
Long description - The 7 red flags of phishing
Phishing is one of the most common threats you can encounter online. Luckily, phishing messages can be easy to spot – if you know what you’re looking for.
Here are the 7 biggest red flags you should check for when you receive an email or text.
1 Urgent or threatening language
Real emergencies don’t happen over email.
Look out for:
- Pressure to respond quickly
- Threats of closing your account or taking legal action
2 Requests for sensitive information
Anyone asking for personal information over email or text probably shouldn’t be trusted with it, anyway.
Look out for:
- Links directing you to login pages
- Requests to update your account information
- Demands for your financial information, even from your bank.
3 Anything too good to be true
Winning a lottery is unlikely. Winning a lottery you didn’t enter is impossible!
Look out for:
- Winnings from contests you’ve never entered
- Prizes you have to pay to receive
- Inheritance from long-lost relatives
4 Unexpected emails
Except the unexpected, and then send it right to the trash.
Look out for:
- Receipts for items you didn’t purchase
- Updates on deliveries for things you didn’t order
5 Information mismatches
Searching for clues in phishing email puts your love of true crime podcasts to good use.
Look out for:
- Incorrect (but maybe similar) sender email addresses
- Links that don’t go to official websites
- Spelling or grammar errors, beyond the odd typo, that a legitimate organization wouldn’t miss
6 Suspicious attachments
Attachments might seem like gifts for your inbox. But just like real gifts, they’re not always good…
Look out for:
- Attachments you didn’t ask for
- Weird file names
- Uncommon file types
7 Unprofessional design
For some reason, hiring a graphic designer isn’t on a cyber criminals priority list.
Look out for:
- Incorrect or blurry logos
- Company emails with little, poor or no formatting
- Image-only emails (no highlightable text)
If you spot any of these red flags in a message:
- don’t click any links
- don’t reply or forward
- don’t open attachments
Delete the email or text, or reach out to the sender through a different channel if you're not sure.
Get more tips to protect yourself and your devices at: GetCyberSafe.ca