How to spot Phishing Emails – Video Guide

Whilst providing IT Support Services from our Croydon Service Desk, we often have IT Support tickets raised to question the legitimacy of emails received by our clients.

What are phishing emails?

Phishing emails are designed to steal money from unsuspecting recipients. 

This is done through the attempts to install malicious software on your computers, or through asking you to enter confidential information such as passwords or credit card details on websites they are linking you to in the emails.  These websites will have been designed in most instances look the same as big well-known brands and corporations, such as Paypal, eBay, Apple, your bank etc… But they are not the websites you think they are, they are spoof websites waiting for you to enter your confidential information, following which you will no doubt see illegal transactions on your bank account or purchases made without your consent.

We have been busy putting together a video to give you the chance to spot a Phishing Email and avoid passing your personal and confidential information into the wrong hands.

Things to spot in a Phishing Email (all covered in the video below):

• Contact name – does the contact look legitimate, if the contact name is an email address, check the senders email address to ensure it is legitimate
• Email Address – is the sending email address legitimate, is the domain correct?  Paypal.com looks legitimate, but paypal.im-stealing-your-money.com doesn’t
• Links in emails – As with the email address domain, does the link take you to what looks to be a trusted source?  If not don’t click it.
• Grammar – Generally Phishing Emails contain spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, something we are sure the likes of Apple or Paypal wouldn’t make with their teams of marketing experts checking their content.
• Reason for emailing – are you expecting the email?  If the email is from XYZ Bank and you do not have an account with them, the email is likely going to be fraudulent.

Remember if you are not sure about the content of an email do not open or click on any of the links provided within it.  Visit the website of the company in question directly and login to view any messages they may have sent you or contact them directly to check on the legitimacy of the message.

We hope you find the video useful.

Get in touch with any IT Support requests you may have, visit our contact page