If a breach-related email feels unexpected, pause: don’t click links, open attachments, reply, or share it with coworkers. Report it promptly through your employer’s approved IT or security channel. A breach can make a follow-up message seem believable, but a familiar logo, sender name, or business detail does not prove the message is genuine.
How do I know if this breach email is real?
You may not be able to tell from the email alone. Phishing messages can impersonate a colleague or a familiar company, refer to a real business event, and pressure you to act quickly. A request to sign in, provide a password or other sensitive information, or pay money deserves particular caution when it arrives unexpectedly. These are warning signs, not a checklist that can definitively identify every fake; a convincing message can still be fraudulent. The FTC’s small-business phishing guidance describes these common tactics.
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- Don’t use the message’s links, phone numbers, reply address, or other contact details to verify a request.
- If the request could be legitimate, contact the supposed sender using a phone number or email address you already know is genuine, or check with your organization through its established process.
- Treat unexpected requests for credentials, payment, or personal information connected to a breach with extra care. The FTC notes that breach information can help people avoid phishing tied to an incident, but that does not establish that any particular message was caused by a breach. (FTC breach-response guidance)
Where do I report a phishing email at work?
- Stop before interacting. Don’t click, open, reply, or enter information. If you need to verify the request, use a contact method obtained independently of the message.
- Use your employer’s reporting route. Choose the company’s report-phishing function or follow its stated IT/security procedure. If you don’t know the route, contact IT or security through a known internal channel.
- Don’t forward it to coworkers. Report it to the appropriate security team instead. CISA’s Phishing General Security Postcard advises: “When in doubt, report it out: If it looks suspicious, it’s best to mark it as ‘junk’ and forward to your IT staff.” Follow your employer’s instructions for the correct reporting method and preserve the message as policy requires.
- Wait for instructions. Security staff may need the original message and details about what happened. Don’t send company email to an outside address unless your organization’s policy permits it.
Prompt internal reporting is the first workplace escalation. External reporting does not replace it, and procedures can vary by employer and jurisdiction.
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What should I do if I clicked the link or opened a file?
Tell IT/security immediately, even if you aren’t sure anything happened. Be specific about what you clicked or opened, whether you entered credentials or other information, and when it occurred. Follow the organization’s incident procedure and instructions about device isolation, password changes, and investigation. Don’t attempt your own cleanup or disconnect a work device unless your IT/security team directs you to do so; uncoordinated action can interfere with the response.
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If you entered a password, say which account was involved so the team can advise on next steps. FTC guidance says to change compromised passwords immediately; in a workplace incident, coordinate that change with IT/security so it fits the organization’s response. If a link or attachment may have downloaded harmful software, the FTC advises updating security software and running a scan. For a work device, ask IT/security how to do this safely. (FTC phishing advice)
Should I forward the email to my coworkers?
No. Forwarding a suspected phishing message can expose coworkers to the same malicious link or attachment and may spread sensitive information. Use the designated report-phishing feature or your employer’s approved security channel. Share a warning with colleagues only if IT/security or your organization’s incident process asks you to.
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Can I report the message outside my workplace?
For US consumers and small businesses, the FTC says phishing can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and phishing emails can be forwarded to [email protected]. The FTC also describes notifying the person or company being impersonated. For a workplace message, follow your employer’s policy before sending company email or other business information to an outside address. (FTC reporting guidance)
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Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an account-protection step, and CISA recommends phishing-resistant MFA where available. Employees should use the options approved by their employer. A physical FIDO2 security key may be an option, but check with IT first: compatibility with the organization’s identity system, enrollment and account recovery, and employer approval all matter. Don’t buy or enroll a personal key for a work account without confirming it is supported. (CISA MFA guidance)
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