Email scams can look surprisingly convincing. Scammers may pretend to be your bank, a delivery company, a streaming service, or even someone you know. Their goal is usually to get you to click a link, open an attachment, send money, or give up personal information. The safest approach is to slow down and verify unexpected messages before acting. The FTC warns that phishing emails often create urgency, claim there’s a problem with an account, or ask you to click a link or open an attachment.
1. Be Suspicious of Unexpected Links and Attachments
If an email asks you to click a link or open an attachment unexpectedly, don’t rush. Even messages that look like they come from a company you know can be fake. Instead, open the company’s official website or app yourself, or contact them using information you already know is real. The FTC specifically recommends avoiding links and attachments in unexpected messages and contacting the company through a trusted website or phone number instead.
2. Check the Sender Carefully
Look closely at the sender’s email address, not just the display name. Scammers often use addresses that are slightly misspelled, use an unrelated domain, or imitate a legitimate company. If something looks off, don’t reply to the message. Contact the company or person another way to confirm it’s real. The FTC recommends verifying unexpected messages independently instead of trusting the contact information inside the email.
3. Watch for Urgency or Pressure
Scam emails often try to rush you by claiming your account will be closed, a payment failed, a package is being held, or immediate action is required. Urgency is a common tactic because it can make people click before thinking. If a message pressures you to act quickly, slow down and verify the claim through the company’s official website or app.
4. Never Send Passwords or Verification Codes by Email
Never send a password or verification code in response to an unexpected email. Verification codes are meant to prove that you are the person signing in, so sharing one can help a scammer take over your account. If someone unexpectedly asks for a code, stop and contact the company through its official website or app instead. The FTC specifically warns not to share verification codes when you didn’t initiate the contact.
5. Report Suspicious Emails and Delete Them
If you believe an email is a phishing scam, report it before deleting it. You can mark it as spam or phishing in your email service. The FTC also recommends forwarding phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org and reporting scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting suspicious messages can help email providers and authorities identify similar scams
Bottom Line
The best defense against email scams is to slow down before you click. Check the sender, be suspicious of urgent requests, avoid unexpected links and attachments, never share passwords or verification codes, and report messages that look suspicious. If you’re unsure whether an email is real, go directly to the company’s official website or app instead of using the contact information inside the message.
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