In emails, as in life, certain things come across as a little… fishy. And while the phishing we’re talking about has nothing to do with the sport or pastime of fishing, the comparison isn’t entirely unhelpful.-Sara Mateiciuc Scoala Gimnaziala Sf.Andrei Mangalia

Email providers usually filter out the good from the bad, but as they’ve got better at this, scammers have found ways to slip through the net. Lurking in the depths of what is presumably someone’s basement, illuminated only by the artificial light of a computer screen, they cast their figurative rod, sending thousands of emails to unsuspecting victims, hoping to snag a big one. And what’s in these emails, we hear you ask? Well, nothing good.-

Dudeanu Claudiu-Andrei, Scoala Gimnaziala Sf.Andrei Mangalia

Phishing is a form of cybercrime where attackers use deceptive emails or messages to trick individuals into sharing personal information. It all sounds like pretty scary stuff, right? You wouldn’t be wrong for thinking so.Budău Darius

The consequences of being caught out by a phisherman can be life-destroying, ranging from - at the better end of the spectrum - receiving a nasty computer virus, to the truly terrifying threat of identity theft and the loss of life savings.-Adrian Bianga

Thankfully, by staying savvy and learning what a phishing email looks like, you can help you and yours stay safe online. And the good news is, once you’ve spotted one phishing email, it’s unlikely you’ll be hooked by one ever again. -ALEXIA

Of course, we all receive lots of unwanted emails, but not all of these are malicious. Spam is unsolicited bulk messaging - often sent by marketers - flooding inboxes with unwanted content. In contrast, phishing involves targeted deception, aiming to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information by posing as trustworthy entities. While spam is an annoyance, phishing poses a more serious threat to personal security.Mr.Bob

Learning the difference between the two is the key to staying safe. So, buckle up for plenty more fish-related analogies as we set sail for the stormy seas of cyberspace!

NIKOLAS

Inspecting an email for signs of phishing is a lot like a trip to the fish counter at your local supermarket (don’t say we didn’t warn you!). Just as you look out for clear and shiny eyes, red gills and the absence of any fishy odour in your [insert fish of choice], you’ll want to apply the same keen nose to your email inbox. If you catch even the faintest whiff of an email gone bad, discard it and move on to the next one.MARIO BUDEANU

As you read more and more emails (what a life!) you’ll notice that marketers adopt a familiar tone in their correspondence with you. It’s usually friendly without being too friendly, the content’s grammatically correct, and it avoids overpromising. In other words, it feels like the kind of message a professional would send. -Rüzgar Özkan

This is one of the many ways that phishing emails miss the mark. There’s a whiff of desperation about them, they’re littered with the kind of SPaG errors that would make an English teacher wince, and they usually promise something that sounds too good to be true.-Yavuz Selim ÖZBEK

It’s not unusual for marketers to send emails promoting some time-limited offer, but one thing they’ll never do is make a threat. We probably don’t need to explain why, but it’s as sure as anything to send customers running for the hills.Muhammed Emre KOÇPINAR

But a phisherman doesn’t have the same email etiquette as your regular ol’ *cough* trustworthy *cough* marketer, which means they’re far more likely to break this golden rule. By creating a sense of urgency via a thinly or not-so-thinly veiled threat, phishermen hope their emails will be read in haste, meaning they’re far more likely to be actioned on.Ayten⛤Kerem

While we’ve all come to view marketing emails with a healthy amount of contempt, we’re much less likely to apply the same keen eye to messages from our close family members. And that’s what scammers are counting on.Eylül Ceylin Şahin

In the age of WhatsApp, Telegram and other forms of instant communication, the idea of receiving an email from mum or dad feels a little quaint, which is one reason to treat them with suspicion. But occasionally, there might be a good reason for them to get hold of you this way. For instance, if they’ve lost their phone, then how else would they contact you (short of sending a letter, of course)? 

Arya Emine 

Çokgün

The unwavering trust that most children place in their parents makes them susceptible to this kind of phishing scam, but thankfully, there are a few easy signs to spot it a mile away.

Muhammed Malik Güzel

The first port of call should always be to phone the family member in question to check whether they’ve emailed. If they haven’t, then you know it’s some kind of fraud. Second, does the email address match that of mum or dad? No? Alarm bells should be ringing. And finally, does the email request money or ask for personal information? You better believe it’s a scam.Emma Georgescu 

We’re all keen to make the internet a safer place for kids, and teaching them about phishing and email-related threats is an important part of this. As young learners navigate the digital landscape, they need the tools to recognise and resist the deceptive tactics of scammers.Cristian Modano

By instilling these skills early, we empower children to become responsible digital citizens, capable of safeguarding their privacy and personal data.-Mariagina Festa-Italy