Some phishing attacks are pretty easy to identify; others can be more sophisticated and quite convincing. If you suspect an email to be a phishing attempt, which of the following actions is/are safe to consider? Select all the options that apply.

Question

Examine the email to look for some of the typical signs of phishing attacks, like a generic greeting, poor language and unusual requests.   


Click on any links or attachments in the email to help determine whether the message was sent from a legitimate source. 


Forward the email to as many people as possible to get their opinion on whether it's a phishing attempt or not.


If an email seems suspicious, it is best to contact the supposed sender (e.g. bank) through a trusted channel, instead of replying to the message in question.  

Answer 1

If you suspect an email to be a phishing attempt, the following actions are safe to consider:

1. Examine the email to look for some of the typical signs of phishing attacks, like a generic greeting, poor language and unusual requests.

2. If an email seems suspicious, it is best to contact the supposed sender (e.g. bank) through a trusted channel, instead of replying to the message in question.

The other options are not safe:

• Clicking on any links or attachments in the email is not safe, as it could lead to malware installation or provide sensitive information to the attacker.
• Forwarding the email to as many people as possible is also not a good idea, as it could spread the phishing attempt and put others at risk. Instead, consider reporting it directly to your email provider or the relevant authorities.