3 Ways to Help Identify an Email Phishing Attempt
Since most of us check emails on a daily basis, it is highly likely that we’ll be presented with an email phishing attempt. A phishing email typically looks like a legitimate email from a company, bank, or institution and usually asks for the receiver to click a link, to reset a password, or to enter information. Often this is to steal your information or gain access to your accounts. Let’s look at a few things to look for when coming across these types of emails.
Email phishing has become a big problem for consumers and has led to security breaches, credit card and bank fraud, and even identity theft. Here are three ways to identify an email phishing attempt.
1. From Address – One of the best ways to identify a phishing email is look at the from address in the email. Typically phishing emails will be sent from an address that is not owned by the institution, but instead is some spin-off on the name. This can sometimes be tricky to identify but a quick Internet search can often reveal an issue.
2. Urgency – Many phishing emails use urgency to get you to click. These can be things like password resets, update information requests, or even claims of hacks or account breaches. It’s important to not react too quickly to an email you receive and never click on any item unless you are 100% sure that the email is from the source.
3. Misspellings – Email Hackers have become very sophisticated in the way they create an email. Emails will look just like they have come from the institution they are mimicking. Look for misspellings or other blatant mistakes. If possible, call the institution directly and ask if they have sent you the email. Make sure to look up the institution’s phone number and don’t use any information provided in the email.
The best advice when dealing with potential phishing emails is to be wary of all emails that ask for you to do something. Typically companies send emails to keep you informed rather than requesting you to provide information. If you think you have clicked on a phishing email give our team a call.;
Portsmouth Computer Group
603-431-4121
www.pcgit.com