Being tech-savvy is not enough to protect you from a phishing email attack. The scammer is often good at implementing his strategies and is always developing and coming up with new techniques, and it is easy to fall victim to him. Fraudulent emails are becoming common and can sometimes appear to be quite real. Checking some small signs can help you easily spot these messages and avoid the risks associated with them.
From verifying your email address to monitoring for strange phrases and suspicious links, there are simple steps you can take to keep your information safe. Using these tried and tested methods, I can easily spot fraudulent emails. Check Phishing, Fraudulent SMS and Fraudulent Phone Calls: What's the difference?
1. Unofficial email addresses that look legitimate
You'll often see obviously fake email addresses. If the address in the message is a set of random numbers and letters followed by your service provider's domain (for example, @gmail.com or @outlook.com), I usually send them to the trash folder without thinking twice. However, you will occasionally encounter fake email addresses that appear to be real.
For example, at first glance, I received emails from my bank and e-commerce stores that were difficult to distinguish from the official domain. However, when you look closely, you will notice that some letters may be missing or added. The scammer often uses similar characters and even a brand logo as a profile picture.
Fortunately, it's becoming easier to discover real addresses. Many large companies place verification marks next to the sender's emails; You may have noticed this in Gmail. You can also use multiple tools to find and verify email addresses.
2. Spelling and grammatical errors
Unfortunately, identifying fraudulent emails based on grammar is becoming more difficult due to generative AI and spell-checking software; This is one of many ways a hacker uses generative AI capabilities in their attacks. However, I still check for spelling and grammar errors to determine if the email is legitimate.
If phishing emails aren't written by AI, they're almost always in bad English. I acknowledge that I am a native English speaker, which gives me a huge advantage, but I don't think you have to be to identify these signs. Fraudulent emails are rarely well formatted, and spaces between letters and punctuation marks are also often observed.
Most brands prioritize consistency; You'll notice the same capital letters throughout the message. However, since a scammer often doesn't do this, a consistency check is a subtle way to determine if an email is legitimate. If every word is capitalized in the title but not in the email addresses or subheadings, this could be a warning sign.
Some phishing messages may also miss some words. Incomplete signatures are another potential warning sign, although this is not always the case. Check out What is the Tactic of Not Using Font in Email Phishing Scams?
3. Customization
If I see an email that starts with “Dear Sir/Madam,” I automatically delete it. At best, it's an annoying spam email that certainly doesn't make me want to work with someone. But at worst, it could be a phishing email trying to trick me into sending sensitive information — like my bank account details.
Now, however, phishing messages are becoming more personal. It's not uncommon for the sender to use your first name, and may go into detail to find out information about your friends and family. That's why you need to avoid many social media mistakes to protect your privacy.
The phishing sender may also be trying to determine your recent purchase history. For example, I often receive unsolicited emails when purchasing an item online (and they are always related to the delivery of my package). These messages often include a link with a call to action (CTA).
You may also see phishing emails linked to products you're interested in. These types of scams spread at specific points throughout the year; For example, it's especially important to stay safe from scams during the holiday season.
4. Links that do not match “organization”
While some links include a call to action, this will not always be the case. Sometimes the sender of a fraudulent email will include a link that is completely unrelated to the organization they are impersonating. For example, someone might pretend to be from Amazon but share a link to a different app.
Fortunately, these types of fraudulent emails are much easier to recognize and avoid. First, most brands that reach out to you with links will likely include some type of call to action. But even if she doesn't, the link will lead to her website or the service she uses to track and send orders.
Exaggerated calls to action, such as multiple emojis, can be a warning sign that you're about to click on a phishing email.
5. Shortened links
Shortened links aren't bad in and of themselves; You often see it used on social media sites. But when I receive emails, I take shortened links as a big red flag — especially if I don't know the sender.
If someone is going to email a link, I want to make sure I know the source. Seeing random letters next to each other will not gain my trust, and this indicates that someone is trying to take advantage.
I strongly suggest that you do not click on any shortened links you see in emails and delete the email. If someone is trying to impersonate a company, I often try to send it to the support team so they can let other customers know.
6. “This message looks dangerous.”
I mainly use Gmail, and fortunately, the app is pretty good at warning me when I see an email that might pose a threat. You'll often see a message in red saying “This message looks dangerous,” and despite using the service for over five years, I've yet to see a time when the app was wrong about this.
When you use Google Workspace, Gmail will warn you when someone outside your organization sends you a message. Not all of these messages are serious, and honestly, most of them will be fine — but if you're in doubt, you might want to keep this in mind.
As artificial intelligence develops, it may be more difficult for email providers to flag messages as dangerous. So, knowing how to protect yourself from Gmail scams using AI — and do the same with other platforms — is essential.
7. The language used
I've noticed that many phishing messages try to create a sense of urgency. For example, I can't lose count of the number of times someone has asked me to send money for an important surgery. Other common phishing attempts I've seen include trying to tell me that one of my subscription payments has failed; Identifying them is particularly difficult because they often impersonate services I already use.
Even if you have decades of marketing experience, these emails can be unsettlingly persuasive. In addition to checking the sender, I try not to take action on messages I send without first stepping back to think. If you revisit a phishing email, you can often notice intricate details that will prevent you from falling victim to it.
While phishing messages are becoming more sophisticated, you can often still determine if a message is legitimate. Watch for spelling and grammar errors, and check all email addresses before responding. You should also be very careful before clicking on links. Learn now how to protect yourself from scams when you unsubscribe from spam emails.
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