Phishing Email Examples

Phishing emails are designed to trick you into acting fast. They often look like they come from brands you use every day, but if you look closely, there are always signs. With the rise of AI-generated phishing emails, these signs are getting harder to spot—making awareness even more critical.

Common Scams to Watch For

1. The Password Reset: "Your account expires today. Click here to reset."
   • The Hook: Urgency. They want you to panic and click without thinking.
2. The Package Delivery: "Your delivery failed. Confirm your address here."
   • The Hook: Curiosity. Most people are expecting a package at some point.
3. The Fake Invoice: "Please see the attached invoice for your payment."
   • The Hook: Worry. You don't want to owe money, so you open the attachment (which often contains malware).

The "Golden Rule" of Phishing

If an email asks you to click a link and then enter a password, treat it with extreme caution.

Most legitimate companies will never ask for your credentials via a link in an email.

What to Do

If something feels "off," follow these three steps:

• Don't Click: Hover your mouse over the link to see where it actually leads.
• Report It: Use your company's reporting tool or forward it to IT.
• Delete: Once reported, get it out of your inbox.

Related Learning

• How to spot a social engineer
• Phishing simulations 101
• Business email compromise prevention training
• CEO fraud and whaling attack prevention