Phishing is a malicious attempt by cybercriminals to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, financial details, or personal data, by disguising themselves as trustworthy organizations. Reporting such incidents plays a crucial role in combating these fraudsters. Here are 12 steps to report phishing attempts effectively.

1. Identify phishing emails: Look for suspicious elements such as unknown senders, generic greetings, poor grammar, and spelling errors. Also, note any urgent requests for personal or financial information.

2. Do not click on any links or download attachments: Clicking on embedded links or downloading files from phishing emails might lead to further security breaches.

3. Capture the header information and full email source code: These details can provide valuable insights about the email origins and will be useful when reporting the phishing attempt.

4. Take screenshots: Capture images of the email content and any other relevant information to support your claim while reporting the incident.

5. Mark the email as phishing or junk: Most email service providers have an option to report and flag suspicious emails as phishing or spam.

6. Report it to your organization’s IT department (if applicable): If you received the phishing email at work, inform your IT department immediately so they can take prompt action against potential threats.

7. Forward the email to anti-phishing organizations: Send a copy of the suspicious email to organizations dedicated to combating phishing such as [email protected] (Anti-Phishing Working Group) or [email protected] (Phish.Report).

8. Alert the targeted organization of the phishing attempt: Send an email with all relevant information to the business targeted in the phishing scam so they can notify their users and take measures against fraudsters.

9. Report to government agencies: In the United States, report phishing attempts via [email protected] (Internet Crime Complaint Center) or file a complaint on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

10. Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan: Keep your antivirus software up-to-date and perform scans regularly to protect your devices against potential threats.

11. Change your login credentials: If you suspect that your data might have been compromised, change your login details, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your accounts for unusual activity.

12. Educate others: Share information about phishing attacks with colleagues, friends, and family to increase awareness and prevent them from becoming victims of such scams.

By reporting phishing attempts promptly and taking necessary precautions, you can contribute to making the internet a safer environment while safeguarding yourself and others from potential security breaches.