Three of the Most Common Email Scams

Posted by in Career Advice


Email scams are a lucrative business, so it's critical to know what to look for to avoid becoming the prey of email fraud. Three of the most common email scams involve sensational subject lines, spelling errors and fake email addresses. Avoiding email scams requires attentiveness, but it is an easier task if you know some telltale signs.

Dramatic Subject Lines

As reported by the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, many email scams appear to come from legitimate sources with a request to verify or confirm a transaction. Prior to opening an email, you should read the subject line. If it has obvious spelling errors, delete it. Also, it is best not to open emails that do not contain subject information. Furthermore, do not open emails with subject lines involving the following topics:

  • Congratulations
  • Verification
  • Lottery
  • Survey
  • Quiz
  • Free Quotes
  • Warning
  • Security Advisory

Designed to grab your attention, these types of emails are phishing for your information. If you receive this type of email, remove it and contact the organization directly, especially if the email appears to come from a financial institution or a government entity.

Questionable Email Contents

Occasionally, an errant email can get by you. Its legitimacy is questionable if it has any of the following elements:

  • If the organization's website address does not follow the @ symbol in the sender's email address, it can be fraudulent. In addition, senders claiming to be from an organization while using an email address from another source, such as Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail, are suspicious. Make sure you check the actual email address and not just the sender's name.
  • The email salutation addresses you as a valued member or customer instead of by your first name.
  • Hyperlinks do not direct you to the stated organization. If you use your mouse to hover over a hyperlink in an email, and it does not target the intended company, it is likely a fraudulent email.
  • Many email scams originate from senders in foreign countries. If you notice stilted language or spelling errors, it is a fraudulent email.

Odd Emails from You and Your Friends

Sometimes email scams appear to originate from your own account or from a friend's account. Do not open emails that use your email address as the sender. Moreover, emails from friends that do not provide a subject or offer a hyperlink instead of body text are a sign of hacking. You should remove the email and contact your friend, who can then advise others of the potential account hacking.

When you sign on to your email account, you should run through each of the subject lines and check off any email that has multiple spelling errors, over-the-top subject lines or no subject at all; hit delete when you're done. If you follow these guidelines and remain alert, you can avoid pitfalls from email scams.

Photo courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • Koshy I.
    Koshy I.

    Please be aware of positions in Mystery Shopping. Many innocent peoples have been cheated and if you receive such a mail, always check the credibility of the sender especially website address of employer they will take you for a ride.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    So many scams out there that it's not funny. If you don't know the person or company, delete it! Most companies will not contact you via email if you have won a sweepstake or something like that. One that I get in my spam mail, every day, is about UPS delivering a package and could not deliver for some reason. SCAM! Don't open it to find out what it is - just delete it right away. UPS will not notify you this way! I think just good common sense is required here.

  • Robert K.
    Robert K.

    What's really amazing is the number of HONEST sites that make these same mistakes. From too much caution, I've passed by some really good offers.

  • Sylvia S.
    Sylvia S.

    Always trust your instinct. If you do not recognize the sender's address, DELETE right away.

  • BARBARA T.
    BARBARA T.

    Thanks. Very good information.

  • Renee Fredregill
    Renee Fredregill

    also watch out for an email saying Official Notice for Court Attatched. there isn't anything attatched and its from a "Clerk of the Courts". the return email is bogus they are using some gmail email and there isn't any other information available to contact. just a heads up

  • Renee Fredregill
    Renee Fredregill

    the E-Z pass for toll bridges is really hitting me hard right now. funny thing is is that I live in a state where we don't have toll bridges and I haven't left state for a few years.

  • Carl D.
    Carl D.

    I've googled the name of the person, company or office that it's from and they come up scam report sites

  • James Smith
    James Smith

    It's just to bad that there isn't enough manpower to tag these messages by sending them to the junk file and an active crew of investgators track these people down and make sure they get served with jail time.

  • Deborah G.
    Deborah G.

    This is a very informative alert. I just love to delete the emails that begin with "You were named in the Last Will and Testiment of ..." These are to me obvious scams. I have no family that is rich enough to leave anything to me.

  • Joie R.
    Joie R.

    Right, I notice their spelling are incorrect.

  • David B.
    David B.

    i had one of those E - Z pass ones yesterday. i live in NY and went downstate on a visit. passed thru a toll bridge but paid cash. i have no ez pass sticker so the gate would stay closed. lol. ignored it. also, regarding another annoying email, if anyone gets an email from a fellow named william bongo. it's bs. says he's an orphan from tanzania and inheirited 12 million from his parents. wants help to invest it in my "base". yeah right. uses an email: fccb250@gmail.com. subject line said: WITH DUE RESPECT I NEED YOUR CONSENT. all caps. smelled like a rat. hope this helps

  • Terry G.
    Terry G.

    Very Informative & duly noted

  • Thomas W.
    Thomas W.

    Thank you for the information. I have already experienced such emails, and I have taken your advice.

  • Sandra Tuccio-Downing
    Sandra Tuccio-Downing

    thank you for the updates! It is critical in today's society to be updated :)

  • Mark Moore
    Mark Moore

    i keep getting i have a fine for using easy pass and not paying or a traffic fine from a court in maryland.

  • Receptionist PATRICIA
    Receptionist PATRICIA

    Thank you so much for reaffirming this information. There were a few things I learned today that I was not aware of. I new most of these things but still being reminded to be careful. Junk goes to my Spam, but I still check it because when I sell on line that will go into my spam as well because that person is not in my contact list.

  • Shirley Moore
    Shirley Moore

    I just love the way they can't get the words right.

  • HOWARD MERCER
    HOWARD MERCER

    So my $10 million inheritance from an uncle in Algeria is fake?

  • Li Chu S.
    Li Chu S.

    Thanks! I am appreciated with you.

  • Judy B.
    Judy B.

    Thanks! I get a ton of crazy msgs, I needed the help to discern which ones I should not open.

  • gayla m.
    gayla m.

    i have gotten alot of these type of emails claiming to be from the fbi and tell me to send money or i will be arrested the funny thing is it always comes to my spam folder and it is always from the benen republic but i just delete and ignore needless to say i dont send money and i am still a free person.

  • MICHAEL G.
    MICHAEL G.

    thanx

  • Paula T.
    Paula T.

    Thank you for the information.

  • Timika  Clay
    Timika Clay

    Informative

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