What is often a characteristic of phishing emails?

Phishing emails are designed to trick recipients into divulging sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. A common tactic used in these emails is to create a sense of urgency, pressuring the recipient to act quickly without taking the time to think critically about the request. By presenting an urgent request for personal information, the scammers enhance their chances of getting a quick response, as individuals may fear missing out on a deal or being locked out of their accounts.

This urgency can manifest in various ways, such as claiming that the recipient's account will be suspended or that immediate confirmation is required to avoid consequences. This psychological manipulation makes individuals more susceptible to falling for scams since they might overlook red flags in their haste to respond.

While it is true that some phishing emails may come from recognizable sources or include phone numbers, such characteristics can lead to more sophisticated scams, sometimes referred to as "spear phishing." Others might contain attachments, as some phishing attempts use malware rather than direct information requests. However, the urgency aspect is a particularly defining feature of phishing emails in general.