In today’s digital world, phishing and online scams remain some of the most common ways criminals trick people into giving up sensitive information. These attacks often look convincing—emails that appear to be from your bank, websites that resemble popular retailers, or texts that mimic delivery services. However, most phishing attempts can be uncovered with a simple habit: checking the source email address or website before taking action.
Why Source Details Matter
Scammers rely on urgency and trust. They want you to act quickly—click a link, download a file, or share personal information—before you pause to think. The messages might use official logos, professional language, or even the names of real employees. But what they cannot fully hide is where the message came from.
- Email addresses: A real bank email will come from something like support@yourbank.com, not support@yourbank-secure-login.net. Scammers often add extra words, numbers, or strange domains to trick people.
- Websites: A genuine site will use its official domain (www.amazon.com). Fraudulent sites often use small variations, like www.amaz0n-login.com or secure-amazon-payment.net.
Spotting these differences is one of the easiest ways to recognize a scam.
Common Red Flags in Email Addresses and Websites
- Misspellings or substitutions – “paypaI.com” with a capital “i” instead of “paypal.com.”
- Unnecessary prefixes or suffixes – “login-verification-yourbank.com.”
- Free email providers – If “Apple Support” emails you from @gmail.com, it’s fake.
- Non-matching links – Hovering over a link shows the true URL. If the text says “www.bankofamerica.com” but the link points somewhere else, don’t click.
Simple Steps to Protect Yourself
- Always hover before you click. Place your mouse over a link (without clicking) to see where it really leads.
- Check the sender. If the email claims to be from your bank, but the address isn’t from the official domain, delete it.
- Look for HTTPS. Secure sites start with https://. While not foolproof, a missing “s” is a red flag.
- When in doubt, go directly. Instead of clicking a link in an email, open your browser and type the official website address yourself.
The Bottom Line
Phishing and scams succeed when people act without verifying. By taking just a few seconds to check the source email address or website, you can avoid most of these traps. It’s a simple but powerful defense that costs nothing and protects everything.
Check out our public album on Google Photos of screenshots from phishing and scam texts, emails and websites – which can help you know what to look for in every unsolicited message. Click here: Phishing and scam examples.