Phishing email signs and how to spot them easily

(originally published 19 September 2021 – updated October 2025)

Why phishing email signs matter

Phishing remains one of the biggest cybersecurity threats to both individuals and businesses, with these deceptive messages designed to trick you into sharing personal information, clicking on malicious links, or downloading harmful attachments. Even the savviest users can be caught out, because phishing emails often look and sound convincing.

Understanding the key phishing email signs can help you protect not just your personal accounts but also your company’s wider network, as a single careless click can open the door to far-reaching damage.

How phishing emails try to fool you

Most phishing attempts use psychological triggers like urgency, authority or curiosity to manipulate behaviour. You might receive an email that appears to be from your bank, a government agency, or even your boss, asking you to act quickly and to, under pressure, ‘verify your details’, ‘reset your password’, or ‘confirm a delivery’.

If something feels slightly off, it probably is, so look carefully at the sender’s email address, the tone, and the links embedded in the message. It’s worth noting that legitimate organisations rarely pressure you into acting immediately or sharing sensitive data via email.

The most common phishing email signs

While every attack looks slightly different, many share familiar traits, so watch out for poor grammar, spelling mistakes, or awkward phrasing that doesn’t match a company’s usual tone.

Fake domain names are another giveaway, where there may be a swap of a single letter or inclusion of extra characters to look genuine. Hovering your mouse over a link (without clicking) lets you see the true web address, which can quickly reveal a scam attempt.

You should also be cautious with unexpected attachments or messages that arrive out of context, so if an email seems unusual, confirm it through another trusted channel before responding.

Protecting your inbox

To minimise risk, combine vigilance with practical protection, by enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible, keeping your software and browsers updated, and making use of advanced spam filtering tools. Security platforms add another layer of defence by blocking access to malicious sites before they can load, protecting every device connected to your home network.

Staying sharp against phishing threats

Once you recognise the common phishing email signs mentioned previously, such as mismatched sender details, strange language, urgency tactics, or suspicious links, you’re already ahead of most attackers. Combine that awareness with small, smart habits like using multi-factor authentication, keeping devices updated, and pausing before you click to double-down on preventative measures.

Cybercriminals rely on distraction and speed, so by slowing down and spotting the clues, you make their job harder. Staying alert, informed, and proactive is the simplest, most effective way to keep your inbox, and your data, safe.