In the digital age of today, phishing attacks are more complex and widespread than any other time. Cyber thieves are always finding new ways to con people into giving up their private information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers. Looking for signs of phishing can protect your personal and financial information. Here are a few of the most common warning signs you may be on the receiving end of a phishing attempt — and how a scam checker can help protect you online.
One of the surest signs of a phishing attack is getting an email or message that feels funny. This might include:
- A message from a company at which you don’t have an account.
- An unexpected invoice or receipt.
- A call to verify your account information.
- A message that inspires urgency with false immediacy, such as “Unless you act now, your account will be suspended.”
- Phishing emails impersonate banks, online services, or government agencies to generate panic and pressure you into acting before thinking.
Generic Greetings
You should be shown your name. Legitimate companies approach you by your name. If you get an email with a vague salutation like “Dear Customer” or “Dear User,” it is likely an attempted phishing deception. Scammers usually send out bulk emails and thus won’t personalize the message with your name.
Strange URLs and Email Addresses
Always verify the sender’s email address and the included URLs. Phishing emails frequently go out from email addresses that are just a little askew — like substituting an “rn” for an “m” or using a free email domain when it clearly should have been from a company. Also, phishing links can look real, but will take you to look-alike sites with malicious intent to take your data.
Before you click on any link, hover your mouse over it to see where it goes. If the URL seems suspicious, do not click on it.
Requests for Sensitive Information
Reputable companies will never request private details such as a passcode, credit card number, or Social Security number in an email or text message. If you do, you are a likely target of a phishing scam.
Always confirm it is a genuine request by speaking to the organisation directly through the proper channels of communication–never reply to the message or use any contact details provided.
Poor Grammar and Spelling Mistakes
You can tell because phishing emails often have obvious grammar errors or errors in word choice. Although not all phishing emails are poorly written, poorly constructed emails often are generated hastily or translated from another language, which can lead to mistakes. Any serious company checks its correspondence several times before sending anything.
Attachments You Weren’t Expecting
Beware of unsolicited attachments in an email, even if there is nothing funny, and it seems to come from a friend or someone you know. Phishing scams usually involve contaminated attachments that will infect your device with a virus or malware. Don’t open attachments unless you’re certain they are legitimate.
Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers
If you get a message stating you’ve won a contest you never entered, or one promising you a reward in return for clicking a link or giving up your information, it’s almost certainly a scam. These are scams where the financial victim is lured by curiosity and greed.
Defend Yourself With a Scam Checker
Avoiding phishing attacks is one of the easiest, and using a scam checker works too. The following tools can help analyze emails, URLs, and websites to see if they’re legitimate or a scam is on. A scam checker may alert you to dodgy domains, pick up on misleading content, and get you somewhere close to an answer about whether you should proceed with caution, at all.
You can also download browser add-ons and antivirus programs that come with scam detection features. Frequently updating your software and turning on two-factor authentication provide another layer of protection.
Final Thoughts
Though it’s hard to spot a phishing scam, if you know what you’re looking for and stay vigilant, chances are you won’t get reeled in. Keep in mind to check the originator of emails and messages before clicking on suspicious links or divulging personal information. And, of course, be sure to use a scam checker to vet anything that looks sketchy. You are offering us the most effective protection against cybercriminals.