We’ve all gotten them. The weird email that makes our suspicions go on high-alert, and yet make our fingers itch with curiosity (should I open? Should I delete?). When it comes to suspicious email, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. One moment of bad judgment can leave you with a big mess and an even bigger tech services bill.

Companies like PayPal and other payment gateways or services will never ask for your personal information via email. Email containing requests for password or account information are nothing more than “phishing scams” and should be disregarded immediately.

Watch for suspicious “from” addresses. The ‘from’ email address should be from the company/vendor: example; “[name]@bankofamerica.com” instead of “[email protected]” Also, if there’s a request to “click a link” to confirm your account within the email…NEVER click that link. Go directly to your account page, log in, and see if there are any posted messages for you.

This sounds like a no-brainer, but watch for misspells or improper use of grammar. And if the email states “Your account has been compromised,” that is a huge red flag that this request is not legit.

And lastly, “when in doubt-give a shout-out.” Call the company directly using the phone number you already have to verify whether or not the email was real or an attempt to steal your personal information. Tis’ a far better thing to be safe than sorry!