How to spot fake emails and how you can stay safe from email scams

Have you ever noticed an email that seemed off? Many people have experienced this. Phishing is the most common form of cybercrime.

Phishing scams are deceptive tactics in which cyber criminals pose as trusted sources to grab personal details. Knowing how to identify these fraudulent emails is essential for staying safe.

Let’s discuss some straightforward tips to help you recognize a phishing email before it causes issues. With a bit of vigilance, you can safeguard yourself and your information.

Recognizing common indicators of fake emails

Cybercriminals use various tactics to trick you into falling for phishing scams. Their purpose is to steal credentials, which is the most common cause of data breaches. An organization’s average data breach cost is more than 4 million dollars. This statistic shows the importance of recognizing and preventing phishing attempts to protect sensitive information and avoid significant financial losses.

Emails with urgent demands, strange phrasing, or requests for personal information are common indicators of phishing attempts. By increasing awareness about these tactics, you can learn to spot scams more effectively and lower the risks of falling victim to a cyber attacker.

Here are some things you should be aware of.

Check for typos and alterations

Identifying a phishing scam requires carefully looking at emails for signs of potential fraud. Checking spelling or grammatical errors is important since scammers often make mistakes that genuine companies usually avoid. Legitimate companies usually ensure their emails are well-edited.

If you spot any obvious mistakes, it raises suspicions about the email's authenticity.

Consistency in the sender’s name throughout the email is important, as inconsistencies can indicate an attempt to impersonate someone else. Unusual formatting or text inconsistencies are warning signs, too. Cybercriminals might use different styles or fonts to mislead you.

Unfortunately, generative AI text generators, like ChatGPT, now make it easier to create grammatically correct and typo-free text at scale. So, it doesn’t mean a text without grammar mistakes is more likely legitimate.

Confirm domain authenticity

Another way to recognize a scam is by checking the sender’s email address. If the sender’s email address uses a public domain like [gmail.com] instead of the company it's claiming to come from, it may be a phishing attempt.

When the message already seems suspicious, check if the email’s domain matches the official website of the organization. Additionally, verifying if the sender’s domain has a valid SSL certificate helps ensure the domain’s authenticity. This way, you can better protect your passwords and personal information from malicious hackers.

Pro tip: We know this information isn't always easy for everyone to find, but you can use a simple email analysis tool to get domain information easily.

Identifying unusual tone and language

Real emails typically don't use strange tactics like threats. Scammers often use urgent language to create a sense of panic, pushing you to click quickly without thinking things through.

Unusual tone and language in emails often reveal themselves through specific phrases and word choices. Analyzing email subject lines can help you spot scams and recognize phishing attempts.

Any message that demands immediate action or hints at account deactivation is likely a phishing attack.

For instance, a subject line that reads “Your account will be deactivated!” might incite alarm, leading someone to share passwords or personal details.

Scam emails usually don’t use the sender’s personalized greetings—they typically stick with some generic ones. Punctuation and syntax can also give important clues—excessive exclamation points or run-on sentences could indicate a scam.

Spot fake emails with suspicious attachments

Avoid opening unexpected attachments

You should be cautious when opening attachments from unknown or unexpected sources, as these could be infected files sent by scammers. According to a study, 39% of people received at least one suspicious email attachment last year. Cybercriminals often use phishing tactics to trick you into accessing files that may contain malware to steal passwords and personal information. To confirm the legitimacy of an attachment before opening it, one should first make sure that the email is trustworthy by looking for the previously discussed indicators of fake emails. Recognizing suspicious attachments is important for preventing potential phishing attacks.

Verify links before clicking

Scammers often use tactics like misleading links or harmful attachments to trick you into sharing personal information.

You can check the legitimacy of links in emails by hovering your mouse over the link without clicking. This action shows the destination address, allowing you to check if it aligns with the sender. To ensure the link goes to a trustworthy website, it's best to compare it with reputable sources or visit the site directly through a browser instead of from the email.

