How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams — by Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Advice

beginnerpageLink only (©)

An FTC guide to phishing emails and texts, their warning signs, ways to protect yourself, what to do if you were caught out and how to report it.

Quick steps

Keep security software and phone software updated
Turn on multi-factor authentication
Contact companies using a number or site you know is real
Forward phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org and texts to 7726

Paraphrased from the source. Menus can differ by version, so check the original for full details.

Read the full article on consumer.ftc.gov

Source: How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams by Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Advice. Licence: Link only (©).

Source reviewed: 2026-11-02
Link checked: 2026-11-02
Tested hands-on: Not by Oddbyte.Me

phishingscamsreporting

More in Online Safety

4 Things You Can Do To Keep Yourself Cyber Safe — by Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

beginnerpage

A short 2022 post on basic cyber hygiene for people who think they are not targets: multifactor authentication, automatic updates, caution with unexpected links and long unique passwords from a password manager.

How To Avoid a Scam — by Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Advice

beginnerpage

Outlines the typical red flags of fraud: impersonation of trusted organisations, claims you owe money or won a prize, pressure to act fast and unusual payment methods. It advises verifying through known contacts and talking to someone you trust.

How Websites and Apps Collect and Use Your Information — by Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Advice

beginnerpage

Explains how sites, apps and advertisers track activity with cookies, pixels and advertising identifiers, and how browser settings, app permissions and ad blockers can limit it, though none block all tracking.