On any given day, PenTeleData receives questions from our customers about whether an email from their bank or other organization, even us, is legitimate. Sometimes it is, but often, it isn’t.
It’s important for anyone who uses the Internet to know how to avoid getting “reeled in” by online criminals. Phishers are often the originators of spam email messages - especially the ones that mention a problem with an account and ask for personal information to deal with some urgent issue. If you receive an email like this, attempt to confirm the validity of the message. You can do this by calling the organization or business in question or by visiting their official website. DO NOT click any links in the questionable email message and DO NOT give the sender of the message any personal information.
Here are some important tips from America’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency:
Recognize
Look for these common signs:
Urgent or emotionally appealing language, especially messages that claim dire consequences for not responding immediately
Requests to send personal and financial information
Untrusted shortened URLs
Incorrect email addresses or links, like amazan.com
Poor grammar or misspellings were once a common indicator of phishing, although in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), some emails will now have perfect grammar and spellings, so look out for the other clues
Resist
If you suspect phishing, resist the temptation to click on links or attachments that seem too good to be true and may be trying to access your personal information. Instead, report the phish to protect yourself and others. Typically, you’ll find options to report near the person’s email address or username. You can also report via the “report spam” button in the toolbar or settings.
Delete
Delete the message. Don’t reply or click on any attachment or link, including any “unsubscribe” link. Just delete.
Remember, if a message looks suspicious, it’s probably phishing. If you think it could be real, don’t click on any link or call any number in the message. Look up another way to contact the company or person directly:
Go to the company’s website and capture their contact information from the verified website. Search for the site in your web browser or type the address yourself if you’re sure you know it. Use another way to reach the person to confirm whether they contacted you. For example, if you get a strange message from your friend on Facebook, and you have their phone number, text or call them to ask if they sent the message.
(Source: https://www.cisa.gov/secure-our-world/recognize-and-report-phishing)
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