Protect yourself – know how to detect phishing scams

Phishing attempts are emails, texts, or phone calls that try to trick you into sharing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links. These common attempts often appear to come from trusted sources. Be aware of how to spot these attempts to protect yourself. 

Tips to help you detect and avoid phishing attempts:  

• Check the sender’s address carefully. Even if the name looks familiar, hover over the address to see if it matches the expected source.  
• Look for urgency or threats. Phishing often pressures you to act quickly without thinking.  
• Avoid clicking links directly. Hover over them first to see where they lead. It’s a good practice to navigate to the website manually instead.  
• Watch for spelling and grammar errors. Many scams contain mistakes you wouldn’t see in legitimate messages. This can also include email addresses that look correct at first glance but are slightly altered—such as being off by a single letter or using a lowercase “l” in place of an uppercase “i", for example.  
• Be cautious with attachments. Do not open unexpected or suspicious files.  
• Ask for a second opinion. More eyes help notice things we miss and can even help us notice red flags we missed the first time.  
• When in doubt, verify. Contact the person or organization directly. 

Learn more about phishing scams and how to spot them.