Over three billion phishing emails are sent every single day. These deceptive messages are designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or downloading dangerous attachments. So how do you know what’s safe and what’s a scam?
At Commercial Networks, we help businesses stay one step ahead of cybercriminals by educating teams, strengthening defences, and proactively monitoring threats. In this guide, we break down what a phishing email looks like, how to spot the red flags, and what to do if you’ve clicked on something you shouldn’t.
What Is a Phishing Email?
A phishing email is a message that pretends to be from a legitimate organisation, often demanding urgent action or offering something that seems too good to be true. Its goal? To trick you into giving away sensitive data like passwords, payment details, or even your identity.
Red Flags of a Phishing Email
- Urgent tone: “Your account will be suspended unless you act now!”
- Spelling and grammar errors: Poorly written messages are a common giveaway.
- Generic greetings: “Dear Customer” instead of your actual name.
- Suspicious links: Hover over links without clicking, do they match the official site?
- Attachments from unknown senders: These could contain malware or viruses.
- Requests for personal information: No legitimate company will ask for your login details via email.
If something feels off, it probably is. When in doubt, don’t click, call the sender directly using known contact information (not what’s in the email).
Signs You’ve Fallen Victim to a Phishing Attack
Unfortunately, even the most cautious user can get caught out. If you think you may have interacted with a phishing email, look out for these warning signs:
- 🔁 Friends or colleagues report strange emails from your account
- 🐢 Your computer suddenly slows down or behaves oddly
- 🔐 You’re locked out of your email or online accounts
- 💸 Unexplained bank charges or account activity
- 🔓 Ransomware messages appear on your screen
- 🧪 Fake antivirus warnings or unfamiliar software installs
- 🧰 New, unwanted toolbars in your browser
- 📊 Unusual spikes in your network traffic
If anything here sounds familiar, stop using your device and call your IT support team immediately. Fast action is key to minimising the damage.
“I Opened a Phishing Email, Now What?”
First, don’t panic. Opening an email itself is not usually dangerous, it’s the links, replies, and downloads that pose risks.
If you’ve clicked something suspicious:
- Do not reply or forward the email.
- Mark it as spam or phishing using your email platform’s tools.
- Alert your IT provider, early intervention can prevent a bigger breach.
- Run a full antivirus scan and check for malware.
- Change any potentially compromised passwords immediately.
With Commercial Networks’ Managed IT Solutions, our 24/7 monitoring often detects and isolates threats before they cause harm.
Protecting Yourself From Future Phishing Emails
Cybercriminals are persistent, but with the right steps, you can make yourself a much harder target:
- 🔐 Use unique, strong passwords – consider a password manager to keep them safe.
- 🧠 Educate your team on how to spot phishing scams.
- 🔄 Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts.
- 🧽 Delete unused online accounts – the fewer your attack surfaces, the better.
- 📣 Don’t overshare on social media – hackers use public information to build convincing scams.
- 🛡️ Get Cyber Essentials Certified to demonstrate your commitment to security.
- 📧 Add DMARC records to protect your domain from spoofing.
We can help you implement all of these measures and more as part of our Cybersecurity Shield package, ask us how.
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Email
If something seems strange:
- 🛑 Don’t click.
- 📧 Don’t open unexpected attachments.
- 📞 Don’t call phone numbers in the email, go directly to the company’s website.
- 📬 Do report it. Most email platforms (like Outlook or Gmail) allow you to flag phishing attempts, which helps protect others.
Further Information & Resources
For more in-depth guidance, we recommend:
- National Cyber Security Centre – Spotting and reporting phishing emails
- Stop Think Fraud – What to do if you’ve been hacked
Take Action With Us At Commercial Networks
A single phishing email can cause serious disruption but with expert support and education, you can prevent these attacks from ever reaching your inbox.
Talk to us today about training your staff, implementing mail protection tools, and putting robust cybersecurity measures in place.
📞 Call 0333 444 3455 or visit our Contact Page
