If an email arrives that looks suspicious, even if it seems to come from someone you trust, take a closer look at the email address. It’s common for hackers to spoof the display name to appear as though the message is from a legitimate sender, but the email header usually provides more information. Hover over the email display name to see what email address pops up – often it will be different than what you’re expecting, which is another red flag.

Assess fake email detector Spoofed emails will often have alarming or aggressive messages designed to incite a sense of urgency or impulsiveness. Additionally, they will often ask for confidential or personal information to be provided – this is also a common phishing tactic to steal sensitive data and infect a device.

Email Detector: Identifying and Filtering Fake Emails

Consider the email attachments: If an unsolicited email from a company contains an unusual link or attachment, it’s likely a scam. No reputable business will send you an email asking for your personal information or downloading software. Similarly, if an email from a bank is asking you to click on a link that goes somewhere weird (like a random assortment of characters or doesn’t match the actual URL for the bank), this is a red flag.

Use an email verification tool like Email Hippo to determine if the email address is valid. This service verifies email addresses by connecting to the server over SMTP and simulates sending a message – it can tell you if the email address is valid, if the domain is registered, and whether or not the mailbox actually exists.