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How to Spot Phishing Emails | A Comprehensive Guide

Learn how to spot phishing emails to secure your online data against hackers. Keep your online data safe with our guide on spotting phishing emails. Stay smart and safe from cybercriminals!

How to Spot Phishing Emails | A Comprehensive Guide

Phishing emails remain one of the biggest threats in today’s digital world. Cybercriminals use them to trick people into revealing sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or company data. While these scams can be convincing, there are clear phishing email red flags you can watch out for. From unusual requests to poor spelling and grammar in emails, spotting the difference between a real message and a fraudulent one is essential for both individuals and businesses. Learning how to spot a phishing email not only protects your inbox but also shields your personal and financial security.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the most important signs of a phishing email and show you exactly how to identify a phishing email with confidence. You’ll discover common phishing email red flags, learn how to check a link in an email, and understand what a spoofed email address is. We’ll also explain how to handle suspicious messages—whether that means reporting them, deleting them, or educating others with email security tips. By the end, you’ll know how to answer the question, “Is this email legitimate?” and keep yourself safe from the most dangerous phishing scams to look for.

Why Phishing on the Rise

Phishing attacks remain a top threat for organizations. Businesses are more dependent than ever on digital communication, including email, SMS, and voice channels. This reliance opens doors for cybercriminals to execute advanced phishing attacks. The shift to remote work has further heightened the risk of these attacks.

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Picture 1: Rising Threat of Phishing by Years
  • Over 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily, representing 1.2% of global email traffic, and phishing is the initial vector in 36% of data breaches.
  • One in every 99 emails contains phishing or malicious content, contributing to 94% of malware infections.
  • The average cost of a phishing-related breach is $4.88 million to $5.1 million per incident.
  • Phishing attacks evading email defenses rose by 47%, with 82.6% now using AI-generated content, making spotting more difficult.

Check our blog on phishing statistics to get more details on phishing trends.

How to Recognize Phishing Emails?

Recognizing phishing emails is an essential skill. These deceptive messages are designed to look authentic, but with careful examination, you can spot them. Being aware of the common signs of a phishing email helps protect your personal and professional information from cybercriminals.

A sample phishing email and the tips to identify it:

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Picture 2: Tips for identifying a phishing attempt

Language and Content Red Flags in Phishing Emails

One of the first aspects to look deeper in an email is its language and content. Since it is an advanced phishing attack, it has probably bypassed phishing protection solutions. Phishing emails often contain urgent or alarming language to create a sense of panic. Look for spelling and grammar errors, which are common in phishing attempts. Also, be wary of emails that ask for sensitive information like passwords or financial details, as legitimate organizations rarely request such information via email. See the most common indicators of a phishing attack.

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Picture 3: Most common indicators of a phishing attack.

Analyzing Phishing Email Layouts and Design Elements

An email's visual layout and design can also provide clues. Phishing emails might imitate the design of a legitimate company but often have some differences. Pay attention to mismatched logos, poor image quality, and unusual formatting. These inconsistencies can indicate that the email is not from a legitimate source.

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Picture 4: Analyzing Email Layouts and Design Elements

Deciphering Email Headers and Sender Information

Finally, examining the email header and sender information is crucial. Check the sender's email address carefully; phishing emails often have addresses similar to legitimate ones but with slight variations. Understanding how to view and interpret email headers can also help identify whether an email has come from a trusted sender or a potentially harmful source.

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Picture 5: How to check email headers if you suspect a phishing attempt.

By familiarizing yourself with these indicators, you can enhance your ability to spot phishing emails, significantly reducing the risk of falling victim to these cyber threats.

While you're reading, take a chance to see analyzing eBay phishing email in action on our YouTube channel. It will make things clearer.

How to Spot Phishing Emails Technically

Spotting a phishing email requires more than just intuition, it involves a careful, technical analysis of email red flags. Start by checking the sender’s email address closely; many spoofed email addresses look legitimate at first glance but contain subtle differences, such as extra characters or domain mismatches. Next, hover over links without clicking to verify where they actually lead. Knowing how to check a link in an email is one of the most effective ways to detect fraudulent messages, as phishing attempts often redirect you to malicious websites designed to steal credentials. Reviewing the email header information can also reveal unusual routing paths or forged sender data, which are clear signs of a phishing email.

