Can you share one tip for identifying and avoiding phishing scams via email or messaging apps? What should others look out for?

Question

Phishing scams continue to evolve, posing significant risks to individuals and organizations alike. This comprehensive guide, featuring insights from cybersecurity experts, outlines practical strategies to identify and protect against these deceptive tactics. By implementing these expert-recommended techniques, readers can significantly enhance their online safety and reduce the likelihood of falling victim to phishing attempts.

Ben Bouman · Answer

I've found that a sneaky but reliable trick for spotting phishing emails is checking the image quality in the signature. Phishers often copy logos and brand elements from real companies, but they usually cut corners. When I get a message that seems suspicious, I zoom in on the logo or signature graphic. If it's blurry, pixelated, or looks like it was stretched awkwardly, that's a big red flag for me.
Legitimate organizations usually use crisp, high-resolution assets—often inline SVGs or retina-quality PNGs—because their branding teams care about how things look. Scammers, on the other hand, are in a rush. Their images tend to be low-quality screenshots or compressed copies dragged in from the web. It's a small detail, but once you start looking for it, you'd be surprised how often it helps separate fake from real.

George Huizinga · Answer

As someone who runs a home-focused business, I've seen how sophisticated phishing has become in the home services industry. One of the most effective defenses I've implemented is the "24-hour rule" - never respond to urgent requests for personal information or payment without waiting a day, especially when they claim to be from service providers.
In our company, we noticed customers being targeted with fake window treatment "warranty expiration" emails that perfectly mimicked our branding. These scams work because they leverage your existing relationship with trusted companies. I recommend creating a separate email folder for all home service communications so you can easily compare legitimate past messages with suspicious new ones.
The best protection I've found isn't technical but behavioral - when you receive any message requesting action, ignore the links in the email and instead manually navigate to the company website or call their official number. When we installed smart home security systems for clients, we found those who manually verified communications were never successfully phished.
Legitimate businesses will never pressure you into immediate action. At Zinga's, we always provide multiple contact methods and give customers time to verify our identity. If someone's creating artificial urgency about your home services or accounts, that's your biggest red flag.

Holly Finnefrock · Answer

Phishing messages often employ manufactured urgency—a sense of urgency that doesn't align with the real-life tone of the supposed sender. When I receive an email that sounds panicked, threatening, or overly dramatic, I take a step back and ask myself, "Would this person or company really communicate with me in this manner?"
Most legitimate messages are calm, straightforward, and respectful of context. If the tone feels off—such as a bank suddenly yelling at me to "ACT NOW!" or a colleague sounding like a marketing bot—I treat it with suspicion.
I've made it a habit to save a few genuine emails from key contacts or trusted services. When something unusual arrives, I retrieve those saved messages and compare the tone, language, and formatting. The difference becomes remarkably obvious when you see them side by side. Taking a moment to read between the emotional lines has helped me detect more scams than any filter ever could.

John Elarde III · Answer

Before clicking any link, I take a moment to copy it and paste it into a private browser window where JavaScript is disabled—either through browser extensions or the developer settings. This quick check gives me an early warning without putting my device at risk. Phishing sites often rely on JavaScript to run hidden scripts, capture keystrokes, or trigger redirects that mimic legitimate pages. If the site breaks, refuses to load, or looks stripped-down without JavaScript, that's usually a sign that something's off.
I think of this as a "ghost tab" test. It's safer than using standard link preview tools, which sometimes still allow scripts to run in the background. This habit has helped me catch more than a few convincing scams that could have fooled even experienced users. It's a simple layer of protection that adds just a few seconds to my workflow—but those few seconds can make all the difference.

Joshua Odmark · Answer

Being a developer for 10+ years has taught me that legitimate companies never ask you to download attachments or install software through basic email links. Last month, my team almost fell for a clever phishing attempt that spoofed our Microsoft Teams notification emails, but we caught it because the sender's domain had an extra hyphen in it.

Trevor Barthel · Answer

We see these quite often - so far we have been contacted for over $10 million worth of losses, and just finished a case for $1.7 million worth of crypto that was stolen.
Tip: Slow the conversation down — verify the sender and the story before you click, tap, or invest.
Take WhatsApp "pig-butchering" scams as a cautionary tale. They usually start with a friendly "Oops, wrong number" text from a stranger who keeps chatting, shares glamorous photos, and eventually pitches a "can't-miss" crypto or forex opportunity. The messages look polished, but a quick cross-check of the phone number, profile photo, and company website (if one is provided) typically reveals mismatched details, newly registered domains, or no verifiable business presence at all.
Before replying or following any link:
1. Confirm identity outside the app. Search the contact's name, phone number, and any company or exchange they mention. No footprint or only recently created profiles? Red flag.
2. Inspect links and attachments. Hover or long-press to preview URLs; scammers often use look-alike domains (e.g., "block-cha1n-pro.com") that redirect to fake login portals.
3. Watch for emotional pressure. Pig-butchering relies on rapport plus urgency: "Prices are moving fast—fund your account today." Legitimate firms won't rush you.
If anything feels off, block and report the sender. A few extra minutes of verification beats months of trying to claw back lost funds.

