Determine if the nature of the correspondence is suspicious. The subject content of the email, phone call, or text message will often help you determine if the message is legitimate.
Phishing correspondences will usually ask you for sensitive, personal information that the organization should already have. For example, if your bank sends you an email asking you to provide them with your bank account and routing number, it may be a phishing scam.
In some cases, phishing correspondence may be written to induce panic or assume a threatening tone designed to make you act immediately and provide your personal information.
Review suspicious emails and text messages for spelling and punctuation errors. In most cases, phishing scams are not proofread before they are sent and contain multiple errors.
If the email or text message is coming from a major business or corporation, it is unlikely that spelling and punctuation errors will be published without review by an editor.