While some phishing attempts are easy to notice, others are crafted to look convincing. By checking the technical details of an email, you can uncover the hidden signs of a phishing email and determine whether it’s legitimate or a scam.

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Picture 6: How phishing works - technical aspect of phishing campaigns

Check the Sender’s Email Address

One of the first things to do is check the sender’s email address carefully. Attackers often use a spoofed email address that looks similar to a trusted source but contains slight changes (e.g., replacing “o” with “0”). If you’re wondering “is this email legitimate?”, mismatched domains or unusual characters in the sender field are strong red flags.

Analyze the Email Header and Metadata

Email headers contain technical information about where the email came from. Looking at the header helps you verify the sending server and detect inconsistencies. If the “From” field doesn’t match the domain in the header, it’s likely a phishing attempt. This technical step is key in separating phishing vs. spam.

Phishing emails often contain links that lead to fraudulent websites. Always check a link in an email by hovering your mouse over it (without clicking). If the visible text doesn’t match the actual URL, or the domain looks suspicious, it’s a sign of a phishing scam to look for.

Review Attachments and File Types

Another common tactic is sending harmful attachments. If you receive unexpected files, especially with extensions like .exe, .zip, or .scr, treat them as suspicious. Cybercriminals may disguise malware in attachments to steal data or install malicious software.

Examine Authentication Records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)

Legitimate emails usually pass authentication checks. When possible, review whether the email passed SPF, DKIM, and DMARC validation. A failure in these records is often a technical clue that the email is not from the sender it claims to be.

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Picture 7: Email Spoofing

Cybercriminals also rely on psychological triggers, so watch for too good to be true offers and messages with poor spelling and grammar in emails, which remain common tactics. If you’re ever unsure and ask yourself, “Is this email legitimate?”, compare the message against known common phishing email examples or use security tools that analyze headers and embedded URLs. These email security tips combined with vigilance help you not only identify phishing emails but also strengthen your overall online fraud prevention strategy.

Signs of a Phishing Email You Should Never Ignore

Urgency or Fear-Based Language

Phrases like “final warning,” “immediate action required,” or countdown timers are meant to bypass critical thinking. Real companies rarely demand instant action via email; they offer multiple channels and reasonable time frames. Treat urgency as a phishing email red flag.

Requests for Sensitive Information

Legitimate organizations don’t ask for passwords, MFA codes, card numbers, or full personal IDs over email. If a message asks you to “re-verify” credentials, assume it’s malicious. When in doubt, navigate to the official site directly—don’t use the email link.

Login prompts embedded in emails are a favorite trick. Before you click, check a link in an email by hovering to preview the true URL. Watch for misspelled brands, extra words before the top-level domain (e.g., brand.com.evil-site[.]io), or URL shorteners hiding the destination. If the message claims to be internal, confirm the request in your company chat or ticketing system.

Inconsistencies in Branding or Design

Blurry logos, off-brand colors, mismatched fonts, and low-resolution images suggest a copycat. Compare the layout to past legitimate emails from the same sender. Also check the footer: real emails include a physical address, clear unsubscribe options, and accurate legal text.

How to Tell If an Email Is Real

Is This Email Legitimate? Quick Checks

  1. Sender domain: Does it exactly match the official domain (no typos, extra characters, or lookalikes)?
  2. Link preview: Hover over links—does the URL truly belong to the organization?
  3. Context: Were you expecting this email, attachment, or payment request?
  4. Channel verification: Confirm via a trusted channel (official website, known phone number, or internal chat).
  5. Attachments: Treat unexpected files as unsafe; open in a sandboxed environment if your policy allows.

For a simple checklist your team can use, share 10 Easy Ways to Detect a Phishing Email.

How to Tell If an Email Is from a Trusted Source

Check the address format (firstname.lastname@brand.com vs. brand.support@brand-helpdesk.com[.]io), SPF/DKIM/DMARC pass status if visible in your client, and cross-reference prior legitimate messages. When the email concerns payments, HR changes, or credentials, validate via your known account portal rather than the email link.

