Phishing emails try to trick you into handing over passwords, banking details or other sensitive information by pretending to be from a company or person you trust - your bank, SARS, your hosting provider, or even a colleague.
A few warning signs to watch for:
- The sender's email address looks slightly wrong (e.g.
support@afriweb-billing.cominstead of your provider's real domain). - There's urgent pressure to act immediately ("your account will be suspended in 24 hours").
- It asks you to click a link and enter your password or card details.
- Odd spelling, grammar, or generic greetings like "Dear Customer" instead of your name.
What to do: Don't click links or download attachments from suspicious emails. Rather type your provider's website address directly into your browser, or phone them, to check if the request is genuine. A legitimate company will never ask for your full password over email.