Email SafetyStart here5 min read
How to recognize a phishing email
A plain-language guide to spotting suspicious emails before you click a link, open an attachment, or reply.
Reviewed 2026-07-11 • Intended for Home users, families, and small-business owners
Key warning
A real company will not ask you to rush, hide the message from others, or share passwords by email.
What this means
Phishing emails are fake messages designed to make you click, call, pay, or reveal private information. The safest move is to slow down and verify the request through a trusted path.
What to do
- Look at the full sender address, not just the display name.
- Be careful with urgent account warnings, invoices, delivery notices, and password reset emails you did not request.
- On a desktop computer, hover over links before clicking when you can safely do so.
- Go directly to the official website instead of using the message link.
- Ask for help before opening an attachment you were not expecting.
Common mistakes
- Trusting a logo without checking the sender or link
- Opening unexpected attachments because the message looks urgent
- Replying with personal account details
What to do next
- Do not click links in a message that feels wrong.
- Contact the company through its official app, website, or phone number.
- Save the message if you want someone trusted to review it.
When to ask for help
- You clicked a link and entered a password.
- You opened an attachment and the computer changed behavior.
- You are unsure whether a business email is real.
Need help with this?
Perqline Solutions helps home users and small businesses with remote support, device cleanup, Wi-Fi, account safety basics, and digital systems.