Phishing vs. Spam — Key Differences

  • Intent: Spam is unwanted but usually commercial; phishing attempts fraud.
  • Content: Spam pushes promotions; phishing asks for credentials, payments, or data.
  • Risk: Spam is annoying; phishing can cause account takeover, data loss, and fraud.

Understanding this difference helps teams triage: block and filter spam, report and escalate phishing.

Check this link for further information to learn What is Phishing & How to Protect Yourself.

What to Do with a Phishing Email

Do Not Click, Download, or Reply

Assume links lead to credential-harvesting pages and attachments contain malware. Do not forward the message externally or reply (even to say “stop”)—that confirms your address is active. If you already clicked, change passwords immediately and notify IT.

How to Report a Phishing Email

Follow your organization’s policy:

  • Use the Report Phish button in your mail client if available.
  • Forward to your security mailbox (e.g., security@company.com) with full headers.
  • If the email impersonates a major brand, report via the brand’s abuse page.

For consumer mail, many providers accept reports at phishing@ provider domains.

For further information, check this guide on how to report phishing emails.

Deleting and Blocking Suspicious Senders

After reporting, delete the message from Inbox and Trash. Block the sender domain—but remember, attackers rotate addresses, so rely on filters and security controls too. If your email security gateway supports it, request a tenant-wide purge of the campaign.

Sharing Email Security Tips with Your Team

Turn incidents into learning moments. Share sanitized screenshots showing what a phishing email looks like, highlight the signs of a phishing email, and remind colleagues how to check a link in an email. Reinforce with short, periodic trainings and simulations to build real habits.

What are Phishing Security Best Practices

Sticking to phishing security best practices is key in defending against phishing attacks. This includes being cautious with email attachments and links, especially from unknown senders. Regularly updating passwords and using complex combinations can also bolster your defenses. Additionally, always verify the authenticity of personal or financial information requests, and educate your assets on the latest phishing tactics and trends.

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Picture 8: Best Practices for Phishing Prevention

How to Use Anti-Phishing Tools and Software

Leveraging anti-phishing tools and software is a smart way to enhance email security. These tools can automatically detect and alert you to potential phishing emails, helping to filter out malicious content before it reaches your inbox. Investing in reliable antivirus software and regularly updating it can protect against phishing attempts.

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Picture 9: Key must-have features of antiphishing software

Importance of Regular Security Training and Awareness

Regular security training and awareness is crucial, especially in organizational settings. Educating employees about the risks and signs of phishing emails can significantly reduce the likelihood of successful attacks. Conducting regular training sessions, sharing updates about new phishing techniques, and promoting a culture of security awareness are effective ways to foster a vigilant and informed workforce.

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Picture 10: 7 key steps to implement security awareness training

What to Do If You Suspect a Phishing Email

Knowing the right steps is crucial if you encounter a potential phishing email. Quick and appropriate actions can prevent data breaches and mitigate potential damage. Please check the following picture to see the three steps if you suspect a phishing email below:

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Picture 11: Three steps to check for a phishing campaign

What are Actions Upon Identifying a Phishing Attempt

When you receive an email that looks suspicious, it's important to know how to respond properly to protect yourself and your information.

Here are the steps you should take if you suspect an email is a phishing attempt:

  • First Step: When you think an email might be a phishing scam, do not click on any links, open attachments, or respond to the email.
  • If You Clicked: If you accidentally clicked on something in the email, immediately disconnect your device from the internet to stop any possible viruses from worsening.
  • Change Passwords: If you're worried your information was stolen, change your passwords just to be safe.
  • Scan Your Device: Use the latest antivirus software to check your computer or device for any bad software and get rid of it.

