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How to Identify a Phishing Attack

How to Identify a Phishing Attack

There is no doubt you have seen or heard about the scam emails, texts, and phone calls that are a daily nuisance for everyone. It may be in an email, phone call, or text format. The scam message could lure you in many ways; It may tell you that you have won a prize or a notification about an internet order or package delivery.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of social engineering where the attacker sends fake messages to trick a person into disclosing sensitive details to the attacker or deploys malicious software onto a device to get private information. Phishing scams usually require the recipient to perform an action such as clicking a link, downloading a file or entering a password. 

Tactics Phishing Attackers Use

Look out for emails and texts with: 

  • Generic greetings such as “Hello Customer” rather than an actual name.
  • Emails requesting personal information
  • Emails demanding an urgent response
  • Emails that say you won a prize for something that you didn’t enter
  • Messages with poor spelling and grammar
  • Messages asking for money
  • Mismatched links in the email body
  • Spoofed links. Never click on a link unless you are certain it is authentic. You can hover over it first to reveal its true destination. If the email claims to be from your bank, they will never ask you to log in from an email. Also, secure links should begin with HTTPS://
  • If in doubt, ask your I.T support person
Always be suspicious of texts, emails & calls from unknown sources

Scam Phone Calls: Tactics to look out for:

  • Unknown phone numbers
  • Calls seeking your personal information
  • Recorded messages that ask for payment or personal data
  • Callers who say there is an issue with your computer
  • Callers who require your action urgently.
  • Offers or deals that sound too good to be true
  • If the caller claims to be your bank and asks for your information
  • If the caller threatens you

How can you protect your business from phishing attacks?

  • Phishing awareness training – Most successful attacks occur due to employees unknowingly clicking on dangerous links in their emails.
  • If you suspect a phishing email, you can check online for scams related to the email topic or company. For example, if the email claims to be from PayPal, check PayPal’s website or sites such as www.scam-detector.com
  • Installing Endpoint Protection software such as Sophos, will add an extra layer of security and warn you if you click on a suspicious link. Ask us for a free trial!
  • Get an I.T support team with exceptional cyber security knowledge and experience. We are happy to help! Ask us about our priority I.T support options.