In recent months, the number of phishing emails being sent has been on the rise. Phishing emails are fraudulent emails that are designed to trick you into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. These emails often appear to be legitimate, and they can be difficult to spot. In this blog post, we will discuss the rise of phishing emails, what to look out for, and how to spot phishing emails.
The Rise of Phishing Emails
Phishing emails have been around for a long time, but in recent years, they have become more sophisticated. Cybercriminals are using new techniques to make their emails appear more legitimate, and they are targeting a wider range of individuals and organizations. According to a report by Verizon, 36% of data breaches in 2020 involved phishing attacks.
One reason for the rise in phishing emails is that more people are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the fact that people are using new technologies and may be more susceptible to phishing scams.
What to Look Out For
Phishing emails can be difficult to spot, but there are some common characteristics to look out for. Here are some things to watch for:
- The email asks for personal information: Phishing emails often ask for personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers. Legitimate companies will not ask for this information in an email.
- The email has a sense of urgency: Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly. They may threaten to suspend your account or claim that there has been suspicious activity on your account.
- The email contains a suspicious link: Phishing emails often contain links to fake websites that look like legitimate ones. If you hover over the link without clicking on it, you may see a different URL than what is displayed in the email.
- The email has poor grammar or spelling: Phishing emails are often written by non-native speakers of the language, which can result in poor grammar or spelling mistakes.
- The email is sent from an unfamiliar address: Phishing emails often come from an unfamiliar email address or one that is slightly different from a legitimate email address (e.g., “support@google.com” vs. “support@google.co”).
How to Spot Phishing Emails
Here are some tips for spotting phishing emails:
- Check the sender’s email address: Look for misspellings or slight variations in the email address that may indicate that it is not legitimate.
- Hover over links: Hover your mouse over links in the email to see if the URL matches the one displayed in the email.
- Don’t click on suspicious links: If you’re not sure if a link is legitimate, don’t click on it. Instead, go directly to the website by typing the URL into your browser.
- Don’t provide personal information: Legitimate companies will not ask for personal information in an email. If you’re not sure if an email is legitimate, contact the company directly through their website or customer service line.
- Check for poor grammar or spelling: Phishing emails are often written by non-native speakers of the language, so poor grammar or spelling mistakes may indicate that an email is not legitimate.
As phishing emails are becoming more common and sophisticated, there are ways to spot them. Look out for emails that ask for personal information, create a sense of urgency, contain suspicious links, or have poor grammar or spelling.
If you’re not sure if an email is legitimate, don’t click on any links or provide personal information. Instead, contact the company directly through their website or customer service line. By being vigilant and cautious, you can protect yourself from phishing scams.
If your business is getting a lot of spam and phishing emails, get in touch with our team. Our team of experts can review your current setup, and advise whats the best solution to resolve your spam problems.
Get in touch with our team on 01704 320640 or email hello@britanniait.co.uk.
