How to Spot a Phishing Email in Under 60 Seconds

Simple tips to identify phishing emails

CYBERSECURITY

6/21/20252 min read

a white square with a red circle on top of it
a white square with a red circle on top of it

🕵️‍♂️ How to Spot a Phishing Email in Under 60 Seconds — A Small Biz Owner’s Survival Skill

Let’s set the scene.

You’re sipping your morning coffee, casually clearing out your inbox before that 9 AM strategy call, when—bam!—you spot an email from “Microsoft” warning you that your account is about to be deactivated. 😳 Panic sets in. You almost click. Almost.

But wait. Let’s pump the brakes.

Welcome to the jungle of phishing emails—a digital safari full of predators disguised as friendly logos. As a business owner or exec, your inbox is prime real estate. Hackers know it. And guess what? They’re banking on you being too busy (or sleepy) to notice the red flags.

So how do you spot a phishing email faster than you can say "cybersecurity budget"?

Here’s your 60-second cheat sheet:

🚩 1. Check the Sender Like a Bouncer Checks ID

If the email says it's from PayPal but the address reads paypal-customerservice@gmail.com... that's a hard nope.

💡 Pro Tip: Always hover over the sender’s name. If the email looks like it was stitched together in a basement, it probably was.

🪤 2. Scan for Urgency (Hackers Love Drama)

"Your account will be suspended in 24 hours."

"FINAL WARNING before legal action."

Relax, you're not starring in a cyber-thriller.

💡 Reality Check: Legit companies don’t threaten. They inform. And they don’t do it with caps lock and emotional blackmail.

🔗 3. Hover Before You Click (Seriously, Hover!)

That shiny blue link? Hover your mouse over it without clicking. If it redirects to weirdlink.ru/verifyaccount, that's your cue to back away slowly.

💡 Pro Tip: If you must verify something, go straight to the source—type the company’s official URL in your browser instead.

📄 4. Watch Out for Attachments (Especially Weird Ones)

Zip files, .exe files, and files with vague names like “invoice_472” are common malware delivery vehicles. Unless you’re expecting it, don’t touch it.

🤓 5. Trust Your Gut—and Your Spellcheck

If the email reads like it was written by someone who skipped English class and has the charm of a robot... yeah, it’s probably fake. Look out for awkward grammar, weird formatting, and logos that look like they were made in MS Paint.

So, What’s the Real Risk?

A single click from one of your team members can cost you thousands, leak sensitive data, or bring your business to a screeching halt. Cybercrime isn’t just an IT issue anymore—it’s a boardroom issue. But here’s the good news: spotting these scams is easier than you think—and your people can get better at it, fast.

🔐 Let’s Wrap It Up

Spotting phishing emails isn’t rocket science—but it is a business survival skill. And like any skill, it gets sharper with the right tools and training.

At Deosh Group, we help small businesses and teams like yours build a strong, no-nonsense cybersecurity culture—minus the jargon and fearmongering.

🚀 Want to make your team phishing-proof?

Let’s talk. Book a quick discovery call with us today and let’s keep your business secure, savvy, and scam-free.

👉 Click here to reach out. We promise, it’s not a phishing link. 😉

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