Recognize Phishing Emails: 5 Red Flags

The Problem

You get an email from 'Amazon' saying your account is suspended. You panic and click.

The Hack

Five red flags: 1) Sender email domain doesn't match company. 2) Generic greeting ('Dear Customer'). 3) Urgency ('Act now or lose access!'). 4) Suspicious links (hover to see real URL). 5) Spelling/grammar errors.

Why It Works

Phishing emails mimic legitimate companies to steal login credentials. They rely on panic and urgency to bypass your critical thinking. Knowing the red flags makes them obvious.

Pro Tips

• Hover over links — if the URL doesn't match the company, it's phishing
• When in doubt, go directly to the website by typing the URL — don't click the email link
• Banks and Amazon will never ask for your password via email
• Report phishing: forward to reportphishing@apwg.org