HOW TO SPOT PHISHING SCAMS

Watch Out for Phishing Scams! Here’s How to Stay Safe

Phishing scams are sneaky emails that look real but are trying to steal your information. I recently got one that seemed legit at first because the domain name was good, the formatting was professional, they used my first and last name, and they included a service I did use in the past and canceled, but it was fake. Let me explain.

What to Look For

Check the Sender’s Email: Look at who sent the email. Scammers use fake addresses that look real. In my case, it was from `app@echecks.com`, which seemed odd.

Check the Links: Hover your mouse over any links (don’t click!). See if the web address looks strange or doesn’t match the company’s official website. Scammers often use weird or confusing links.

Generic Greetings: Scammers often use “Dear Customer” instead of your name. This email used my name, but still seemed off.

Verify Details: Look for mistakes or things that don’t add up, like wrong dates or amounts. Scammers make mistakes that can be spotted if you pay close attention.