Impact of Security Awareness Training on Spotting and Reporting Phishing Attacks

Below is a compilation of relevant statistics from recent reports, success in spotting/reporting, and the impact of training:

  • Security awareness training (SAT) reduces phishing risk by 40% within 90 days and 86% after one year, dropping PPP to 4.1% and click rates below 5%.
  • After 6 months of adaptive training, phishing reporting rise up to 92 % success rate, with failure rates dropping to 2-3%.
  • Real threat detection improves from 13% (pre-training) to 64% after 12 months and 71% after 24 months.
  • Recent training (within 30 days) boosts reporting rates to 21% (vs. 5% without), but has minimal impact on reducing clicks (only 5% relative decrease).
  • In trained companies, median click rate in simulations is 1.5%.
  • Benchmark goal for failure rates in simulations is below 5%, with zero as the ideal.

Check our guide to get best security awareness training topics to include to mitigate human risk.

Next Steps: Protecting Your Business with Keepnet Human Risk Management

Spotting phishing email red flags is the first step—but testing your defenses against real threats is just as important. Keepnet’s Email Threat Simulator is designed to show you exactly what phishing emails look like when they slip past security. It works with platforms like Office 365, Google Workspace, and Secure Email Gateways (SEGs), sending over 700 real-world phishing email examples into a safe test inbox.

This process uncovers vulnerabilities that bypass traditional filters, helping you:

  • Identify phishing scams to look for across attachments, spoofed domains, and malicious URLs.
  • Strengthen your SEG settings and improve blocking efficiency.
  • Run continuous checks with detailed reports and recommendations.

Whether it’s malicious attachments, ransomware, or advanced phishing techniques (APTs), our Email Threat Simulator provides visibility and action steps to harden your email security.

Keepnet’s Complete Phishing Defense Suite

Alongside technical testing, our Human Risk Management platform helps employees learn how to spot a phishing email and respond correctly:

Please watch our quick YouTube video and learn how to spot phishing emails and analyze them.

Editor's Note: This blog was updated on September 30, 2025.

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You'll learn how to:
tickUse various phishing tests like Email, Voice, MFA, QR Code, Callback, and SMS to teach your employees how to be safe.
tickUse AI to create realistic phishing templates for maximum efficiency.
tickGet automatic reports to understand how your employees act and compare your company's security with other companies in your industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a phishing email look like?

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A phishing email often looks like it comes from a trusted brand but includes red flags such as a spoofed email address, generic greetings, suspicious links, or poor grammar. Always check the sender’s email address and hover over links before clicking.

What are the most common signs of a phishing email?

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The signs of a phishing email include urgency (“your account will be locked”), requests for sensitive information, mismatched domains, phishing email subject lines that cause fear, and “too good to be true” offers.

How can I identify a phishing email quickly?

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To identify a phishing email, verify the sender’s domain, preview links, and check for unusual requests. If you’re asking yourself, “is this email legitimate?”—don’t act until you confirm via an official channel.

How do I check a link in an email safely?

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Hover your mouse over the link without clicking. If the displayed text doesn’t match the real URL, or if the domain looks suspicious, it’s a phishing scam to look for. Avoid shortened or misspelled links.

What is a spoofed email address?

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A spoofed email address is when cybercriminals fake the “From” field to make an email appear as if it’s from a trusted source. This trick is common in phishing scams and can be spotted by carefully checking the full domain.

How can I tell if an email is real or fake?

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To tell if an email is real, check the sender domain, grammar, branding consistency, and whether the email asks for personal or financial data. Compare it with previous real emails from the same sender.

What are phishing email subject lines I should be cautious about?

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Be wary of phishing email subject lines like “Unusual Login Attempt,” “Payment Overdue,” or “Verify Your Account.” These play on fear or urgency to trick you into clicking.

What’s the difference between phishing and spam?

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Phishing vs. spam: Spam is unwanted promotional email, while phishing is a fraud attempt to steal data or money. Spam is annoying; phishing is dangerous and requires immediate reporting. Check our blog to dive further to understand difference between phishing and spam.

What should I do with a phishing email?

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If you receive a phishing email, do not click, download, or reply. Report it to your IT or security team, then delete it. Many providers also allow you to report a phishing email to help block future attacks.

How can I protect myself from phishing emails in the future?

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To stay safe, follow email security tips: keep software updated, use spam filters, enable MFA, and educate employees with security awareness training. You can also use a phishing simulator to practice spotting threats in a safe environment.