You've received an urgent email from your CEO. How do you spot subtle signs of a phishing attempt?
When you receive an urgent email from your CEO, it's essential to be vigilant for signs of phishing. Here's how you can protect yourself:
How do you ensure email security in your workplace? Share your strategies.
You've received an urgent email from your CEO. How do you spot subtle signs of a phishing attempt?
When you receive an urgent email from your CEO, it's essential to be vigilant for signs of phishing. Here's how you can protect yourself:
How do you ensure email security in your workplace? Share your strategies.
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" Think Before You Act " – That’s the Mantra! To Think: -> Has your CEO ever emailed you before? If not, why now? -> Are you the right person for this request? Would your CEO really ask you for a money transfer or other favors? -> Emails from higher management during non-business hours should raise an eyebrow. -> Personal email? Big red flag. To Act: If your "CEO" suddenly emails your personal account, then block/report it.
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CEOs rarely send direct mail by skipping several levels. Corporate world there is nothing like urgent payment and for that too there are protocols Check with your supervisor and also CEOs executive assistant and best it reach him out on official email . Don't follow embedded links.
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Additional Practical Ways to Spot a CEO Phishing Attempt Check for Generic Greetings – Phishing emails may use "Dear Employee" instead of your name, unlike genuine company emails. Assess Email Tone & Style – If the CEO’s usual tone, punctuation, or formatting seems off, it could be a red flag. Confirm Requests via Another Channel – If the email requests urgent payments or sensitive data, verify directly via phone or internal chat. Look for Unusual Requests – CEOs typically don’t ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or confidential info via email.
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Just 3-4 things- 1. Look for subtle misspellings or unusual domains. 2. Hover over links before clicking to see where it actually leads. 3. If the email demands immediate action (like transferring money or sharing sensitive info). 4. Verify through another channel.
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When you receive an urgent email from your CEO, scrutinize it for subtle phishing signs. Check if the sender's email address or domain slightly differs from the official one. Notice if the message contains unexpected attachments, suspicious hyperlinks, or formatting and grammatical inconsistencies. Be cautious if the tone is overly urgent or coercive, pressuring you to act immediately. Also, verify if it asks for sensitive information or unconventional actions. When in doubt, confirm the email's authenticity using a separate, trusted communication channel.