Top 10: Identifying a Scam Email

Cybercriminals are growing increasingly clever in how they disguise malicious messages, so understanding the most common warning signs is key to staying safe online. Below are the top ten tell-tale signs of an email scam, along with expanded guidance to help you spot and stop phishing attempts before they do damage.

10. Urgent or Threatening Language

Scammers want you to panic. If the email says things like “Act now or lose access,” “Final notice,” or “Unusual activity detected,” it’s likely trying to manipulate you into reacting without thinking. These emails often mimic security alerts from banks, tech companies, or your IT department to scare you into clicking a malicious link or providing sensitive info. Legitimate organizations don’t use scare tactics to pressure you into action.

9. Requests for Sensitive Information

No trustworthy organization will ask for your passwords, Social Security number, credit card details, or login credentials via email. If you receive a message requesting this type of data, it’s almost certainly a scam. Be cautious even if the request appears to come from someone you know—their account may have been compromised.

8. Sketchy Sender Address

One of the simplest but most effective checks you can do is to inspect the sender's email address. A message might appear to be from Amazon, Microsoft, or your CEO, but the address behind the name tells the real story. If the domain looks odd or doesn’t match the organization’s official domain (e.g., support@amaz0n-alerts.biz instead of support@amazon.com), that’s a major red flag.

7. Poor Grammar and Spelling

Typos, awkward phrasing, or strange capitalization are hallmarks of phishing emails. While legitimate companies occasionally make errors, consistent grammatical mistakes and formatting issues are telltale signs the sender isn’t who they claim to be. Many scam emails are created by non-native speakers or automated tools that miss these kinds of nuances.

6. Generic Greetings

"Dear Customer," "Dear User," or no salutation at all? That’s suspicious. Real businesses usually personalize emails if they have a relationship with you. Generic greetings suggest a mass email blast—a favorite phishing tactic. If the email doesn’t use your actual name or username, think twice before engaging.

5. Too Good to Be True Offers

If you suddenly receive a message telling you you’ve won a lottery, a $500 gift card, or the chance to claim an inheritance from an unknown relative, it’s a scam. These bait tactics prey on your curiosity and desire for reward. Always ask yourself: Did I enter a contest? Why would this person offer me money? If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

4. Pressure to Act Outside Normal Channels

If you get an email asking you to do something that bypasses your normal processes, that’s a red flag. Common examples include requests to purchase gift cards, wire money urgently, or share confidential info outside regular channels. If someone says, "Don't tell anyone" or insists on secrecy, it's a tactic designed to isolate you from verification.

3. Weird or Unexpected Attachments

Scam emails often include attachments disguised as invoices, resumes, or reports. These can contain malware or ransomware that compromises your system as soon as you open the file. Be especially cautious with files ending in .exe, .zip, .scr, or even seemingly safe types like .pdf or .docx. If you weren’t expecting a file from the sender, don’t open it. Verify first.

2. Suspicious Links

A favorite trick of scammers is to embed malicious links into emails that redirect you to fake login pages or automatically download malware. Always hover your mouse over links before clicking. Does the destination URL match the text or the organization’s real domain? Watch out for sneaky alterations like go0gle.com or secure.amaz0n-login.co. When in doubt, don’t click—navigate to the site manually.

1. Gut Feeling That Something’s Off

Sometimes the email just feels off. Maybe the tone doesn’t sound like the person it’s from, or it has an unusual request. Trust your instincts. If something seems wrong, it probably is. Pause and verify before responding.

Extra Tip: Don’t Click on Suspicious Links or Attachments

Even if the message appears to be from a known contact, if it includes unexpected attachments or links and triggers any of the above warnings, stop. Don’t click anything until you’ve verified with the sender using a trusted communication method (like calling them or messaging through an internal platform). Never reply directly to the suspicious email—the address may be spoofed.

When in Doubt, Ask IT

If you ever receive an email that seems suspicious, don’t take any action until your IT support team has reviewed it. They can analyze the email for malicious content and help prevent potential breaches. It only takes one bad click to infect an entire network, so it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

At Safe Harbor Solutions, we see firsthand how damaging a single phishing email can be to a business’s operations and reputation. That’s why we encourage everyone to stay informed, be skeptical, and never hesitate to ask for a second opinion. When it comes to cybersecurity, a little vigilance goes a long way.

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