Most phishing emails don’t look suspicious at first glance.
In fact, that’s exactly the point.
Today’s phishing emails are designed to look like they came from a company you trust, such as your bank, a retailer, a shipping company, a government agency, or even someone you know personally. Some are professionally written, include familiar logos, and closely resemble legitimate communications.
The goal isn’t always to infect your computer. More often, the goal is much simpler - to convince you to click a link, open an attachment, share personal information, or sign in to a fake website.
The good news is that you don’t need to recognize every phishing email to protect yourself. Learning a few common warning signs and developing simple verification habits can help you avoid many of today’s most common scams.
What Is a Phishing Email?
A phishing email is a message designed to trick you into believing it came from a trusted source.
The email may ask you to:
- Verify your account information.
- Reset your password.
- Confirm a purchase.
- Track a package.
- Open an attachment.
- Sign in to your account.
- Make a payment.
While the request may seem legitimate, the real purpose is often to collect personal information or direct you to a fraudulent website.
Why Phishing Emails Work
Phishing emails aren’t successful because people are careless.
They’re successful because they feel familiar.
Scammers understand that most of us receive dozens of emails every day. We quickly recognize company logos, package notifications, banking alerts, and online receipts. Instead of creating something completely different, criminals imitate the messages we already expect to receive.
Many phishing emails also create a sense of urgency.
Examples include:
- “Suspicious activity detected.”
- “Your account has been locked.”
- “Confirm your information immediately.”
- “Your payment could not be processed.”
- “Your package is waiting.”
When people feel rushed, they’re more likely to react before taking time to verify the request.
Common Warning Signs
No single warning sign proves an email is fraudulent, but several together should encourage you to pause before responding.
Be cautious if an email:
- Arrives unexpectedly.
- Creates a strong sense of urgency.
- Requests passwords or one-time security codes.
- Asks you to click a link before explaining why.
- Contains spelling, grammar, or formatting mistakes.
- Requests payment in an unusual way.
- Doesn’t match previous communications you’ve received from that company.
If something feels unusual, trust your instincts long enough to verify it.
Before You Click a Link
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is also one of the simplest.
Instead of clicking the link in the email:
- Open the company’s mobile app.
- Type the company’s website address into your browser.
- Use a bookmark you’ve previously saved.
- Call the company using a phone number you already trust.
Taking an extra minute to access the company another way can help you avoid fake websites designed to steal usernames and passwords.
What About Attachments?
Unexpected attachments deserve extra caution.
Unless you’re expecting the file and know who sent it, avoid opening attachments that ask you to:
- Enable editing.
- Enable macros.
- Install software.
- Log in before viewing.
If you’re unsure whether an attachment is legitimate, contact the sender using information you already trust rather than replying directly to the email.
If You Think You Clicked a Phishing Email
Mistakes happen.
If you clicked a suspicious link or entered information before realizing something wasn’t right:
- Stop entering additional information.
- Change your password if you entered login credentials.
- Change that password anywhere else you’ve used it.
- Monitor your accounts for unusual activity.
- Contact First Bank of Berne immediately if your banking information may have been involved.
The sooner you act, the sooner steps can be taken to help protect your accounts.
Remember
You don’t have to inspect every email like a cybersecurity expert.
Instead, remember these three habits:
Pause.
Verify.
Ask questions.
Those simple habits are often more effective than trying to memorize every type of phishing scam.
Not Sure? Start With Us.
If you receive an email claiming to be from First Bank of Berne and something doesn’t seem right, don’t click the links or reply to the message.
Instead, contact us using the phone number on your debit card, your monthly statement, or our official website.
We’re always happy to help you determine whether a message is legitimate before you take the next step.
Helping you bank with confidence is part of what we’re here for.