NetGain Technologies: How to Spot, Identify & Recognize Phishing Emails

NetGain Technologies, a leading provider of IT services and security solutions, recently published an article that discusses phishing emails. Lawyers Mutual has discussed phishing in past LMICK Minute Issues, and how cybercriminals use this trick to enter and attack your network. LMICK recommends that you read the entire article for all the important information that the article discusses.

As the article point outs, there are ways in which you can spot a phishing email. Look for these warning signs:

  1. Urgent Calls to Action or Threats – Messages that say “Your account will be suspended today” or “Immediate payment required” are designed to pressure you into acting without thinking. This false urgency is a classic phishing tactic.
  2. Grammar, Spelling, and Formatting Errors – Professional companies rarely send emails full of mistakes. Typos, broken logos, or sloppy formatting can all point to scams.
  3. Generic Greetings and Unfamiliar Senders – “Dear Customer” or emails from odd addresses often indicate a phishing attempt. Always double-check the sender’s domain for authenticity.
  4. Suspicious Links and Attachments – Hover over links before clicking. If the URL looks strange or unrelated to the sender, don’t open it. Attachments—especially PDFs or ZIP files—are another common way malware spreads.

The article also provides a quick checklist of how you can identify phishing emails before you click on them. NetGain recommends that you do the following:

  • Verify the sender’s email address and domain.
  • Hover over links before clicking.
  • Look for urgent language or scare tactics.
  • Watch for poor grammar, odd phrasing, or unusual requests.
  • Never open unexpected attachments.
  • Confirm requests through another channel (e.g., call the sender directly).

NetGain also provides a checklist of what to do if you think you’ve been phished. If you’ve accidentally clicked a link or shared information act quickly and do the following:

  1. Disconnect from the internet to stop further data transfer.
  2. Reset any potentially compromised credentials immediately.
  3. Notify your IT team and security provider.
  4. Monitor bank accounts or credit card activity if financial information was shared.
  5. Follow your organization’s cybersecurity incident response plan. Stay tuned for a draft cybersecurity response plan in an upcoming LMICK Minute.

Swift and immediate action by you and your staff limits the damage and helps IT teams contain the breach.