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Email safety. Spot suspicious messages and scams.

Pause first. You do not need to decide quickly.
If you feel pressured, stop. You can check safely.

Use this topic if you or someone you support want to:
  • Check if an email is safe before you click anything.
  • Know what to do right now if a message feels wrong.
  • Save a little evidence, then ask someone you trust for help.

Important

If you have already shared bank details, card details, or a one time code, go to:
Money at risk. Do this first

Choose one box. You do not need to read the whole page.

The top 3 habits

If you are unsure about an email:

  • Do not click links or buttons.
  • Do not open attachments.
  • Do not reply.

Tip

Take a breath. You are allowed to slow down.

Quick check. 30 seconds

Look at the email and ask:

1) Is the message trying to rush you?

Common pressure phrases include:

  • “Urgent” or “Action required”
  • “Your account will be closed”
  • “Final warning”
  • “You must act today”

If yes, treat it as suspicious.

2) Is it asking for something it should never ask for?

A real organisation should not ask you by email for:

  • Passwords
  • One time codes (texts you receive to sign in)
  • Bank details or card details
  • Remote access to your device

If yes, treat it as a scam.

3) Does the sender look slightly wrong?

Check the sender name and the email address.

  • A scam can look like it is from a bank or a delivery company.
  • The email address may have extra letters or odd spelling.

If you are not sure, treat it as suspicious.

Scam emails often say:

  • “Log in”
  • “Verify”
  • “Track my parcel”
  • “Pay now”

If you are unsure, do not click.

Safer ways to check something

If the email claims to be from a real company:

  • Open the company’s website yourself
    Type the address into your browser, or use a bookmark you already trust.

  • Use the official app (if you already have it)
    For example, use your banking app, not an email link.

  • Call a trusted number
    Use a number from the back of your bank card, a bill, or the official website.
    Do not use a phone number in the email.

Tip

If you are helping someone else, keep the email open on screen and say:
“We will check this safely. We will not click anything.”

How to check the sender address (simple)
  • On many email apps, tap the name at the top of the message to see the full email address.
  • Look carefully at the part after the @.
    For example. name@yourbank.ie is different to name@your-bank-security.com.

If anything looks slightly off, treat it as suspicious.

How to move an email to Spam in Gmail

You can do this on the Gmail app or on a computer.

  • On the Gmail app
  • Open the email.
  • Tap the three dots (top right).
  • Tap Report spam (or Report phishing if you see it).
  • On a computer
  • Tick the box beside the email in your Inbox.
  • Click Report spam (or Report phishing if you see it).

This helps Gmail learn and may protect other people too.

What to do next

Choose the option that fits.

A) You are not expecting this email, and it feels wrong

Do this:

  1. Do not reply.
  2. Delete the email, or move it to Spam.
  3. If you feel uneasy, ask a trusted person to look with you.

B) It might be real, but you are not sure

Do this:

  1. Do not click anything in the email.
  2. Check safely using the official website or app.
  3. If you cannot confirm it is real, treat it as a scam and delete it.

Do this:

  1. Close the tab or email.
  2. Do not enter any details.
  3. If you entered a password, go to:
    Your account was hacked
  4. If you shared any bank or card details, go to:
    Money at risk. Do this first

D) The email asks for money, gift cards, or bank login details

Treat this as a scam.

Go to:
Scam types. What they look like

Save evidence (optional). 60 seconds

If you can, capture a little evidence now. It makes reporting simpler later.

  • Take a screenshot of the message and sender details.
  • Note the date and time.
  • Keep any bank alerts or transaction screenshots.

Important

  • If you want to share evidence with someone you trust, share a screenshot. Do not forward a live link.
  • Do not share screenshots that include one-time codes, PINs, or passwords.

Tip

If you want a simple place to write everything down, use:
Report and record. Simple incident log

If you want to talk to someone

  • If money or accounts are involved, start with:
    Money at risk. Do this first
  • If you believe a crime happened, you can report to your local Garda station and bring your evidence.
  • If you feel in danger, call 999 or 112.

Next step

If you are learning email from scratch, go back to: