Summary
Cybercriminals use phishing emails to steal from or hack you.
But if you look for these eight warning signs, you could avoid these emails.
But in reality, you’re doing the opposite.
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
A popular social engineering tactic is an alarming subject line.
The would-be hackers hope you’ll go into panic mode you see those words.
So you shouldn’t send that email to the trash bin just yet.
Suspicious Domain Name
The cybercriminals will also take a stab at ensure the email looks legitimate.
For example, they may use the name, logo, and email design of a reputable company.
An example is thePayPal invoice scam.
you might also visit the website and check the “About Us” page for the correct email address.
Greeting is Generic or Too Personalized
Some phishing emails will start with a generic greeting.
Many companies will use your first name since they probably know it through their KYC initiatives.
If the hackers know your name, they may over-personalize the greeting to establish trust.
Legitimate businesses will create a balanced greeting that doesn’t include information you already know about yourself.
A phishing email, on the other hand, may have obvious errors.
That’s because some of these phishing emails are written rather quickly and by non-native speakers.
Contains Suspicious Links and Attachments
Phishing emails may contain links that direct you to malicious websites.
Those sites may contain a form asking for your sensitive information.
The form might even look like one found on a genuine website.
For example, it may look like the Google or Facebook sign-in page.
Then, they will use that information to hack into your account.
If it’s not a link, the email might include an attachment.
The aim is to infect your unit with malware or ransomware once you download and open it.
Requests Sensitive Information
No legitimate organization would ask for your sensitive information over an email.
Hackers canuse this information to bypass the security questionson your online accounts.
The most important rule to remember is that you should not select anything or provide any information.
Also, email phishing is justone throw in of phishing.
So stay educated and learn how to avoid those other scams as well.
Don’t be paranoid with every email you receive asking you for something.
