The holidays are here, and so are those inbox nightmares. You know the ones—emails promising “amazing deals,” “urgent account alerts,” or “free prizes” that feel a little… off. Cybercriminals LOVE this time of year, but you don’t have to fall for their tricks. Here’s how to spot fake emails before they ruin your holiday cheer.
1. Look Closely at the Sender’s Email Address
Cybercriminals are sneaky, but their email addresses often give them away.
Instead of “support@amazon.com,” they’ll use something like “support123@amaz0nhelp.co” or “deals@randomstringofletters.com.”
How to Spot It:
- Hover over the sender’s name to see the full email address.
- If it looks suspicious or has odd spelling, don’t click anything.
- Actually – just don’t click anything… GO to the website and log into your account to do the thing (like track your package, check an order, see if something’s on social media…)
2. Beware of Urgent or Threatening Language
“Act now or your account will be suspended!”
“Your payment was declined—click here to fix it!”
Scammers rely on fear to make you act fast without thinking.
How to Spot It:
- Legit companies don’t pressure you like this via email.
- Take a moment to breathe and double-check the claim directly on the company’s website.
3. Spot the Typos and Weird Formatting
Fake emails often have glaring spelling errors, awkward phrasing, or strange layouts.
These are major red flags that you’re not dealing with a professional organization.
How to Spot It:
- Look for odd capitalization, random symbols, or sloppy grammar.
- Legit companies invest in polished emails—not ones that look like a school project.
4. Check the Links Before You Click or bettter YET – don’t CLICK ANY links!
This one’s critical. Scammers hide malicious links behind buttons or text like “Click Here.”
If you click, you could end up on a fake site designed to steal your info.
How to Spot It:
- Hover over the link without clicking to see where it’s taking you.
- If the URL doesn’t match the company’s official website, don’t click it.
- OR – just go to your browser (BETTER option) – and type in the legit website address.
5. Too Good to Be True? It’s Probably a Scam
If an email says you’ve won a $1,000 gift card or a free vacation but you never entered a contest… that’s your first clue.
Scammers bait you with “freebies” to get your personal information.
How to Spot It:
- Ask yourself, “Did I even enter this contest?”
- Avoid giving out personal details to claim “prizes” you weren’t expecting.
6. Verify Suspicious Emails Before Acting
If you’re unsure whether an email is legit, don’t act right away.
Go directly to the company’s website or call their customer service to confirm.
How to Spot It:
- Never use the phone number or link provided in the email.
- Instead, look up the official contact info on the company’s verified website.
7. Trust Your Gut
Sometimes, an email just feels… wrong.
Trust that instinct.
Scammers rely on catching you off-guard, but you’re smarter than that.
How to Spot It:
- If something feels fishy, don’t engage. Delete it or flag it as spam.
- When in doubt, ask a trusted friend or colleague to take a look.
Wrap-Up: Keep Your Holidays Scam-Free
Your inbox doesn’t have to be a holiday minefield.
By staying alert and following these tips, you can outsmart scammers and enjoy the season without worry.
So next time you see a sketchy email, remember: pause, check, and protect yourself.
Happy holidays—and happy scam-free inboxing!
