Your guide to avoiding scams and protecting your organization from cyber threats

Phishing emails are one of the most common—and most effective—methods cybercriminals use to breach organizations. According to recent reports, over 90% of successful cyberattacks begin with a phishing email. But how do you spot one before it causes harm?

Whether you’re an employee trying to protect your inbox or a business looking to reduce your attack surface, recognizing the signs of a phishing attempt is a critical first step. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to identify phishing emails and explain why running a phishing test or phishing simulation is essential for training and awareness.

1. Check the Sender’s Email Address

One of the most common phishing tactics is spoofing—when an attacker makes their email look like it comes from a trusted source.
Look closely at the sender’s address. For example, an email claiming to be from PayPal might come from support@paypa1.com (note the number 1 instead of an “l”).

Tip: Hover over the sender’s name to see the actual email address behind it.

2. Beware of Unexpected Attachments or Links

If you receive a file or link from someone you weren’t expecting—especially if it asks you to log in or provide information—be cautious.
Phishing emails often disguise malware in attachments or redirect users to fake login pages that capture your credentials.

Tip: Never open attachments or click on links unless you’re sure they’re legitimate.

3. Look Out for Urgent Language or Threats

Phishing messages frequently try to create panic or urgency—claiming your account will be locked, your invoice is overdue, or you must act immediately. This is a classic psychological trick to rush your decision-making.

Common phrases include:

• “Your account has been suspended.”

• “Verify your identity now.”

• “Unusual login detected.”

4. Poor Grammar, Spelling, and Formatting

While cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, many phishing emails still contain obvious errors. If the email is full of typos, strange phrasing, or inconsistent branding, it could be a scam.

Tip: Legitimate organizations usually proofread their communications.

5. Inspect the Link Before Clicking

Hover over any link before you click it. If the destination URL looks suspicious or doesn’t match the domain of the organization it claims to be from, don’t proceed.

Tip: A real link to Microsoft would be something like https://login.microsoftonline.com, not http://secure-login.ms-support.com.

Why Phishing Simulations Are Critical

Even well-trained staff can occasionally fall for convincing phishing attempts. That’s why businesses increasingly turn to phishing simulations to measure vulnerability and raise awareness.

A phishing test is a safe, simulated phishing email sent by your organization or a cybersecurity partner to see how users respond. It helps:

• Identify who needs more training

• Measure risk levels

• Foster a security-first culture

Train Your Team with RapidPhish

At RapidPhish, we make it easy for businesses to run effective phishing simulations on a pay-as-you-go basis—no complex setup, no bloated subscriptions.

With our intuitive platform, you can:

• Launch custom phishing tests in minutes

• Track user interactions

• Provide on-the-spot training

Empower your team to spot phishing before it becomes a breach.

Spotting a phishing email is part observation, part education, and part practice. While technology helps, human awareness remains the strongest defense. Train your eye—and your team—with regular phishing tests and simulations.

Want to see how your team performs?
👉 Run your first phishing test with RapidPhish today.