Beginner’s Guide to Email Safety for Seniors: Spot Phishing, Dangerous Attachments & Links

Introduction: Why email safety matters for older adults

Email is a convenient way to stay in touch, manage bills, and receive notices — but it’s also the top entry point for scams called "phishing." Phishing emails try to trick you into clicking links, opening attachments, or giving away personal information like passwords, Social Security numbers, and bank details. According to public reporting, phishing was among the most frequently reported cybercrimes in recent years, creating real financial and identity-theft risk for older adults and families.

This guide gives short, easy-to-follow steps to recognize suspicious emails, safely check attachments and links, and recover if something goes wrong. You don’t need to be a tech expert — just a few cautious habits will stop most scams.

Common red flags: How to spot a phishing email

Phishing messages often use pressure, emotion, or offers that sound too good to be true. Watch for these signs:

• Urgent language: “Act now,” “Your account will be closed,” or threats of legal action.
• Unexpected requests for money or personal data: Banks and government agencies won’t ask for full Social Security numbers or passwords by email.
• Spoofed sender addresses: The name may say a real company, but the email address looks odd (for example: support@amaz0n.com).
• Strange attachments: Files you didn’t expect (especially .exe, .scr, or unusual compressed files) can install malware.
• Links that don’t match their text: The visible link might say one site but point somewhere else.
• Too-good-to-be-true offers and fake shipping notices: Fake prize or delivery emails are common lures.

These red flags and simple checks are explicitly highlighted in government and consumer guidance on phishing prevention. If an email shows any of these signs, treat it as suspicious.

Practical checks and actions — before you click

Before opening attachments or clicking a link, follow these quick steps:

1. Pause and look closely: If the message is unexpected or asks for money or personal info, don’t click anything.
2. Check the sender: Hover (move the mouse) over the sender address or link to reveal the real destination. If it doesn’t match or looks odd, don’t click.
3. Verify by phone or website: If the email claims to be from your bank, delivery service, or a government office, type the company’s known website address into your browser or call the phone number printed on your statement — never use the contact info inside the suspicious message.
4. Never open unexpected attachments: If you’re not sure, ask the sender by calling or using a known email address. Attachments can contain viruses or ransomware.
5. Use simple protections: Keep your computer and antivirus software updated, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available, and use unique passwords or a password manager.

Government cybersecurity guidance and consumer groups emphasize these behaviors as high-impact steps to reduce phishing risk, including using phishing-resistant MFA when possible.

If you accidentally clicked or opened an attachment

Take these immediate actions:

• Disconnect from the internet (turn off Wi‑Fi or unplug the network cable).
• Run your antivirus scan or use built-in system tools to check for malware.
• Change the passwords for any accounts that might be at risk, especially email and banking. Do this from a different device if possible.
• If money was requested or you gave bank details, contact your bank or credit card company right away and ask them to monitor or freeze your account.
• Report the scam: file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and report phishing to consumer reporting channels; these reports help authorities track and stop scammers. Keep copies of the suspicious email and any transaction records.

For reporting and recovery guidance, official sources recommend filing an IC3 complaint and using consumer-protection resources if you lost money or personal data. If you’d like help spotting a suspicious message, AARP’s Fraud Watch Network also offers a helpline and local resources for older adults.