Phishing attempts are one of the most common types of online fraud. Clicking links in phishing emails or messages may direct you to a malicious website which has been designed to install malware or steal your personal information.

If you receive a phishing message, the best course of action is to report it, as this will help investigators to protect other people from being scammed.

Reporting phishing emails

Email providers, such as Google and Outlook, have specific ‘report phishing’ buttons that can be selected. Unfortunately, the best option for Apple Mail users is to report phishing messages as ‘junk’ which will redirect further messages from the same sender directly to your junk folder.

Reporting phishing calls and texts

On an iPhone, you can swipe left on a phishing message to delete and report as spam. On an Android device, select block and then tick the ‘report as spam’ box. If you’re receiving phishing phone calls, these should be reported directly to the National Cyber Security Centre.

Reporting phishing websites

Phishing websites are often linked to text message or email phishing campaigns, but they can also appear in online ads, on social media, and even in search results pages. Like many online businesses, Microsoft and Google will utilise professional website security checks and advanced algorithms to alert users that a site may be malicious. Your online business can also benefit from website security services, such as etempa.co.uk/website-security-checks/.

However, reporting phishing websites that may have slipped through the cracks can limit their reach, which can be done via your browser’s online report form.