Quick answer
AI phishing is a scam where artificial intelligence is used to write convincing fake emails and messages that appear to come from known companies or colleagues. You can recognize it by small mistakes in the sender's address, an unusual tone, urgent requests for money or data, and links that lead to the wrong domain. Always verify the sender and do not click on suspicious links.
How to recognize the problem
- The email seems to be written by a known colleague, but the sender's address has a small mistake
- The message is grammatically correct but asks for urgent action or confidential information
- The link leads to a site that looks like a known company, but the domain is wrong
- An attachment or message asks you to enter your password or card details
- The message arrives outside working hours or from an unusual account
Most common causes
Generated text without errors
AI tools easily write fluent and convincing text in many languages, so traditional signs like poor grammar are no longer reliable.
Impersonation
Attackers copy the name and signature of a known person or company, and change the sender's address by only one letter.
Urgency and fear
Messages often claim that an account is blocked, a payment is urgent, or a problem has been detected, which forces you to react without thinking.
Links and attachments
The link leads to a fake login page or the attachment contains a malicious file that steals data.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Check the sender's address
Click on the sender's name to see the full address. Pay attention to the domain after the
@sign: if@company.comis replaced with@company-com.netor similar, it is suspicious. For SMS messages, check the sender's number and compare it with the company's official number, but keep in mind that the sender's number can be spoofed. - 2
Don't trust the name, trust the domain
The sender's name can be anything. Check whether the domain matches the company's official domain. If you are not sure, open the company's website directly in your browser and look for contact information there.
- 3
Inspect the link before clicking
Hover over the link (do not click) to see the actual address in the browser's status bar. On your phone, touch and hold the link to show the copy option, then inspect it. If the address differs from what you expect, do not open it.
- 4
Check the tone and request
AI phishing often asks for urgent action: changing a password, making a payment, sending data. If the message creates pressure or offers something too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
- 5
Confirm through another channel
If the message appears to come from a colleague or company, call that person on a known number or send a new email to an address you have used before. Do not reply to the suspicious message.
- 6
Do not open attachments
Do not open attachments from suspicious messages, especially if they are archives, executable files, or documents with macros enabled. If you must check, save the file and scan it with an antivirus program.
- 7
Report the suspicious message
In your email client, use the option to report phishing (for example, in Outlook, the report phishing option). In your SMS app, forward the message to the official number for reporting fraud, or delete and block the sender.
- 8
If you clicked, change your password
If you entered data, immediately change the password on that account and enable two-factor authentication. Check the sign-in history and notify IT support if it is a business account.
Advanced check: email header and domain
If you want a more detailed check, open the email header (in classic Outlook: File > Properties > Internet headers; in newer versions, look for the option to view headers; in Gmail: Show original). Look for the Return-Path, Received, and Authentication-Results fields. If SPF, DKIM, or DMARC do not pass, the message is suspicious. Also check whether the domain was recently registered using a whois lookup service. These checks are useful for IT staff, but for ordinary users, the most important thing is not to click and to report suspicious messages.
How to prevent it
- Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts
- Use strong and unique passwords, preferably with a password manager
- Regularly update your antivirus program and operating system
- Train employees to recognize phishing and report suspicious messages
When to call a professional
If you suspect that a business account has been compromised or that an employee has entered data, contact IT support immediately to check the systems and prevent further damage.
AI automation · AI agents that process documents, emails and dataFAQ
How do I know an email is not from the real person?
Check the full sender address, not just the name. If the domain differs from the official one, it is probably a scam. Also check the tone of the message and whether it asks for urgent action.
What should I do if I clicked a link in a suspicious email?
Immediately change the password on that account and enable two-factor authentication. If you entered card details, notify your bank. Report the incident to IT support if it is a business account.
Does AI phishing always have text errors?
No, AI tools write fluently and grammatically correctly, so text errors are not a reliable sign. Pay more attention to the sender's address, links, and unusual requests.