The recent influx of scams from companies like Microsoft and Google has highlighted the need for us all to pay more attention to emails. Thankfully, there are two easy rules that, if followed, can help you spot nearly 100% of these scams before they can even reach your inbox: Look at where the links in the email go and check if the domain name matches the company it purports to be from.
Identify Fraudulent Email Addresses Instantly: Avoid Online Scams
Identify fraudulent email addresses instantly which often try to make their scams look authentic by hiding the actual destination URL. On a desktop, hovering your mouse over a link (without clicking) will display the real address in a bar. Hovering on a mobile device will reveal the destination in a popup window. If the address does not match, the email is likely a phishing attempt.
Also, be wary of shortened URLs and any email that includes a lot of images with little text. These can contain malicious code and are used to evade Exchange Online Protection and other email filtering systems.
Also, be very suspicious of any message that requests personal information such as passwords or a bank account number. Legitimate companies would never request this kind of information over an unsolicited email. If in doubt, call the company to confirm if it did indeed send you an email with this type of request. Also, be wary of any messages that ask you to verify your identity by clicking on a link or sending your password via SMS or QR code.