.com” or “su*****@pa***********.com.”

1. Examine the Subject Line and Content:

• What to Look For: Phishing emails often use urgent or alarming language to prompt immediate action. Be wary of subject lines like “Immediate Action Required” or “Your Account Has Been Compromised.”
• Example: Legitimate companies rarely use threatening language or urgent demands in their communications.

1. Look for Generic Greetings:

• What to Look For: Phishing emails often use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” instead of your actual name.
• Example: A genuine email from your bank will likely address you by your name rather than a generic term.

1. Check for Spelling and Grammar Errors:

• What to Look For: Phishing emails often contain noticeable spelling and grammatical mistakes.
• Example: Phrases like “Your account has ben suspnded. Clik here to resolve issue” are clear red flags.

1. Inspect Links Before Clicking:

• What to Look For: Hover over any links without clicking to see the actual URL. Ensure it matches the company’s official website.
• Example: A link claiming to lead to “www.amazon.com” might actually direct you to “www.amaz0n-security.com.”

1. Verify Attachments:

• What to Look For: Be cautious with email attachments, especially if you weren’t expecting them. Phishing emails often include malicious attachments.
• Example: Legitimate businesses rarely send unsolicited attachments. If an attachment looks suspicious, don’t open it.

1. Check the Email Signature:

• What to Look For: Legitimate emails typically have a professional signature with contact information.
• Example: Lack of contact details or an unprofessional signature can indicate a phishing attempt.

Examples and Sources:

1. Check the Sender’s Email Address:

• How to Spot a Phishing Email (Phishing.org)

1. Examine the Subject Line and Content:

• Identifying Phishing Scams (Norton)

1. Look for Generic Greetings:

• How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams (FTC)

1. Check for Spelling and Grammar Errors:

• What Is Phishing? Learn to Recognize Phishing Emails (Microsoft)

1. Inspect Links Before Clicking:

• How to Spot a Phishing Email (Phishing.org)

1. Verify Attachments:

• Phishing and Suspicious Behaviour (Google Support)

1. Check the Email Signature:

• How to Spot a Phishing Email (Phishing.org)

By following these steps, you can identify potential phishing emails and protect yourself from falling victim to scams.