MEPX
Chapter 7 of 10All chapters
  1. 1What the risks actually are
  2. 2Browsing safely
  3. 3Protecting accounts
  4. 4What you share
  5. 5Children and teenagers
  6. 6Devices and networks
  7. 7Recognising phishing
  8. 8Privacy in practice
  9. 9Harassment and unwanted contact
  10. 10A short checklist

Chapter 7 of 10

Recognising phishing

The message wants you to hurry.

The pattern

Urgency, a problem with an account, a convenient link, and a request for details or a code. The pressure exists to prevent you checking.

  • Never read out a code sent to you; no legitimate caller needs it.
  • Check the sender domain, not the display name.

Beyond email

The same pattern arrives by text, phone and chat, now with cloned voices. Hang up and call back on a number you already had.