Over the years, phishing has remained one of the most common methods attackers use to access sensitive information. A recent study shows that over 3.4 billion spam emails are sent every day. These emails trick their targets with enticing messages, usually sent via email. A few years ago, attackers would manually write these emails, which often contained grammar errors, making them easier to spot.
However, with the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, attackers can now create flawless and highly personalized emails in seconds, making it much harder to identify phishing attempts. In today’s article, I will discuss the obvious indicators (besides grammar) to help you determine whether an email is legitimate or a phishing attempt—and what actions to take if you spot one. Let’s dive in!
What is a phishing email?
Before getting into the indicators of phishing emails, let’s first understand what these emails are. Simply put, a phishing email is a fraudulent message sent via email designed to trick you into sharing sensitive information or taking harmful actions. It often pretends to be from a trusted organization, such as your employer, bank, social media platform, government agency, and more.
The goal of phishing emails is usually to steal personal information, such as passwords, credit card details, or other confidential data, or to install malware on your device. Phishing emails often include fake links, urgent messages, malicious attachments, or requests for personal information to deceive and exploit recipients.
Identifying phishing emails at a glance
The six key indicators of phishing emails
1. The Message Creates a Sense of Urgency
Scammers design emails to make you feel like you must act immediately. For example, they might claim your account will be locked, your subscription will be canceled, or you’ll miss out on an important opportunity if you don’t respond right away. This pressure prevents you from thinking clearly or taking the time to verify the email’s authenticity.
Many workplace scams also exploit urgency by pretending to be from a boss or senior colleague needing a task done urgently. When you receive such emails, always pause and double-check for any other indicators that I am about to discuss below.
2. The Message Is Sent from a Public Email Domain
Legitimate organizations don’t use public email domains like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com. Instead, they have custom domains (e.g., @google.com for Google or @paypal.com for PayPal). If the sender’s email domain doesn’t match the organization they claim to represent, it’s likely a scam.
For instance, receiving an email about your PayPal account from a @yahoo.com domain is a red flag. Scammers use public domains because they’re easy to set up and don’t require proof of affiliation with a legitimate organization.
3. The Domain Name Is Misspelled
Identifying this type of scam can be particularly challenging. Scammers can use fake domains that look almost identical to legitimate ones. For example, instead of @apple.com, they might use @app1e.com (replacing the “L” with a “1”) or add extra letters, like @apple-support.com. These slight changes can be hard to notice at a glance, especially when combined with professional-looking logos or email designs. Always inspect the sender’s domain closely, especially if the email asks for sensitive information or clicking a link.
4. Promises of Government Refunds or Free Coupons
Emails claiming you’re eligible for a government refund or offering free coupons for products are typically scams. These emails play on people’s desire for financial benefits or free items to trick them into clicking. For example, an email might say, “Claim your $500 government refund today!” or “Get a free $50 gift card!” and then ask you to click a link. Scammers use these tactics to steal personal or financial information. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
5. It Includes Suspicious Attachments or Links
Phishing emails often contain attachments or links designed to harm you. Attachments may include malware that infects your device when downloaded and can leak sensitive information to the attacker. The links may take you to fake websites designed to steal login credentials, credit card numbers, or other personal information.
For example, an email might include a link saying, “Click here to reset your password” or “Click here to claim your gift card,” but the link leads to a fraudulent page. Always hover over links to check where they lead (and make sure it is a legitimate domain name), and avoid downloading attachments from unknown sources.
6. Claims There’s a Problem with Your Account or Payment
Scammers often create fake alerts, such as warnings about account issues or declined payments, to make you panic. For instance, an email might say, “Your payment could not be processed. Update your payment information now.” These messages are designed to trick you into entering sensitive information on fake websites. Legitimate companies usually handle such issues through secure portals or official customer support channels, not by sending alarming emails.
Key Takeaway
The indicators mentioned above may seem obvious to spot, but they can sometimes be missed, especially if you are going about your business and not thinking about phishing emails. Therefore, it is always best to maintain a security mindset at all times. When you receive an email, always pause and verify its legitimacy. Check the sender’s email domains for misspellings or signs of public domains, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown attachments.