6 Ways to Spot a Phishing Attempt

The number of phishing attacks has continued to rise in the last few years, and it won’t stop any time soon. In 2021 alone, 83 percent of organizations reported experiencing phishing attempts. In 2022, six billion phishing attacks were expected to occur. Phishing attacks have already doubled since 2020. If you’re worried about your organization’s security, identifying signs of a phishing attempt is vital. Everyone in your organization needs those skills. Here’s what to look for.

Unfamiliar Tone or Greeting

Many people fall for phishing attempts because the emails come from contacts they know. For instance, the bank or mobile service they use. If you receive those phishing emails, check the tone or greeting used. If the tone is a little more formal, or they don’t use the same terms or articulation, that’s suspicious. Assume that it’s a phishing attack and don’t respond in any way. Teach your team to know the signs, so they’ll be safe from phishing attacks.

Spelling Errors and Grammar

Is the email riddled with grammar and spelling errors? That’s another indication that it’s a phishing email. When you receive emails from your bank, they are professional, so there won’t be any mistakes in their spelling or grammar. As professionals, they know that spelling and grammar mistakes detract from their company’s brand value. Hire pros if you want your team to have better skills in identifying phishing attempts. Look for a cybersecurity recruitment agency and use them to hire a professional who can train your staff and take the lead in dealing with and eliminating phishing attacks.

Sense of Urgency

Phishing attempts aim to get you to part with your money. That’s why many of the emails they send out contain generate a sense of panic or urgency. They are meant to panic you into taking drastic action, often without thinking about it first. That’s how they catch many unsuspecting customers. But if you have a cybersecurity expert on board your team, you won’t have to worry about those phishing attempts getting through. A cybersecurity expert knows what firewalls and systems to put up to prevent these emails from slipping through. You won’t need to worry about being panicked into paying for a service or product you don’t need or want.

Suspicious Attachments

Let’s say the phishing attempts are sent with better content. You can still check the attachments to determine the validity of the email. If the attachments are suspicious, don’t click on any of them. Scan it before opening it to make sure it doesn’t have any viruses.

Unusual Requests

A phishing attempt can easily come from business partners. You may think the change in address isn’t much of a big deal. However, if they send an unusual request, don't blindly believe that email. Call your business partner and confirm the contents of the letter. That’s an easy way to tell if the email is from your business partner or if it’s a phishing attempt.

Unsolicited

If the email is addressed to you but don’t remember asking anything or sending out inquiries to any businesses. That could be a phishing attempt. Consult your cybersecurity expert on how you can protect your organization from these attacks.