How to Spot a Phishing Email: A Beginner's Guide

Phishing emails trick you into clicking dangerous links or sharing personal details. Learn the 5 red flags that give every scam email away.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Check the sender address
2.Look for urgency and threats
3.Do not click any links
4.Check for poor spelling and grammar
5.Report and delete

Check the sender address

~15s

Look at the actual email address, not just the name. A real bank email comes from something like noreply@barclays.co.uk. A scam might come from barclays-security@random-site.com.

Warning

Scammers can make emails look very real. Always check the full email address, not just the display name.

Look for urgency and threats

~15s

Phrases like "Your account will be closed in 24 hours!" or "Click now or lose access!" are almost always scams. Real companies do not threaten you by email.

Do not click any links

~20s

Hover over links (without clicking) to see where they actually go. If the link address looks strange, do not click it. Instead, go to the company's website directly by typing the address yourself.

Quick Tip

If you get an email from your "bank" asking you to log in, open a new browser tab and type your bank's website address yourself.

Check for poor spelling and grammar

~15s

Many phishing emails have spelling mistakes, odd formatting, or awkward language. Real companies proofread their emails carefully.

Report and delete

~24s

If you think an email is a scam, do not reply. Mark it as spam or phishing in your email app. If it claims to be from your bank, call your bank using the number on the back of your card to report it.

Quick Tip

You can forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk in the UK. In the US, report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and stay informed at consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts — the FTC's free consumer alert page.

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