How to Report Phishing in Gmail and How to identify phishing emails (Complete guide)

You might have heard about phishing attacks—how they work and how they try to steal your personal information. Some people are aware of these threats, while others are not. But it’s very important for everyone to understand them. Today, I will share my skills with you. How can you identify them, and how can you report phishing in Gmail?

Before that, let me tell you a short story. I have a friend who didn’t know much about phishing. One day, he received a phishing email in Gmail, but since he wasn’t very educated, he couldn’t recognize it. He took a screenshot of the email and sent it to me, asking, “Usman Bhai, can you check this? Is this email real? It is asking for my personal information.”

As soon as I looked at the email, I immediately knew it was a phishing scam. I warned him about it and told him to report it. But since he didn’t know how to do that, I had to explain it to him.

That’s why I’m writing this post—to give you a complete guide on how to identify phishing emails if you ever receive one. I will also explain how you can report them properly.

So, let’s get started!

What is phishing, and how does it work?

Phishing is a type of cybercrime where hackers try to trick you into giving them your personal information. They usually send fake emails, making you believe that your account is about to be closed. For example, you might receive an email saying, “Hey, your account is about to be deactivated!” or “Your bank account is at risk; please verify your details!”

These emails can look like they are from trusted companies like Amazon, banks, or online services. Even if you don’t have an account with these companies, you may still receive phishing emails. The goal of hackers is to make you panic and quickly provide your information without thinking.

When people fall for these scams, they enter their username, password, and other sensitive details into fake forms. Once this happens, hackers gain full control of their account. This can lead to identity theft, financial loss, or even total access to your system. In some cases, hackers install a backdoor in your device, allowing them to steal data or control your computer remotely.

I’ve seen many cases of phishing attacks, and it’s shocking how many people fall victim to them. Almost 60–70% of hacking cases are done through phishing.

For more detailed information on different types of phishing attacks and how they work, I have provided a link to my article. You can read it to understand everything in depth.

Now, let’s move on to the next part—Why Reporting Phishing Emails is Important?

Why Reporting Phishing Emails is Important?

I will give you a small example. Imagine you have recognized a phishing email, identified it, and deleted it. Now you might be thinking, “I already know this is a phishing email, and I have deleted it, so why should I report it?”

Let me explain why it is important to take action. You have protected yourself, but what about others? Have you ever thought that the same phishing email you received could be sent not just to one or two people but to 10, 20, or even 30 people?

Not everyone is as smart as you are. Like I told you about my friend—he received a phishing email too, but he was not highly educated. However, he had a little understanding and showed the email to me. I quickly reported it.

When you report a phishing email, Google gets information about that email. They check it and block similar emails. This small action helps protect many people from online scams.

How to Identify a Phishing Email in Gmail?

I have written about this topic in full detail on my website. You can read the detailed guide there. I have also given the link to the article here.

But let me give you a short explanation of what you can do:

First, check the sender’s email address carefully. Then, look at the links in the email closely. You will notice a difference between the real link and a fake link.

If you still can’t figure it out, you can search the link on Google to check whether it is real or fake. This way, you can find out more about the link and protect yourself.

Example:

www.paypa1.com (Fake) www.paypal.com (Original)

How to Report Phishing in Gmail (Step-by-Step Guide)

You might think that reporting a phishing in Gmail is difficult, but don’t worry! I am here to guide you step by step on how to do it on both your laptop (desktop) and mobile phone.

Reporting Phishing on a Laptop (Desktop Version)

• Log into your Gmail account.
• Open the suspicious email that you want to report.
• Look for the three dots in the top menu at the top-right corner of the email.
• Click on it and scroll down until you find the “Report Phishing” option. (Sometimes, it appears at the top, so you may not need to scroll.)
• Click on “Report Phishing.”
• A pop-up window will appear—confirm your action to report the email.

That’s it! Simple, right? Now, let’s move on to mobile.

Reporting Phishing in Gmail on a Mobile Phone (Android/iOS)

• Open the Gmail app.
• Select the email you want to report.
• Tap on the three-dot menu (⋮) at the top-right corner.
• When the menu appears, look for the “Report Phishing” option.
• Tap on it and confirm your action.

Why Reporting Phishing is Important?

By following these simple steps, you not only protect yourself but also help keep others safe. Phishing attacks don’t just target one person—they affect many people worldwide.

So, always stay alert, report suspicious emails, and help make the internet a safer place!

What Happens After You Report Phishing in Gmail?

When you report a phishing email, Google takes immediate action.

• Security Check: Google’s security system analyzes the reported email.
• Verification: If the email is confirmed as phishing, Google updates its filters.
• Blocking: The sender is blocked to prevent similar phishing emails in the future.
• Stronger Protection: These updates help ensure that such emails do not reach users again.

By reporting phishing, you help make Gmail safer for yourself and millions of others!

Conclusion

Understanding Phishing Reports: Final Thoughts

By now, you should have a clear idea of how to report phishing emails on a PC. I shared this information because many people don’t know about it and often search online for details.

I also shared my personal experience to help you understand the process better. Reporting phishing emails not only protects you but also helps millions of others stay safe.

When you report a phishing email, Google tracks its details, checks the IP address, and blocks it. This prevents further attacks and protects countless people from falling into the same trap.

If you want more in-depth details, you can visit my website, where I have explained phishing in detail. My article covers:

What is phishing?
Types of phishing attacks.
How phishing scams work.
How to recognize phishing emails.

I hope you found this information useful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section.

Thank you! 😊

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