Spotting Scam Sales Emails: 11 Ways to Recognise Spam

This month, one of our team members received an email supposedly from our MD, Sharon, asking them to purchase Google Play gift cards and send them to a specific address.

Before acting on the request, they paused—something about it didn’t feel quite right. It was an unusual request, and something just seemed a bit ‘off.’

Trusting their instincts, they decided to share the situation with the rest of the office.

It turns out this was a SCAM. Good spot!

But not all businesses are as vigilant as this, leading to sometimes disastrous consequences.

Do your marketing emails look ‘spammy’ or ‘scammy’?

Talk to us at C4B to ensure your marketing emails are authentic, professionally designed and accurately written.

We can manage your email marketing campaigns for you, optimising your deliverability and maximising open and engagement rates for the best return.

The relentless rise of scam emails

Along with the convenience of email as a beautifully easy form of communication, comes a serious threat: scam emails.

Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it more difficult than ever for unsuspecting email recipients to identify phishing attempts and malicious content. While some scam emails may be glaringly obvious, others are subtle and can catch even the most cautious individuals off guard.

In this blog, we’ll take you through 11 key signs that will help you spot scam emails and protect yourself from falling victim to them.

1. Suspicious Sender Address

One of the easiest ways to spot a scam email is by checking the sender’s address. Scammers often create email addresses that look legitimate at first glance but contain small errors or unusual domains. Look closely for misspellings, strange characters, or unfamiliar domains. For instance, instead of receiving an email from “example@company.com”, a scammer might send it from “example@compny.co” or “example@companyxyz.com”. Always scrutinise the sender’s email address before opening any links or attachments.

2. Generic Greetings

Legitimate organisations typically personalise their emails. If an email begins with a generic greeting like “Dear Customer” or “Dear User”, it could be a scam. While some companies use generic greetings, it’s worth being cautious, especially if the email claims to be from a company with which you have an established relationship. Emails from banks, utilities, or other official sources should address you by name.

3. Urgency or Threatening Language

Scammers often try to create a sense of panic by using urgent or threatening language. Emails that claim, “Your account will be closed in 24 hours!” or “Immediate action required!” are designed to pressure you into acting without thinking. Legitimate companies rarely demand immediate action in such a manner. Take a moment to evaluate the situation before responding to any email that tries to induce fear or urgency.

4. Unexpected Attachments

Be wary of unexpected attachments, especially if from an unfamiliar sender. Attachments are a common method for spreading malware and viruses. Scammers often use attachments to hide malicious software that can infect your computer once opened. If you weren’t expecting an attachment, do not open it. Instead, verify its legitimacy with the sender through a different communication method.

5. Poor Spelling and Grammar

While professional organisations go to great lengths to ensure their communications are polished and error-free, scam emails are often filled with spelling and grammatical errors. This is a red flag that the email could be fraudulent. Legitimate companies have teams dedicated to proofreading and maintaining the quality of their communications. Be cautious if an email appears unprofessional or carelessly written.

6. Unfamiliar Links or URLs

Hover your mouse over any links in the email to see the destination URL. Scammers often create fake websites that mimic legitimate ones, but their URLs may contain subtle differences or unfamiliar domain names. A common trick is to use a slight variation in spelling or domain extension (e.g., “.net” instead of “.com”). Always check the URL carefully before clicking on any links.

7. Requests for Personal Information

Legitimate companies, especially banks and government organisations, will never ask for sensitive information such as your password, credit card details or national insurance number via email. If an email asks you to provide personal information, it’s almost certainly a scam. Even if the email looks official, it’s best to contact the organisation directly using a verified phone number or website to confirm the request.

8. Too Good to Be True Offers

Scam emails often promise unbelievable rewards, such as winning a lottery you never entered, receiving a large inheritance from a distant relative or getting free prizes. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

9. Mismatched Email Content and Branding

Legitimate companies maintain consistent branding in their emails, including their logo, colours and tone of voice. If an email’s branding looks off—whether low-resolution images, incorrect colours or odd formatting—it may be a scam. Compare the email with previous communications from the company to spot inconsistencies.

10. Spoofed Email Domains

Some scammers use spoofing techniques to make their email look like it’s coming from a trusted source. This can be tricky to spot because the email domain may appear legitimate. To protect yourself, never rely solely on the email’s domain when evaluating its legitimacy. If in doubt, visit the company’s website directly (without clicking on email links) or contact them via phone to verify the message.

11. Too Much Personalisation

While lack of personalisation can be a red flag, too much personalisation can be equally suspicious. Scammers may use information they’ve gathered from social media, previous hacks or other sources to make their emails appear genuine. For example, an email might mention your name, employer or recent purchases to trick you into thinking it’s legitimate. Always assess the context of the email and consider whether the sender should have access to that level of detail.

Summary

Scam emails continue to evolve, and scammers are becoming increasingly creative in attempts to trick people. Staying vigilant and knowing the signs to look out for is your best defence against falling victim to these malicious attacks. Always take a moment to pause, inspect the details, and trust your instincts when something feels off.

Remember, when in doubt, it’s safer to delete an email than to risk exposing your personal information or compromising your computer.

If you need help with Email Marketing for your business, reach out to our expert marketing team at C4B at hello@c4bmedia.com.