How to Spot a Phishing Email: 6 steps to Keep Your Organisation Safe
- mt8987
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
Phishing emails are one of the most common cyber threats facing organisations today. They’re getting more convincing, more targeted, and much harder to spot.
For organisations, a single successful phishing attack can lead to:
Compromised email accounts
Data breaches
Financial loss
Significant disruption
The good news? Most phishing attacks can still be stopped with a few simple checks.
What Is a Phishing Email?
A phishing email is designed to trick you into:
Clicking a malicious link
Opening a harmful attachment
Sharing sensitive information
These emails often look like they come from trusted sources, Microsoft, your bank, a colleague, or even a supplier.
🔍 How to Spot a Phishing Email
Here are the key things to check before clicking anything:
1. Check the Sender Address (Not Just the Name)
Phishing emails often use familiar names, but the email address tells the real story.
Look out for:
Misspellings
Extra characters
Unusual domains
👉 If in doubt, pause and verify.
2. Look Closely at Links
Never click straight away.
Hover over links to preview them
Check the URL carefully
Be cautious of unexpected login pages
👉 If you weren’t expecting it, treat it carefully.
3. Question Unexpected Attachments
Even if it looks like it’s from someone you know:
Were you expecting the file?
Does it feel out of context?
👉 When in doubt, confirm with the sender another way.
4. Watch for Urgent or Pressured Language
Phishing emails try to rush you.
Common phrases:
“Action required immediately”
“Your account will be suspended”
“Review this document now”
👉 Genuine organisations rarely pressure you like this.
5. Check the Context
Ask:
Does this make sense?
Was I expecting this?
👉 If something feels off, it probably is.
6. Does It Know Your Name?
Phishing emails often don’t.
Instead, they use generic greetings like:
“Dear user”
“Dear customer”
“Dear colleague”
👉 If the email should know who you are but doesn’t, treat it with caution.
✅ What Should You Do If You Spot One?
If you suspect phishing:
❌ Don’t click anything
✅ Report it to IT
✅ Delete it
If you’ve already clicked: 👉 Contact IT immediately
🛡️ Your vigilance matters
Having a good business or school IT support provider like IMS Computing Ltd is important and adds additional governance and great protections such as:
Filtering of suspicious emails
Monitoring threats
Enforcing MFA
Responding quickly to incidents
However, remember these protections are only defences, not guarantees. You are still the first line of defence! An extra few seconds using these simple checks can make a massive difference!
In Summary
Phishing emails are getting smarter, but they still rely on quick reactions.
Slow down, check carefully, and when in doubt… don’t click!
For more helpful info and videos please visit our UnYoked YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UnYoked-Kids
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