Test your Phishing Skills
How did you do? The correct answer to each email was Fraud. None
of the examples presented were legitimate, and here's why.
While each email may look very legitimate, all of the URLs (links)
went to locations other than the official company website. Always
take the time to place your mouse over the link and wait for the
info to pop-up. This tells you where the link will actually take you.
Of course, this isn't your only guide, but it is a great first step.
Email sample 4 could be difficult to determine, but if you follow one simple rule,
you'll generally be safe. NEVER trust an email that has a form inside of it.
Professional organizations just don't do that. It isn't secure, and form submissions
don't always work when submitted from inside your email window.
Email sample 5 was the most difficult to guess. At first glance it
may look like the URL is legitimate, but don't be fooled. Even though
the beginning of the URL appears legit, the rest of the encoded string
actually takes you to a fraudulent website.
Typos and poor grammar are dead giveaways, but those days are almost gone. While
it's true you may still see them, more sophisticated phishing attacks are surfacing
every day!
When in doubt, always open a new browser window and go directly to
the home page of the company's website. Log-in from there. To make extra sure, submit it to the
phishfraud.com test address for verification. |
