Phishing Awareness
Recognize and avoid phishing scams.
A simple educational guide to help readers identify fake emails, suspicious messages, and deceptive websites designed to steal information.
Phishing
Fake Emails/Links
Beginner
Prevention
Phishing Red Flags
Common signs of a phishing attempt.
Phishing messages often try to create a sense of urgency or fear to trick you into clicking a link or providing personal details.
Extreme Urgency
Messages that claim your account will be deleted or suspended "immediately" if you don't take action.
Generic Greetings
Using terms like "Dear Valued Customer" instead of your actual name can be a sign of a bulk phishing email.
Suspicious Links
Links that look slightly different from official website names or use shortening services to hide the destination.
Step-by-step Guide
How to inspect a suspicious email safely.
If you receive an unexpected email asking for information, use these simple checks before clicking anything.
Check the sender's address
Hover over or tap the sender's name to see the actual email address. Look for extra characters or misspelled domain names.
Hover before clicking
On a computer, hover your mouse over a link (don't click) to see the actual web address in the bottom corner of your browser.
Verify through official apps
Instead of clicking the email link, go directly to the official website or use the company's official app to check your account status.
Educational safety note
Legitimate companies (like banks or government agencies) will rarely ask for your password, social security number, or credit card details through an unsolicited email or text message.