How to Check an Email Address Before You Trust It
An email can look completely legitimate and still be fake.
The company logo may look right.
The message may use your name.
The email may even look professional.
Before you trust it, check the actual sender.
Look Beyond the Display Name
An email might say it is from:
Amazon
Your Bank
PayPal
Netflix
Apple
A government agency
But the display name can be changed.
What matters more is the actual email address.
Check the Full Email Address
Look closely at the address after the @ symbol.
Watch for:
Misspellings
Extra letters
Strange numbers
Unfamiliar domains
Words added before or after a company name
For example, a message may look like it is from a real company, but the email address may come from a completely unrelated domain.
Be Careful With Look-Alike Addresses
Scammers sometimes create addresses that look very close to legitimate ones.
They may change:
One letter
One number
A dash
The order of words
A quick glance may not be enough.
Do Not Trust the Email Just Because It Knows Your Name
Scammers can get personal information from:
Public records
Social media
Data breaches
Previous scams
Seeing your name in the email does not prove the message is legitimate.
Verify Another Way
If the email claims there is a problem with an account:
Do not use the contact information in the email.
Instead:
Open the official app
Visit the company website yourself
Call a trusted number
Check your account directly
Watch Out for This
Be especially cautious if the email asks you to:
Click a link
Send money
Enter a password
Confirm personal information
Download a file
Call a number urgently
Still Not Sure?
Do not click anything.
Go directly to the company and check the issue there.
How to Report a Spam Text
Spam texts can be annoying.
Some are also scams.
Reporting them helps your phone provider and messaging app identify suspicious messages.
First, Do Not Reply
If the message is suspicious, avoid replying.
Even a simple response like:
“STOP”
can sometimes confirm that your number is active.
Use the built-in report and block tools instead.
On iPhone
If your iPhone shows a Report Junk option:
Open the suspicious message
Tap Report Junk
Follow the prompt
You can also block the sender.
To block a number:
Open the conversation
Tap the number or name at the top
Tap Info
Choose Block Caller
Menu wording may vary slightly depending on your iPhone version.
On Android
On many Android phones:
Open the suspicious conversation
Tap the menu or sender information
Choose Block
Look for Report Spam if available
The exact steps can vary depending on the phone and messaging app.
You Can Also Forward Suspicious Texts
In the U.S., many mobile carriers accept spam reports forwarded to:
7726
That spells SPAM on a phone keypad.
Your carrier may then ask for the sender’s number.
Do Not Click Links First
You do not need to investigate a suspicious link before reporting the message.
If the text looks suspicious, report it without clicking.
Watch Out for This
Common spam texts may claim:
You have a package problem
You owe a toll
Your bank account is locked
You won a prize
Your payment failed
You have an unpaid bill
Still Not Sure?
If the message claims to come from a company you use, open that company’s official app or website instead of responding to the text.
What to Do Before Clicking a Link
A suspicious link can arrive through:
Text
Email
Social media
Messaging apps
Online ads
Before you click, take a moment to check it.
Ask: Was I Expecting This?
Did you recently:
Order something?
Request a password reset?
Contact customer service?
Sign into an account?
Make a purchase?
If not, the message deserves extra caution.
Look at the Sender
Check who sent the message.
Do not rely only on the name displayed.
Look at:
Email address
Phone number
Account profile
Look at the Link Carefully
On a computer, you can often hover over the link without clicking.
That may show you where it actually leads.
Look for:
Misspellings
Strange domains
Extra words
Unfamiliar website names
Skip the Link and Go Directly
This is usually the safest option.
If the message says there is a problem with your bank, open your banking app.
If it says there is a package issue, check the delivery company yourself.
If it says your account needs attention, type the website address directly.
Do Not Let Urgency Decide for You
Messages may say:
Act now
Final notice
Your account will be closed
Your package will be returned
Immediate action required
Urgency is a reason to verify, not a reason to rush.
Watch Out for This
Be cautious if a link asks you to:
Enter your password
Enter card information
Pay a small fee
Download something
Give personal information
Still Not Sure?
Do not click.
If the issue is real, you should be able to verify it another way.
How to Recognize a Phishing Email
A phishing email is designed to trick you into giving away information or clicking something harmful.
It may pretend to come from a company, government agency, bank, employer, or someone you know.
Common Signs of a Phishing Email
Look for:
Unexpected urgency
Suspicious links
Strange sender addresses
Requests for passwords
Requests for financial information
Unexpected attachments
Threats
Grammar or formatting that feels off
Not every phishing email will have all of these signs.
Some are very polished.
Watch for Account Warnings
Common messages include:
Your account has been locked
Your payment failed
Someone logged into your account
Your subscription has expired
Your package cannot be delivered
Before acting, check the account independently.
Be Careful With Attachments
Unexpected attachments can be risky.
Do not open a file just because the email says it is:
An invoice
A receipt
A court document
A shipping notice
A job offer
Verify the sender first.
Do Not Trust Branding Alone
Scammers can copy:
Logos
Colors
Company names
Email layouts
Signatures
A professional-looking email can still be fake.
Check Where the Link Goes
A link may say:
Sign in to your account
but lead somewhere completely different.
If you are unsure, avoid the link and go directly to the official website.
Watch Out for This
Phishing emails often try to make you feel:
Scared
Curious
Excited
Rushed
Strong emotion can make people click faster.
Still Not Sure?
Forward the email to someone you trust, or go directly to the company it claims to represent.
You do not need to click anything to verify the message.