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If an email asks you to click, pay, sign in, download something, or share private information, pause and verify it another way before acting. Phishing messages can impersonate familiar companies or people and look convincing, so use these eight warning signs as reasons to check—not as a score that proves a message is safe or fraudulent.
Quick rule: Don’t use links, phone numbers, or contact details in a suspicious email. Open the service through a saved bookmark or an address you already know, or call a number you have independently verified.
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How can you tell if an email is phishing?
Phishing is an attempt to trick you into revealing information, giving someone access, or sending money by pretending to be a trusted person or organization. A message can use a copied logo, polished layout, or familiar name. Check the sender, what the message asks you to do, and where its links lead; then verify any real account issue independently. The FTC’s phishing guidance and Google’s Gmail Help both advise caution with unexpected messages.
Eight phishing red flags to check
These clues overlap, and none is a standalone test. One warning sign is enough to stop and verify; the absence of these signs does not guarantee that an email is genuine.
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1. The message is unexpected
An unsolicited email can be a phishing attempt even if it mentions a service you use or appears to come from someone you know. Be especially cautious about invoices, refunds, account alerts, or other messages you were not expecting.
2. The sender name and email address don’t match
Display names are easy to copy. Inspect the full sender address rather than relying on the name shown in the inbox. An address that does not appear to belong to the claimed organization is a warning sign. For a deeper check, Google recommends reviewing sender details and, where available, whether the message is authenticated.
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3. It asks for a password or sensitive information
Treat an unsolicited request for your password, payment details, account number, or identification information as suspicious. Never enter a password after following a link in the message. Google’s Gmail Help advises going directly to the website you intended to use if a link asks you to sign in.
4. It creates urgency or threatens a consequence
Claims that your account is locked, suspicious activity has been detected, or a payment problem must be fixed immediately are common pressure tactics. Don’t let a deadline or threat rush you into clicking, paying, or sharing information.
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5. The link destination doesn’t match its text
On a computer, hover over a link without clicking to preview its destination. If the address does not lead where the message says it will, do not open it. A convincing link label does not establish that its destination is trustworthy.
6. There’s an unexpected attachment or download
Do not open attachments or download software from messages you were not expecting or cannot verify. They may expose you to malware or lead to credential theft.
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7. The greeting or story doesn’t fit
A generic greeting can be a clue, particularly when the email also makes an unexpected claim about billing or an account. Consider whether the message fits your relationship with the sender and whether you were expecting the transaction or request. A familiar logo by itself is not proof.
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An email that tells you to update payment information or resolve an account problem through its link deserves extra scrutiny. The FTC says legitimate companies will not unexpectedly email or text you a link to update payment information. Visit the company’s site using a bookmark or address you already know, or contact it through a phone number you have independently verified. See the FTC’s advice on unexpected payment and account messages.
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What to do with a suspicious email
- Stop. Don’t click links, open attachments, download files, reply, pay, or provide information.
- Verify independently. If the message might concern a real account, open the company’s website using a saved bookmark or an address you know is correct. You can also call a number you already know is genuine. Don’t rely on contact details included in the suspicious email.
- Report and delete it. Report suspected scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also recommends forwarding phishing emails to [email protected], then deleting the message.
- Respond to any exposure. If you shared sensitive information, use IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps tailored to what was exposed. If a link or attachment may have downloaded harmful software, update your security software and run a scan.
How common is phishing, and what can reduce the risk?
The FTC reported in 2025 that email was the top method scammers used to contact people in 2024. That describes how scammers contacted people—not the share of all phishing attempts. Google said on October 2, 2024, that Gmail blocks over 99.9% of phishing emails. That is Google’s claim about Gmail’s protections, not an independent comparison of email services or a guarantee that a suspicious message in your inbox is safe.
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on accounts that support it. It makes it harder for a scammer to sign in with a stolen username and password. A security key is one possible authentication factor, but it is optional and compatibility depends on the account and devices you use.
Does bad grammar prove an email is a scam?
No. Errors can be a warning sign, but they do not prove fraud; polished grammar does not prove legitimacy either. Judge the sender, request, and link destination, and confirm important account or payment claims through a channel you obtained independently. The FTC’s guide to recognizing and avoiding phishing scams includes examples of common messages and steps to take if you respond to one.
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