Digital Safety
Before You Tap: Checking Suspicious Emails and Texts
How to handle unexpected delivery notices, account warnings, and messages asking you to sign in.
A message can look polished and still lead somewhere unsafe. Instead of trying to judge every logo or sentence, use a more reliable routine: pause, open the service independently, and check whether the issue exists there. You can use that routine for an unexpected message about a delivery, bill, or account.
What is phishing?
Phishing is a deceptive message designed to obtain information or persuade you to open something harmful. It may arrive by email, text, or another messaging service. A request to fix a payment, confirm an account, or view an unfamiliar invoice can be the beginning of the attempt.
Does good spelling mean the message is safe?
No. Treat appearance as a clue rather than proof. The important question is whether you expected the request and can verify it through a separate route. A polished message can still point to an imitation sign-in page. You do not need to become an expert at identifying every fake to avoid using its link.
How do I check an account warning?
Open the app you already use or go to the website through your saved bookmark. Check for a matching notice there, or contact the organization through its established support route. Avoid signing in through the unexpected message. An independently opened service gives you a better starting point for checking the claim.
What about attachments and QR codes?
Leave unexpected attachments closed until you understand what they are and have verified the sender through a known contact. Treat a QR code as another route to a website, not a trust mark. If a message pushes you to scan a code or download a file urgently, pause before proceeding.
What if I already entered information?
Act promptly and use the official recovery route for the affected account. Change a disclosed password from a trusted device, and review access to that account. If you shared payment details, contact the provider. The FTC’s recovery guide gives steps based on what you shared; keep a copy of the message for your report.
Sources & further reading
Published October 24, 2026. Refer to the linked official resources for current instructions.
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