Email Phishing Red Flags Cheat Sheet

The 10 Red Flags Every Phishing Email Has

#	Red Flag	What to Look For
1	Generic Greeting	"Dear Customer" instead of your name = SUSPICIOUS
2	Urgent Language	ALL CAPS, !!!, "ACT NOW!" = Creates panic
3	Password Request	Asking to confirm password/login = 100% SCAM
4	Suspicious Links	Hover over link - does URL match the text?
5	Poor Grammar	Spelling mistakes, awkward phrasing = RED FLAG
6	Unusual Info Request	Asking for SSN, credit card via email = SCAM
7	Wrong Sender Email	"PayPal" from phishing@random-site.com = FAKE
8	Unexpected Attachments	.exe, .zip, .doc files = Likely malware
9	Too Good to Be True	Won a prize you didn't enter = Definitely a scam
10	Vague Threats	"Unusual activity" without specific details = PHISHING

Before clicking ANY link or providing ANY information:

If you answered NO to ANY of these = DON'T CLICK. DELETE IT.

NEVER click email links for account verification

Hover before you click - check the real URL

Check the ACTUAL email address, not display name

Real companies NEVER ask for passwords or SSN via email

Be suspicious of artificial urgency

Look for generic greetings (red flag)

When in doubt, call the company directly

Watch for poor grammar and spelling

Don't download unexpected attachments

Trust your gut - if it feels off, it probably is