PHISHING LINKS

''I have recently received emails and instant messages that look legitimate at first glance. These messages come with URLs that prompt you to input your personal information. In turn, I think It will steal my credentials and use them to access my accounts and personal data.''

Imagine this, you're in your house watching a movie, when all of a sudden you get an unknown email from a website you visit frequently. The email looks legitimate, but once you enter the website it tells you to enter your personal information, which makes it seem a little bit off. Well, don't rush and enter your information without reading this post, because this, like the example at the top of this post, might be a case of Phishing Links.

Everyone gets an unknown email every once in a while. Or an email that looks legitimate and ends up being the other way around.

While opening emails is completely fine and won't cause trouble, clicking the links from said emails can end up badly if you don't know what you're getting into. Most commonly, said URLs will direct you to a website that looks legitimate and asks you to enter your personal information. Note that most legitimate websites would never ask for your information unless it is completely necessary. Therefore, if you see an email asking to enter your details, it should be your first red flag. If you're still not sure if it's real or not, don't worry because I will give you some tips in order to be able to prevent this.

1- When getting an email that looks mildly suspicious, I would recommend first and foremost to look it up on the internet. Most scams try to reach a wide variety of users, so it is very likely that you will find someone with the same problem. After that, if you see more users have received a similar email. I would recommend ignoring it since in most occasions it is usually a scam.

2- However, if you still have your doubts and/or want to still try and get further proof to see that an email is really a scam, you could always talk to the someone from the website. Most websites that have scam emails from third-parties tend to have customer service. For example, you get an email from your bank telling you that you have a pending payment and to take action. If this happens, you can call your bank asking them if it is true or not which is a move that always works.

3-If you're still not sure, try entering the official website through google search. Once you're in, if it doesn't ask you for your personal information and the website through the email does, then it is clearly a scam.

4- Now, in this tip I'll give you some advice in order to prevent scam emails and messages from reaching your inbox. So, for example, let's say you're getting a scam link from a very common website you usually frequent and you find that link to be a scam. In that case, I would recommend blocking the number and/or person who sent you the spam link, Although most scammers have multiple emails to send you scam links, after some time of continuous blocking you will see a great decrease of messages and/or emails in your inbox.

5- Another way to prevent scammers for seeming believable is checking their email address. Most websites use the same email to send you important information. So, to never fall for a scammer's traps, just save the official website email address (Which is usually seen when you first enter a website with your email address). That way, next time you see an email address you don't recognize, you'll immediately know that it is a scam. And, therefore, shouldn't respond. If they send you a message via their phone number, although not as effective, this tip may also apply.

For further information about the topic, here is an article that may be very useful by Check Point. So, if you still have your doubts, don't be afraid to check it out!