How Do I Recognize An Email Scam?

by Roger Bergstein, Stuart Computer Service, July 11, 2022, Updated December 7, 2022

"Most people I know, myself included, receive plenty of emails that are scams. Unfortunately, the perpetrators are very good at what they do as the emails they send look legitimate. The scammer’s object is to get you to click a link or call a phone number. They try to accomplish this with mild to severe scare tactics, usually involving compromising of your computer or referencing a non exisitent credit card charge.

The example below (recipient’s email redacted) is typical, purporting to be from a nationally known company, claiming that you have a software subscription that expires soon, and needing new credit card information. But a closer examination will make it evident that this is a scam:

• • The source domain of the sender’s email address (.xyz, red highlight oval) has no relation to the Geek Squad or Best Buy.
• • The salutation (pink highlight oval) is generic rather than addressed to a specific person.
• • Often these scam emails will contain grammatical errors or awkward wording (maroon highlight ovals)
• • Check the phone number (blue highlight oval). A simple internet search for “Geek Squad 24/7 Support” shows a completely different phone number.

If you still feel the need to follow up because you are not sure whether the email is legitimate, follow up with your bank, credit card company, or merchant directly without using the phone number or link in the email.

 

Email scams generally try to hook you by referencing

• • An order you did not place
• • A package delivery error
• • A subscription that will expire
• • A reward
• • A survey

 

What to do or not do:

• • Do not use the phone number or click on a link in one of these emails. If you are not sure, look up the phone number independently and call the company. But be wary, a Google search for "Norton Customer Service" may not yield the correct phone number.
• • Do not click the unsubscribe link, doing so will confirm to the sender that your email is valid.
• • If you can identify a pattern, use your webmail's filtering capability to send the email to spam.

 

Other examples of email scams with recipient email redacted: