Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, making them harder to detect even for tech-savvy users. Recognizing the common patterns and tactics can protect you from falling victim.
Urgency is the most common manipulation tactic. Messages claiming your account will be suspended, your package cannot be delivered, or you must verify your identity immediately are designed to bypass your critical thinking by creating panic.
Check the sender’s email address carefully, not just the display name. Scammers often use addresses that closely resemble legitimate companies, with subtle differences like substituting zeros for the letter O or adding extra characters.
Hover over links before clicking to preview the actual destination URL. Phishing links often redirect to fake websites that mimic legitimate login pages. If the URL does not match the expected domain, do not click.
Legitimate companies will never ask for your password, social security number, or complete credit card information via email. If a message requests this information, it is almost certainly a scam regardless of how official it looks.
Report phishing attempts rather than simply deleting them. Most email providers have a report phishing option that helps train their filters and protect other users from the same attack.
Enable multi-factor authentication on all important accounts. Even if a phishing attack captures your password, MFA prevents unauthorized access without the second verification factor.
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