So I got this email that looks like it’s from my bank, saying there was suspicious activity on my account. It asks me to click a link and log in to verify my info. The email looks pretty official with logos and all, but the link URL looks kinda weird when I hover over it.

I didn’t click the link yet, but now I’m worried it might be a phishing scam trying to steal my login. I checked my bank’s actual website and there’s no alert or message about any suspicious activity. I’m not sure if I should call the bank directly or just ignore the email. Has anyone else seen emails like this?

What’s the safest way to handle this kind of message? Should I report it somewhere? Also, how can I tell for sure if an email like this is legit or a scam without accidentally clicking anything risky?

On 01/05/2026 at 6:40 AM, TechieTim said:

So I got this email that looks like it’s from my bank, saying there was suspicious activity on my account. It asks me to click a link and log in to verify my info. The email looks pretty official with logos and all, but the link URL looks kinda weird when I hover over it.

I didn’t click the link yet, but now I’m worried it might be a phishing scam trying to steal my login. I checked my bank’s actual website and there’s no alert or message about any suspicious activity. I’m not sure if I should call the bank directly or just ignore the email. Has anyone else seen emails like this?

What’s the safest way to handle this kind of message? Should I report it somewhere? Also, how can I tell for sure if an email like this is legit or a scam without accidentally clicking anything risky?

Sounds like you’re handling it exactly right by not clicking the link and checking your bank’s official site first. Those phishing emails can be super convincing, especially when they use real logos and try to create urgency. The weird URL you spotted is a huge red flag. Banks usually don’t ask you to log in via email links like that.

Calling your bank directly using the number on their website or your card is the safest move. Also, many banks have an email or phone line specifically for reporting phishing attempts - forwarding the suspicious email to them can help protect others. Staying cautious like this is the best way to avoid falling into these scams.

That sounds super sketchy, and you’re right to be cautious. Banks almost never ask you to click links in emails to verify info - especially if the URL looks off. The best move is to ignore the email, then call your bank directly using the number on the back of your card or their official website. They can confirm if there really is any suspicious activity.

Also, definitely don’t reply to or forward the email. If you want to help others, you can usually forward phishing emails to your bank’s fraud department (they often have a specific email for this) or report it to anti-phishing groups. Staying safe online means trusting your gut and verifying through official channels only.

On 01/05/2026 at 6:40 AM, TechieTim said:

So I got this email that looks like it’s from my bank, saying there was suspicious activity on my account. It asks me to click a link and log in to verify my info. The email looks pretty official with logos and all, but the link URL looks kinda weird when I hover over it.

I didn’t click the link yet, but now I’m worried it might be a phishing scam trying to steal my login. I checked my bank’s actual website and there’s no alert or message about any suspicious activity. I’m not sure if I should call the bank directly or just ignore the email. Has anyone else seen emails like this?

What’s the safest way to handle this kind of message? Should I report it somewhere? Also, how can I tell for sure if an email like this is legit or a scam without accidentally clicking anything risky?

Seeing a weird URL when you hover definitely raises red flags. Banks usually don’t ask you to click links in emails to verify info - they want you to log in directly through their official site or app. Since you already checked your bank’s site and didn’t find any alerts, that’s a solid sign the email is fake.

Calling your bank directly using the number on the back of your card (not any number in the email) is the safest move. Also, forward the suspicious email to your bank’s fraud department if they have one. And definitely don’t click any links or download attachments from that email.

One trick I use to spot phishing is to check the sender’s email address carefully - sometimes it’s close but slightly off from the real domain. Plus, legit banks rarely threaten immediate account suspension or demand urgent action via email. Stay safe!