If you have an online presence and communicate via email, you will run into scams. They look like messages from companies you recognize and trust. Hosting companies, credit card providers, PayPal, and other familiar names are often used to trick people into clicking links they should not.
The good news is you don’t need to be techie or invest in expensive software to protect yourself, but you do need to be cautious. In this article, I’ll explain why it’s important to slow down and check one important thing before clicking.
Why Email Scams Look So Real
Scam emails are designed to look professional. The email address may appear legitimate. The message may include logos, familiar language, and even a sense of urgency.
You might be told there is a problem with your account or that you need to take action right away. That urgency is intentional. Scammers want you to click before you think. Just because an email looks real does not mean it is safe.
Don’t Trust the Email Address Alone
You may assume an email is legitimate because the sender’s name or email address looks correct. Unfortunately, scammers can make emails appear very convincing. Instead of focusing only on who the email claims to be from, pay attention to where the email wants to send you.
Watch This Short Video on How to Check a Suspicious Email
In this video, I explain how to check the links in your email to determine whether it’s legitimate. In this case, someone was spoofing Bluehost to try to get me to click.
Watch the video above, and be careful about which links you click when working online.
IMPORTANT Note: When I send emails, the hover link will be “clicks.aweber.com.”
(That is safe to click on! It’s our email marketing system that adds that link)
The One Thing To Do Before Clicking
Before clicking any link in an email, hover your cursor over the link without clicking. When you do this, look at the lower left corner of your screen. Your browser will usually show you the actual web address the link points to.
Make sure link hover tool tips are turned on in your browser so you can see this clearly. If the link does not clearly match the company the email claims to be from, do not click it.
For example, an email might say it is from your hosting company. But when you hover over the link, the web address shows something completely different. That is your warning sign.
How to See Where a Link Goes Before You Click
When you hover your mouse over a link, most browsers will show you where that link is going before you click it. This typically appears in the bottom-left corner of the browser window.
In Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, this happens automatically. In Safari, you may need to turn on the Status Bar first. Each browser behaves slightly differently.
Google Chrome:
Chrome shows the link address automatically. There is no setting to turn this on. It is built into Chrome and normally works automatically.
If you do not see it:
- Make sure Chrome is not in full screen mode
- Turn off browser extensions that may be changing how pages behave
Apple Safari (Mac):
Safari works differently from Chrome.
Safari only shows the link address if the Status Bar is turned on.
What you should know
- Open Safari
- Go to the top menu
- Click View
- Click Show Status Bar
Now, when you move your mouse over a link, the website address will appear in the bottom left corner.
If you still do not see it:
- Exit full screen by pressing Control + Command + F
Microsoft Edge:
Edge works very similarly to Chrome. There is no setting to turn this on.
If you do not see it:
- Press F11 to exit full screen
- Turn off extensions that may be affecting how links display
Mozilla Firefox:
Firefox also shows the link address automatically. There is no status bar to turn on.
If you do not see it:
- Press F11 to exit full screen
- Try turning off privacy or ad blocking extensions
Why This Matters for Your Business
Your email account is often connected to important parts of your business. Your website hosting, payment systems, email marketing, and client communication may all be tied to that one login. If a scammer gets access to your information, it can create serious problems for your business.
That is why it is so important to be cautious with unexpected emails, even when they appear to come from companies you recognize.
Seeing the link address before clicking helps you:
- Avoid clicking the wrong page
- Avoid suspicious links
- Feel more confident while browsing
Contact the Company Directly
If an email claims there is an issue with your hosting account or your account with another service provider, do not click the link in the message. Instead, contact the company directly via their website, chat, or phone number to find out whether there is actually an issue with your account. Remember, legitimate companies will not ask for your password or sensitive information through email.
If you use Outlook to read your email:
In Microsoft Outlook (both desktop and web versions), you can hover your cursor over a hyperlink in an email to see the destination URL. A small pop-up tooltip will usually appear near your cursor, showing the full or partial URL. This is a helpful way to check if a link is safe or goes to a legitimate site before clicking.
Staying Safe Online
Bottom line: do not click the links if you suspect they’re fake! Hover over the link to see where it will take you before clicking anything in an email.
You do not need to be tech-savvy to stay safe online. Small habits make a big difference. Taking a few extra seconds to hover over a link before clicking can protect your accounts, your business, and your peace of mind. When it comes to email scams, slowing down is one of the best security tools you have.
For more tips on staying protected online, read How to Keep Your Site Safe from Spammers and Hackers.
