Pause before opening a link
Learning goal: Spot common warning signs in an unexpected link.
A web link can be useful, but a message that pressures you to click immediately deserves extra attention. Scammers sometimes use urgent words such as “your account will close” to stop you from checking.
Look closely at the website address. A familiar company name somewhere inside a long address does not prove it is that company’s real website. When in doubt, open the service using a bookmark or an address you already know.
Do not enter a password or one-time code on a page reached from a suspicious message. You can contact the organization using its established support channel.
Practice
Think of an unexpected message asking you to confirm an account. Write down two checks you would make before visiting the link.
Do this privately, in a notebook or on your own device. Nothing you write is collected by this site.