Unless you specialise in internet security, it can be hard to spot email scams check – phishing scams – at first glance. That’s because phishers spend time making their emails look as convincing and authentic as possible.
Thankfully, there are some clues that can help you determine whether an email is a phishing scam or not. One obvious red flag is asking you to enter personal information, such as your bank account details or passwords. Legitimate companies will never ask for this kind of information via email.
Another clue is poor spelling and grammatical errors. Many scammers use this as a way to make their emails seem less legitimate, as they assume that anyone who has poor spelling and grammar is less likely to pay attention to other red flags.
The Ultimate Guide to Email Scam Detection and Prevention
It’s also worth paying attention to URLs in email links – remember that it is very easy to fake an URL by replacing the root domain. Hover your mouse cursor over a link (without clicking!) to check where it will actually send you. If it doesn’t match the text or source of the message, delete it.
Lastly, it’s always worth checking with the company in question if an email seems suspicious. You can do this by searching for their phone number online (don’t use the phone number provided in the email) or looking through official contact directory sources. Also, be wary of any emails that arrive outside of business hours – phishers operate around the clock and can catch you when you’re least expecting it.