Email Scams
Email scams, often called phishing, are messages designed to look like they come from a company or service you use, such as a bank, retailer, or streaming service. They typically warn about a problem with your account or payment and link to a fake login page. Some carry harmful attachments or fake invoices. The sender address and links rarely match the real organisation.
Common red flags
- A sender address that does not match the real company domain
- Generic greetings like 'Dear customer' instead of your name
- Urgent claims that your account is locked, expired, or will be charged
- Links that point to a different website than the one displayed
- Unexpected attachments or requests to 'verify' your login or payment
Email scam guides
Fake Invoice Email Scam
This scam emails an invoice or receipt for something you did not buy, hoping you call a fake 'support' number or click a link to dispute it.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Amazon Order Email
This scam emails a fake order confirmation for an expensive item, hoping you click a link or call a number to dispute a charge you never made.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Netflix Payment Email
This scam warns that your Netflix payment failed and your account is on hold, linking to a fake page that steals your login and card details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Apple ID Locked Email
This scam claims your Apple ID has been locked for security reasons and links to a fake sign-in page that captures your Apple ID and password.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Refund Email Scam
This scam emails that you are owed a refund and asks you to confirm bank or card details, or to accept a refund that is really designed to steal your money.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Subscription Renewal Email
This scam emails that a subscription is renewing for a large amount, hoping you call a fake support number or click a link to cancel and hand over details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake PayPal Email Scam
This scam sends an email claiming your PayPal account is limited or shows unusual activity, urging you to 'confirm' your details through a link that leads to a fake login page designed to steal your password.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Microsoft Account Email Scam
This scam sends a fake Microsoft or Outlook email about an unusual sign-in or an account about to be closed, linking to a fake Microsoft login page that captures your email and password.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake DocuSign Email Scam
This scam sends a fake 'you have a document to review and sign' email with a 'View Document' link that leads to a credential-harvesting page or to malware instead of a genuine document.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake LinkedIn Email Scam
This scam sends fake LinkedIn notification emails, such as a new message, appearing in searches or a job offer, with links to phishing pages that steal your login or push you toward fake recruiters.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Inheritance Scam
This scam emails you out of the blue claiming you are the beneficiary of a large inheritance or unclaimed estate, often from a distant relative or stranger, then asks for fees, bank details, or documents to 'release' the money that never exists.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Tech Support Scam
This scam uses a pop-up, email, or phone call warning that your computer is infected or your account is compromised, urging you to call a number or allow remote access, after which the fake 'technician' charges fees, installs software, or takes your data.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Google Docs Sharing Scam
This scam sends an email saying someone shared a Google Doc or file with you, with an 'Open' link that leads to a fake Google login page or asks you to grant risky account permissions, aiming to capture your password or access your account.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Spotify Payment Scam
This scam sends a fake Spotify email claiming your payment failed or your subscription is on hold, linking to a fake login or billing page that harvests your account and card details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Dropbox Shared File Scam
This scam sends an email claiming someone shared a Dropbox file or folder with you. The 'View file' link leads to a fake login page designed to capture your email address and Dropbox or work password.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Email Storage Full Scam
This scam warns that your mailbox or storage is full and that you will stop receiving messages unless you 'verify' or 'upgrade' through a link. The link leads to a fake webmail login page that captures your email password.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Zoom Invite Scam
This scam sends a fake Zoom, Teams, or video meeting invite by email and urges you to join or review a missed meeting through a link that leads to a fake login page built to capture your work or email credentials.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
WeTransfer File Scam
This scam imitates WeTransfer or a similar file-sharing service. You receive an email saying a contact has sent you files, with a prominent Download button. Instead of delivering a file, the link opens a fake login page designed to capture your email address and password, often your work account. Because file transfers feel routine at work, many people click without checking. Treating an unexpected transfer with caution and verifying the sender first are the safest responses.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
CEO Fraud Scam
