Tired of Spam Emails? Here’s How to Recognize Them

Email has massively simplified and sped up our lives, but it also brought along an unpleasant side effect — spam email.

What Are Spam Emails?

Spam email (or junk mail) usually has two key characteristics: it’s sent in bulk to a large number of addresses, and, as the name suggests, it’s unwanted.

Spam can be defined as mass, unsolicited electronic messages sent to recipients without their permission.

For example, if a sports equipment store you never gave your personal details to starts sending you promotional emails about sales, that’s a classic case of spam.

On the other hand, if you’ve subscribed to receive newsletters about the latest collections and discounts from that sports store, those emails aren’t considered spam — because you gave your consent.

Spam or Virus? Understanding the Difference

It’s important to make a clear distinction — while spam is unwanted, it’s not the same as a virus.

A large portion of spam emails may contain viruses, but often spam is simply used to advertise and sell products (like the sports store example mentioned earlier).

Additionally, spam senders may try to trick recipients into revealing their financial information through various scams.

Spam emails can include straightforward product advertisements (without any virus), virus-laden messages, or attempts to steal and misuse your personal data.

How to Recognize Spam Emails?

1. Check if the sender is familiar and if the email address matches the sender’s name

Keep in mind that skilled hackers can spoof the sender’s name, making it look like the email is from Amazon, LinkedIn, or other legitimate companies. Look carefully for typos in company names, domain names, and email addresses.

An email from Amazon will never come from a @gmail.com or other personal address — it will always come from an official Amazon.com domain.

2. Look for mistakes in the email subject line

Does the subject line look strange? Spammers often insert numbers, symbols, or subtle spelling errors into the subject to trick or bypass your spam filters.

Instead of “Sale!” or “Promotion!”, you might see “SaIe!” or “Prom0tion!” Suspicious or poorly translated phrases are another red flag for spam emails.

3. Check the message content — does it seem exaggerated, illegal, or inappropriate?

If you receive messages claiming miracle cures, unexpected lottery winnings, or sudden inheritances, be cautious! Resist curiosity and never click on suspicious links or attachments. Even when tired or distracted, use common sense and stay alert.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

4. Emails that create panic and urge immediate action

One of the most common tactics spammers use is to provoke panic. When you think you’re in danger, it’s harder to think clearly and easier to fall for scams.

These emails usually contain urgent calls to action, such as notices that your computer is infected and you must act immediately, or requests to re-enter your financial details to access your online banking account.

If you suspect a message might be legitimate from a company you use, do not reply directly to the email. Instead, contact the company through their official phone number or website contact form.

Don’t fall for sensational tactics — remember, legitimate companies will never ask for your personal information by email, especially passwords or credit card numbers.

Spam Emails Aren’t Always Easy to Spot

Some spam emails can be visually appealing and well-written, even looking sophisticated and convincing. Senders of these more “advanced” spam emails constantly come up with new and creative ways to sneak into your inbox.

For example, spammers and cybercriminals have become so skilled at identity theft that their emails can easily be mistaken for messages from legitimate companies, bookstores, online shops, or delivery services – especially during the holiday season.

From emails that differ only slightly from the original, to company logos, catchy text, and accompanying images, spam emails can fool not only you but also your spam filters.

Even if you have a good email provider that filters out over 99% of spam before it reaches your inbox, an increase in overall spam volume means there’s a higher chance that some spam emails slip through unnoticed.

The real power in fighting spam lies in your attention and readiness to recognize and avoid potential traps in your inbox.