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How to Spot Scam Emails: A 2025 Guide to Avoiding Phishing & Rescuing Good Emails from Spam 


Email is the central nervous system of our digital lives. It’s how we communicate with colleagues, receive bills, confirm orders, and connect with loved ones. But this constant flow of information makes our inboxes a prime target for scammers and a battleground for spam filters. 


The result is a frustrating dilemma. On one hand, you face a daily barrage of sophisticated phishing attempts designed to steal your money or data. On the other, overly aggressive spam filters can hide critical emails - a job offer, a client proposal, or a confirmation email - in a digital black hole. 


So, how do you master your inbox? This guide will teach you how to become an expert at spotting scam emails and how to confidently manage your spam filter so you never miss a thing. 


graphic of envelopes with evil faces on them representing scam emails

Part One: How to Spot Scam Emails (The Telltale Signs) 

Scammers rely on deception and urgency. They want you to act before you think. By learning to recognise their tactics, you can instantly neutralise their power. Here are the seven key signs to look for. 


1. The Sender's Email Address is "Off" 

This is the number one giveaway. Scammers are experts at making a sender's name look legitimate (e.g., "HMRC Tax Support"), but they can't perfectly fake the email address. 

2. The Greeting is Vague and Impersonal 

Legitimate companies you have an account with will almost always address you by your name. Scammers often don't have this information. 

  • What to look for: Generic greetings like "Dear Valued Customer," "Hello Sir/Madam," or simply "Hi." If a company you know doesn't use your name, be immediately suspicious. 


3. There's a Sense of Extreme Urgency or Fear 

This is a classic social engineering tactic. Scammers want to create a panic that bypasses your rational thinking. 

  • Common phrases: 

    • "Your account has been suspended." 

    • "Suspicious activity has been detected." 

    • "Immediate action required." 

    • "Your invoice is overdue - pay now to avoid fees." Real organisations rarely use such high-pressure language. 


4. Poor Spelling and Grammar 

While some scams are highly sophisticated, many are still riddled with basic errors. A professional organisation like a bank or a major retailer will have its communications proofread. 

  • What to look for: Obvious spelling mistakes, awkward phrasing, and grammatical errors. These are huge red flags that the email is not from a legitimate source. 


5. Suspicious Links or Unexpected Attachments 

This is the "payload" of the scam—the part designed to do the damage. 

  • Links: Never click a link without checking it first. Hover your mouse over the link (don't click!) and look at the URL that appears in the bottom-left corner of your browser window. If the link text says www.royalmail.com/tracking but the URL preview shows something like www.track-parcel-gb.net, it's a scam. 

  • Attachments: Be extremely wary of unexpected attachments, especially files ending in .zip, .exe, or even generic .docx and .pdf files from unknown senders. These can contain malware or ransomware that will infect your computer. 


6. An Unexpected Request for Personal Information 

This is the core of a phishing attack. The goal is to trick you into handing over sensitive data. 

  • The Golden Rule: Your bank, HMRC, the NHS, or any other official body will never ask you to confirm your password, PIN, or full financial details via an email link. 


7. The Offer is Too Good to Be True 

The oldest trick in the book. If an email claims you've won a lottery you never entered, inherited a fortune from a distant relative, or are being offered a brand-new iPhone for £1, it's a scam. 



What to Do When You Spot A Scam Email

  1. Stop. Do not click any links, download any attachments, or reply to the email. 

  2. Verify Independently. If the email claims to be from your bank, for example, close the email. Open a new browser window, go to your bank's official website directly (by typing it in), and log in there to see if there are any genuine alerts. 

  3. Report and Delete. Use the "Report Phishing" or "Mark as Spam" button in your email client. This helps train the filter to catch similar emails in the future. Then, delete it permanently. 


Part Two: How to Stop Missing Important Emails in Your Spam Folder 

Spam filters are essential, but they are not perfect. They can sometimes make mistakes, known as "false positives." Here’s how to manage your junk folder effectively so you don't miss out. 


1. Schedule a Quick, Regular Check 

Don't let your spam/junk folder become an unmanageable abyss. Make it a habit to quickly scan the contents once a day or every few days. You're not reading every email, just scanning the sender and subject lines for anything that looks legitimate. 


2. Rescue and Whitelist Legitimate Emails 

If you find an important email that was wrongly categorised as spam: 

  • Mark it as "Not Spam" or "Not Junk." This action moves the email back to your main inbox. 

  • Add the sender to your Contacts or Safe Senders List. This is the most crucial step. It tells your email provider, "I trust this sender. Always deliver their emails to my inbox." This ensures future communications from them won't get caught in the filter. 


3. Be Cautious, Even in the Spam Folder 

When you are checking your spam folder, remember that most of the emails in there are dangerous. Do not click links or open attachments from any email in your junk folder unless you are 100% certain it is legitimate. The best practice is to mark it as "Not Spam" first, which moves it to the safety of your inbox, and then interact with it there. 



By adopting this two-pronged approach - vigilance against threats and a simple routine for checking your filters - you can transform your inbox from a source of stress into a powerful and reliable tool. 

 
 
 

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