How To Identify An Email Phishing Scam

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Generally, phishing scams are considered to be the most commonly used method of identity theft.

Through e-mail phishing scams, personal information such as your credit card information can be obtained. Hacking is not needed in phishing scams because you are the one who willingly provides the information to the scammer. Here are some ways on how to determine phishing emails and to get you protected.

More about phishing scams:

Often, phishing scams are disguised as email messages. However, you can also be victimized through social networks, forums, or other places wherein you can receive messages.

Generally, e-mail phishing scams work like this:

The scammer will send you a message that appears like it is from a legal company or financial institution. The main goal here is to trick you on clicking the link included in the message.

Once you have clicked on the link, you will be redirected to a web site that also looks legal including company logos and all. Therefore, those who are not very much familiar with the original website will be providing their username and password for the bank’s original website, giving their information to the scammer. Aside from that, they will also provide other information such as credit card details and other personal information that the scammer would benefit from.

If you have clicked on the link that is included inside the phishing email you have received, then you are already providing pertinent data to the scammers. You will be providing them your credit card number, expiration date, as well as your phone number, everything needed to make fraudulent purchases.

These types of scams do not catch everyone; however, you are more at risk if you will be receiving a phishing email from a bank where your credit card is from.

Determine phishing emails:

Actually, it is not easy to determine phishing emails on first sight. This is because phishing emails are especially designed to look like the original website that the email is trying to copy. However, in order to prevent being a victim of these type of emails, you need to be able to examine and determine phishing emails. Here are some ways on how to do this.

Check on the return address:

In phishing emails, return addresses are frequently masked but if you will carefully inspect you will see something suspicious.

Place the mouse pointer on the link included. Web browsers have a feature of displaying the complete web address of the link. From there, you can check if the link is directed on the original website of your bank. Carefully check on that address but do not click it. You have to manually check the web site address of your bank to be sure.

Call your bank. Sometimes it is better to call your bank to confirm if they have sent you an email or not. In case you have confirmed that the bank didn’t sent you any emails, then report the phishing email immediately and forward the email to the bank or your credit card company.

Nowadays, you can’t be so sure if your credit card details are secured. You need to participate in fighting against identity theft in order to lessen the number of individuals being victimized by these scammers. Do not click any links from emails whether it is legitimate or not. Ensure that an email is legitimate by contacting the bank where your credit card is from.

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