Internet & Security

How to Spot a Phishing Message

By Haroon Rasheed 1 min read
Smartphone displaying a suspicious phishing message with warning signs for identifying online scams

Phishing messages pretend to come from a bank, delivery company or a service you use, and try to trick you into giving away passwords or codes.

Warning signs

  • Urgency. “Your account will be closed in 24 hours” is designed to make you panic.
  • A strange sender address. The display name looks right, but the email domain does not match the real company.
  • Links that do not match. Hover over a link (or press and hold on a phone) to preview the real address before opening it.
  • Requests for secrets. Real companies do not ask for your password or one-time code by message.
  • Unexpected attachments. Do not open files you were not expecting.

What to do

  1. Do not click or reply. Open the official app or type the website address yourself.
  2. Report the message as phishing in your email app, then delete it.
  3. If you already entered a password, change it immediately and turn on two-factor authentication.
  4. If you shared banking details, contact your bank right away.

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