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Identity And Access Management

Infographic: Avoiding Phishing Scams: 6 Things to Look Out For!

November 19, 2021

3 minutes

Avoiding phishing scams—image of email representation being hooked by a fishing line

Phishing scams are an increasingly common aspect of daily life and these malicious emails are likely sitting in the spam folder of your email account right now, waiting to be opened.

75% of organizations experienced a phishing attack in 2021 and attackers use these tactics because they know it only takes one user to click a bad link and they're in. This must be avoided.

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Sense of Urgency

Scammers will attempt to instill a sense of urgency to rush you into action, typically with something that is supposedly time-sensitive. Stop and think!

Unexpected Communication

Is an email you received expected? Scammers will often pose as someone you know, like a boss or colleague—but what if you don’t ordinarily communicate with the sender via email? Consider why an email is unexpected before clicking.

Grammar Errors

Spam emails are commonly littered with spelling mistakes, particularly if they are from another country with English as a second language—keep your beady eye on those errant apostrophes.

Malicious Links

Phishers frequently use shortened links and URL encoding to hide a link’s true destination. Do not click on one if you aren’t sure of where it’s taking you—use a link-expansion or URL decoding tool to verify a suspicious link.

Asking for Sensitive Information

If an email is asking you to send sensitive information, particularly regarding personal or financial info, delete the email immediately.

Suspicious Email Addresses

Check the address of the sender and ensure it’s coming from the person they claim to be. Display names can be manipulated, so be sure to verify they’re legitimate.

This infographic was created by DOT Security, a leading cybersecurity provider. For more information about business cybersecurity and what a partner like DOT Security can do for you, visit dotsecurity.com.