How to use technology to spot fake emails

Email filtering tools

Smart email filtering tools help you identify scams by examining the sender’s email domain and detecting suspicious traits in messages. You can spot phishing emails by highlighting those with grammatical mistakes and urgent demands for personal information, techniques frequently used by scammers.

Furthermore, these filtering tools assess the destination addresses of links in emails to prevent you from being led to harmful websites that steal credentials and other confidential information.

You can boost your security by adjusting settings to block known spam addresses and activating alerts for unfamiliar emails, enhancing your spam filters’ performance. Keeping security software current gives an extra layer of defense against phishing attempts.

Spam detection tools

Spam detection software is essential for identifying fake emails and protecting against phishing scams. In 2023, 45.6% of all emails globally were spam, which shows the critical need for effective spam detection. High-quality software assists in distinguishing between legitimate and scam emails by analyzing the destination address and recognizing known tactics scammers use. As you engage with the software, it gains insights from these interactions, enhancing its capability to identify malware and suspicious messages over time.

With regular updates, it stays current with new phishing techniques and improves its ability to flag infected attachments. This continuous learning process makes it easier for you to spot and evade phishing scams while communicating securely through email and text. Having security software and spam filters in place can also lower the number of phishing emails and boost overall online safety.

Tips to protect yourself from phishing

With phishing attacks becoming more common, knowing how to protect yourself from them is important. Millennials and Gen-Z internet users are most likely to fall victim to phishing attacks, so it’s crucial to stay informed and take proactive steps to recognize and avoid scams. Here are some tips to help you stay safe online.

Turn on two-factor authentication

To boost account security, setting up multi-factor authentication is a wise choice. You typically begin by visiting your account settings and finding sections labeled “security” or “two-factor authentication.”

Common authentication methods include receiving a code via text message to a registered phone number or using an authentication app that creates time-sensitive codes.

This extra layer requires more than just a password to access an email account, making it significantly tougher for scammers to succeed with phishing attacks. A solid multi-factor authentication ensures that even if a scam email captures your password, your account remains secure, thanks to the added verification step.

Regularly update passwords

Regularly updating passwords is a smart move to boost protection against phishing attacks, as cybercriminals are always coming up with new methods. Strong passwords should include a mix of uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

It's wise to avoid using the same passwords for different accounts, as this reduces risks—if one account falls victim to a phishing scheme, others stay safe. Avoid common phrases or easily guessed information like birthdays when creating new passwords.

Pro tip: we suggest you use a password manager to store your complex, unique passwords safely.

Be aware of the latest scams

Staying informed about the most recent phishing scams is crucial for protecting yourself online. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics, making it essential to recognize new trends and techniques they use to deceive victims. Keeping an eye on the latest scams can help you identify unusual signs and avoid potential threats.

For instance, some recent phishing attempts have involved fake messages pretending to be from well-known companies, asking for urgent verification of personal information. These emails often mimic the branding and logos of legitimate businesses, making them appear authentic.

Additionally, be alert for scams that exploit current events, such as messages claiming to give updates or donations related to natural disasters or health crises. Scammers often prey on people’s emotions during times of uncertainty, leading individuals to act without critical evaluation.

Engage in regular research about the most common and emerging phishing tactics through trusted cybersecurity blogs, news sources, and forums. By staying updated, you’ll be better equipped to recognize the warning signs and maintain the integrity of your personal information.

Reporting and dealing with fake emails

Reporting fake emails is a smart step everyone should take. Use features like the “Report phishing” button in your email inbox to notify your email provider or relevant authorities. This action helps improve spam filters, leading to fewer phishing emails reaching your inbox. When you report a suspicious message, include important details, such as the sender’s email address and the email domain. These clues can help in identifying cybercriminals.

Spot phishing: Staying informed so you don't get caught

Staying informed about the latest phishing scams is fundamental for safeguarding personal information and passwords. The skill of distinguishing between trustworthy sources and misleading information is significant. Reliable cybersecurity websites and local alerts can offer accurate information on phishing incidents. Community involvement is important since you can share your encounters with scam emails and update each other on new phishing tactics.