Warren Davies · Answer

After 30 years in CRM consulting, I've seen countless phishing attempts targeting businesses transitioning to new systems—when company data is particularly vulnerable.
My top tip is to beware of the "supplier change request" scam. In one case, a client received an email supposedly from our company requesting payment to a "new account" just before their CRM implementation began. The giveaway? The urgent tone and subtle pressure tactics—legitimate partners never rush financial changes.
I now advise all clients that BeyondCRM will never change payment details via email alone. We've implemented a two-channel verification system where any financial changes must be confirmed through separate communication methods (both phone and email) with different staff members.
When reviewing suspicious messages, check for inconsistencies in process—not just spelling or logos. Scammers might perfect the visuals but rarely understand your established business protocols. Trust your instincts when something feels off about requested actions, especially around payment timing or method changes.

Kaz Marzo · Answer

I'll never forget when one of our freelance contributors messaged me in a panic. They had clicked on a link in what seemed like a Dropbox shared email sent from our team. It was actually a phishing scam, and even though we managed to catch it at an early stage, it was a huge eye-opener regarding how realistic these phishing messages can be.
The most important thing that can help you detect and prevent phishing scams is to always recheck the sender's email address or URL for small typographical errors or unusual domains. Fraudsters often create similar-looking domains - like replacing "m" with "rn" or using ".net" instead of ".com" - to deceive people into thinking the email is authentic. If you think something is not right, hover the cursor over the link before you click it and check it with the sender via another communication method.
From our observation, the most dangerous emails are the ones that make people rush into a decision like "Your account will be suspended," or "Invoice attached" because they bring out the most compelling reasons to act before thinking. A momentary pause, even a brief one, can turn out to be a life-changer.

Peter Čuček · Answer

One trick I've learned to spot phishing scams is what I call checking for "message aging" mismatch. Scammers often fake email threads to make it appear as if there's been an ongoing conversation, but the details usually give them away. I look closely at the timestamps, indentation, and reply formatting. If everything is in the exact same font, with no spacing changes or visual signs of a real back-and-forth, something is amiss.
I also hover over the time and date stamps—legitimate email threads often reveal original metadata when you do this, such as when the first message was sent or who replied when. Fake threads tend to skip these details or make them unusually clean. That lack of natural message history is a significant clue. The more authentic something tries to look without showing signs of wear, the more I question it.

John Cheng · Answer

Having dealt with AI security, I discovered that legitimate companies never ask for sensitive information through unexpected emails or messages. Just last month, our dev team spotted a sophisticated phishing attempt using AI-generated text that almost perfectly mimicked our cloud provider's writing style. My go-to rule is simple: if there's any doubt about an email asking me to log in somewhere, I open a new browser tab and access the service directly instead of clicking any links.

Brad Besner · Answer

From my 15+ years in the security camera industry, I've noticed that the most overlooked phishing red flag is suspicious attachment types. When we receive emails from "vendors" with unusual file extensions like .exe or .bat disguised as quotes or invoices, that's an immediate warning sign.
At Security Camera King, we had a customer whose entire security system was compromised when their employee opened what appeared to be a "camera firmware update" attachment. It wasn't from us - it was malware that gave hackers remote access to their surveillance system.
Always hover over links before clicking. Recently, we analyzed dozens of phishing attempts targeting our customers and found that legitimate-looking camera support URLs often had subtle typos (securitycamerakimg.com instead of securitycameraking.com). This simple hover-check would have prevented several breaches.
When setting up email notifications for security systems, we always recommend using app-specific passwords and two-factor authentication as we demonstrate in our setup guides. This extra verification layer has proven effective against account takeovers even when credentials are compromised through sophisticated phishing attempts.

Billy Rhyne · Answer

One simple but powerful tip: hover before you click.
Scammers often disguise malicious links behind what look like legitimate URLs or button text. Before clicking any link in an email or message, hover your cursor over it (or long-press on mobile) to preview the actual destination. If the domain looks unfamiliar, slightly misspelled, or suspiciously long, it's likely a phishing attempt.
At Horseshoe Ridge, we train our team to also look out for urgent or emotional language ("Your account will be deleted!") and inconsistent sender addresses. If something feels off—even slightly—don't click. Verify directly with the source.

Balaram Thapa · Answer

Banks sometimes allow customers to set a "security phrase" that appears in their legitimate emails or messages. This unique phrase functions as a secret handshake between the customer and the bank, ensuring authenticity. When a message arrives, it's important to always look for your pre-set phrase. If it's missing or incorrect, that should be considered a red flag. It's crucial not to rely solely on logos or email addresses, as these can be easily faked. Instead, trust in this personalized verification method. It's advisable to regularly update this phrase to make it less predictable and more secure over time. This simple step enhances the safety of your accounts from phishing attempts.

How to Spot and Avoid Phishing Scams

Table of Contents

How to Spot and Avoid Phishing Scams

Zoom In on Logo Quality

Implement a 24-Hour Verification Rule

Analyze the Tone for Manufactured Urgency

Use Ghost Tab Test for Link Safety

Beware of Unsolicited Software Download Requests

Verify Sender Identity Before Taking Action

Watch for Inconsistencies in Business Protocols

Double-Check Email Addresses and URLs

Look for Message Aging Mismatch

Access Services Directly Instead of Clicking

Be Wary of Suspicious Attachment Types

Preview Link Destinations Before Clicking

Set and Check Personal Security Phrases

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