What is a typical characteristic of a successful phishing email?

A typical characteristic of a successful phishing email is that it requests urgent action to verify information. This tactic is commonly used by attackers to create a sense of panic or immediacy, prompting recipients to act quickly without thinking critically about the legitimacy of the email. Phishing scams often exploit emotional triggers, encouraging individuals to click on malicious links or provide sensitive information under the pretext of an urgent need for verification.

While personalized greetings can lend an air of authenticity, they are not exclusive to phishing attempts and can appear in legitimate emails as well. Verification by the bank's website is not applicable because legitimate businesses would not ask for sensitive information through email or direct users to enter credentials anywhere outside their secure website. Finally, a recognizable email address may not always be a guarantee of safety, as attackers can spoof email addresses to make them appear legitimate. Therefore, the urgency conveyed in the email is a primary tactic used in phishing schemes to manipulate the recipient into quick action.