Phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated, making it crucial to recognize the signs before falling victim. Knowing what is a common indicator of a phishing attempt can significantly enhance your cybersecurity.
Here are the top red flags to look for when examining emails and messages.
1. Suspicious Sender Address
Always inspect the sender's email address. Phishers often use addresses that mimic legitimate ones but include slight alterations, such as extra characters or misspellings (e.g., "support@yourbank-secure.com" instead of "support@yourbank.com"). If the address looks unusual, be cautious.
2. Generic Greetings and Language
Legitimate companies usually personalize their emails. Phishing attempts often start with vague greetings like "Dear Customer" instead of using your name. The language may also contain spelling errors, awkward phrasing, or grammatical mistakes, indicating a potential scam.
3. Urgent or Threatening Language
Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency to prompt immediate action. Common phrases include "Your account will be suspended!" or "Immediate verification required!" If an email demands sensitive information urgently, it’s a major red flag.
4. Unusual Links and Attachments
Hover over any link in the email to see its actual destination. If the URL appears suspicious, unfamiliar, or contains misspellings, do not click. Similarly, be cautious of unexpected attachments, especially those with file types like .zip or .exe.
5. Requests for Sensitive Information
Legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive information (passwords, credit card numbers) through email. If you receive such a request, it’s almost certainly a phishing attempt.
Stay Vigilant
Spotting these common indicators of a phishing attempt is key to avoiding cyber threats. At Arsen, we provide next-generation training to help employees recognize these red flags and stay secure.
Evaluate your company in a phishing awareness test or try our phishing simulation platform!
