Video: How to Detect a Phishing Email

A real life example of a phishing email, and what to do if you get one.

Phishing Checklist

1. No legitimate company will ask you to verify yourself in an email.
2. The domain name of the sender email doesn’t match the site it claims to be from. It might be very similar, such as WELLSFARG0.com (that is a zero in the name)
3. Poor grammar and punctuation
4. Sloppy formatting
5. An image instead of email text
6. Instills a sense of urgency

Do

1. View the Source and copy the header.   If you don’t know how, search the name of your email service with “full email header”.  Example: Gmail full email header
2. Forward the email, with the source to the bank or the organization impersonated in the email.
3. Report it to the FTC.  Forward phishing emails with source to [email protected]
4. Make sure your email does not load external images

Do Not

1. Click on a Link or Image
2. Click or download an attachment
3. Reply