Introduction
Phishing emails are one of the most common and effective tools cybercriminals use to steal personal information. These emails appear to come from trusted sources—your bank, credit card company, or even your favorite online store—but are designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal identification details.
Recently, I received an email from what seemed like my credit card company, warning me about potential fraud. The email calimed my account was being restricted until I contacted them. Overall it looked fairly legitimate—company branding, a seemingly correct sender address, and urgent wording. However, when I checked the links, they were short url’s obfuscating where they were leading. I used a tool called WhereGoes to trace the real destination of these links, which confirmed my suspicions: it was a phishing attempt. I also signed onto my credit card site directly not via the link in the email and could find no such warning.
To help you avoid falling victim to these scams, let’s break down the warning signs of phishing emails, how to verify links, and the latest tactics—including QR code phishing.
1. Common Signs of a Phishing Email
Recognizing a phishing email starts with identifying these red flags:
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Suspicious Sender Address – Even though the email may look like it’s from a trusted company, the sender’s address often contains typos or extra characters. Always double-check the full email address.
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Urgent or Threatening Language – Many phishing emails use scare tactics like “Your account has been compromised! Immediate action required.”
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Obfuscated or Fake Links – The link text may say one thing, but hovering over it reveals a different URL.
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Generic Greetings – “Dear Customer” or “Dear User” instead of addressing you by name is a common tactic.
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Unexpected Attachments – If an email contains an attachment you weren’t expecting, don’t open it. These can contain malware.
2. How Phishing Links Trick You
Cybercriminals use various tricks to disguise malicious links. Here’s how they work:
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Obfuscated URLs – A link may appear as “secure-login.yourbank.com,” but actually direct you to a different site when clicked.
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Shortened URLs – Services like Bit.ly or TinyURL can mask the real destination of a link.
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Misspelled Domains – Scammers register domains with minor spelling errors, such as “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com.”
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Using Subdomains – “secure-login.bank.com.malicioussite.com” may look like a bank’s site, but the real domain is “malicioussite.com.”
3. Using Tools to Check Links
Before clicking on any link, you can take a few simple steps to verify its legitimacy:
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Hover Before You Click – On a computer, hover your mouse over the link to preview the real destination. This won’t give you the final destination if a shortened URL is used.
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Use a Link Analyzer – Websites like WhereGoes or VirusTotal can trace redirects and detect malicious destinations.
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Google the URL – If unsure, copy and paste the link into Google to see if it has been reported as fraudulent.
4. QR Code Phishing (Quishing)
QR codes are convenient but can also be used for phishing attacks, known as “quishing.”
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Hidden Destinations – QR codes can link to malicious sites without you realizing it.
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How to Verify – Instead of blindly scanning, use a QR scanner that previews the URL before opening it.
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Common Scam Tactics – Fake QR codes are often found on parking meters, fake product registration stickers, and phishing emails posing as delivery confirmations.
5. Types of Phishing Emails to Watch For
Phishing scams come in many forms. Here are some of the most common:
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Bank and Credit Card Scams – Fake alerts about unauthorized transactions.
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Tech Support Scams – Emails claiming to be from Microsoft or Apple warning you of security breaches. Or that you are infected and they want to assist.
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Fake Invoice and Payment Requests – Pretending to be from vendors asking for payment. Or indicating that you aleready paid for something and to call if you want a refund.
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Compromised Account Alerts – “Your account was accessed from a new device.”
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Government Impersonation – Fake IRS or tax refund notifications.
6. Best Practices to Stay Safe
To protect yourself from phishing scams:
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Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Even if your password is stolen, MFA prevents unauthorized access.
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Go Directly to the Website – If you receive an alert, visit the official website instead of clicking the email link.
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Report Phishing Emails – Forward suspicious emails to [email protected] or your bank’s fraud department.
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Use a Password Manager – Prevents entering credentials on fake websites. The password manager won’t fall for a url that just visiually looks the same.
Conclusion
Phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated, but with vigilance and the right tools, you can protect yourself from falling victim. Always double-check links before clicking, be cautious with QR codes, and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible. By staying informed, you can keep your personal and financial information safe.
If you are a small business and woudl like to have an IT company help with issues and to be ready to assist when you need help get in touch.