How to Spot a Phishing Email

How to recognize a phishing email:

  • Urgent or threatening language: “Your account will be suspended,” “You’ve won a gift card,” or “Immediate action required.”
  • Generic greetings: “Dear Student” or “Hello user” instead of using your name.
  • Suspicious links: Hover over links before clicking. If the address looks strange (e.g., login.yourschool.verify.ru) — don’t click.
  • Unexpected attachments: These can install malware on your device.
  • Sender looks close, but not quite right: Example: admin@support-student.com vs. your actual school domain.

 

Common scams targeting students:

  • Fake job offers or internships
  • “Part-time assistant” roles that ask for personal banking info
  • Messages claiming to be from the IT department asking you to "verify your account"

 

What to do if you suspect phishing:

  • Don’t click links or download files.
  • Don’t reply or provide any info.
  • Delete the message after reporting.

 


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