As a service to our clients and friends, we have created our own tests to help you know how to spot a scam email. Most are easy to spot if you know what to look for.
Here are a few of the most common red flags to look out for. If the email contains one or more of these red flags, proceed with extreme caution-it’s likely a scam. Regardless of what the email says, do not let anyone have access to your computer, or provide them with confidential passwords, account numbers, etc.
Note: If you are a client, we will be happy to give you our opinion of the email, just forward us a copy. This is a complimentary service that we offer to our clients to help you stay safe.
Red Flags
1. Address and Subject lines
a) Look at the “From” address. Does it appear to be from the company they claim, or is it from a Gmail, yahoo, or other obviously incorrect address? If the email claims to be from Microsoft but is sent from a gmail address, it’s an obvious fake-delete it.
b) Is the email from another country? Email from outside the United States often have a country code at the end of the sender’s address. Example: support@microsoftsupport.cn. This email address would be coming from China.
Some country codes for your reference. cn: China. ca: Canada. ru: Russsia. mx: Mexico. jp:Japan. ng: Nigeria. For a more complete list click here.
c) Look at the “To” address. Is the email addressed to you? Sometimes, emails will be addressed to an incorrect email address-delete it.
d) Look at the Subject. Do the grammar and wording appear professional and correct.
2. Incorrect Grammar and Verbiage
Does the grammar and verbiage appear to be written by a native English speaker? Are there unusual phrases or words that a professional organization would not use?
3) Price or Offer Too Good to Be True, or Too Expensive?
Is someone offering you a ton of money? Have you won the lottery? Is the price too good to be true? In some cases, the price is artificially high, in order to entice you to call and cancel the order.
4. Strange phone number, and placement
Does the phone number start with a + sign. We don’t need + signs to dial a U.S. number. The author is from another country.
Is anything in the email incorrectly placed? Is there a phone number that is not in line with the text?
5. Are they trying to rush you or scare you?
Scare tactics like, “you must cancel within 24 hours”, “we have charged your card…” I have control of your computer and will … if you don’t pay me within 48 hours”
6. Do they ask for payment in gift cards, money transfers, cash, Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies?
These types of payments are generally untraceable and non-refundable.
- Test Email 1
- Test Email 2
- Test Email 3
- Test Email 4
- Test Email 5