If you’re like me, you get a lot of is this a real email– from online stores, your bank and even from people you know. And you’re always on the lookout for phishing scams that are trying to steal your passwords and credit card details.

Usually, there are some signs that tell you an email isn’t real. Here are some to look out for:

Grammar errors/typos

While everyone makes mistakes from time to time, a spelling error or glaring grammatical incoherence are signs that it’s not a good email. Similarly, if the language is foreign or sounds strange, it’s probably a fake.

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A lot of spoof emails will use urgent, threatening language to get you to respond quickly. Whether it’s a bank scam or a social media scam, they’ll try to make you panic and act quickly without thinking.

Fake emails with hidden links

If you see a link in an email, it’s important to double-check where it’s taking you before clicking on it. This can be done by hovering your mouse over the text or by using the “find” feature in Google Chrome.

Spear phishing

This type of scam is where hackers forge login pages to look legitimate and then send out emails that request your login credentials or payment information. They can also try to steal your bank account details by impersonating an official looking bank, which can lead to identity theft.

If you’re unsure about an email, try calling the sender instead of clicking on any links. This can help you verify that they’re actually the person they claim to be.