CEO fraud, a form of business email compromise, involves a scammer pretending to be a senior leader and pressuring an employee to move money or buy gift cards quickly and quietly. The email often mimics the executive's name and writing style, claims they are busy or travelling, and stresses secrecy. Because it exploits authority and urgency, even careful staff can be caught out. Slowing down and verifying any unusual payment request through a known channel is the most reliable defence.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Domain Renewal Scam
Domain renewal scams target website and small business owners with urgent emails or invoices claiming a domain is about to expire. The message often poses as your registrar or a vague "domain services" provider and pushes you to renew through a link. The aim is usually to charge inflated fees, capture your card details, or steal the login to your registrar account so the domain can be taken over.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
PayPal Invoice Scam
In a PayPal invoice scam, a fraudster uses PayPal's own invoicing or money request feature to send you a genuine-looking bill for a purchase you never made. The message often includes a "call this number to dispute" note that connects you to a fake support line, where you may be pressured to pay, share account access, or move money. Because the email can come from PayPal's real systems, it can look very convincing.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
iCloud Storage Scam
An iCloud storage scam arrives as an email or text pretending to be from Apple, warning that your storage is full or a payment for extra storage has failed. It claims your photos, files, or backups will be deleted unless you update your details through a link. That link leads to a fake Apple sign-in page built to capture your Apple Account email, password, and sometimes payment details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
SharePoint Phishing Scam
This scam sends a fake Microsoft SharePoint or OneDrive email saying a document has been shared with you, linking to a counterfeit Microsoft login page designed to steal your work email credentials. It is commonly aimed at businesses.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Email Thread Hijacking Scam
This scam happens when attackers who have compromised a contact's mailbox reply within a real, existing email thread, using the genuine history to make a malicious link or attachment look trustworthy because it continues a conversation you recognise.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Malware Attachment Scam
In a malware attachment scam, an email arrives with a file posing as an invoice, receipt, CV, statement or delivery note. Opening the attachment, or clicking a prompt to 'enable content' or 'enable macros', can quietly install malware that steals passwords, banking logins or files. The message is often crafted to feel urgent or routine so you act before thinking. Treating every unexpected attachment with caution, and verifying it through a separate channel, is one of the most effective defences.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Geek Squad Renewal Email Scam
This scam emails a fake Geek Squad or tech-support 'renewal invoice' for a subscription you do not have, urging you to call a number where a fake agent talks you into refunds, remote access, or payments.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Sextortion Email Scam
This scam emails a threatening claim that the sender has recorded you through your webcam or has compromising material, and demands payment in cryptocurrency to stay silent, even though they almost always have nothing.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Voicemail Notification Email Scam
This scam emails a fake 'new voicemail' or 'missed call' notification with a link or attachment to 'listen', which leads to a phishing login page or downloads malware.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Unsubscribe Email Scam
This scam relies on the 'unsubscribe' link in spam emails, which can confirm your address is active, lead to a phishing page, or trigger a malware download rather than stopping the messages.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Quarantined Email Scam
This scam emails a warning that several messages are 'held in quarantine' or 'pending delivery' and asks you to log in to 'release' them, leading to a fake page that steals your email password.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Survey Reward Email Scam
This scam emails an offer of a gift, gift card, or cash reward for completing a short survey, often impersonating a known brand, then asks for a small shipping fee and card details or enrols you in recurring charges.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Bank Statement Email Scam
This scam emails a fake 'your e-statement is ready' or 'review your statement' notice impersonating your bank, linking to a fake login page that captures your online banking credentials.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Calendar Invite Phishing Scam
This scam sends unsolicited calendar invites that auto-add events to your schedule, with notifications containing phishing links or fake alerts that lure you to malicious sites or scam pages.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Google Security Alert Email Scam
This scam emails a fake Google 'security alert' or 'new sign-in detected' notice and links to a fake page that captures your Google account password and two-factor codes.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Google Business Profile Email Scam
This scam emails small business owners claiming their online business profile or map listing will be suspended or unverified unless they confirm details or pay a fee through a link, stealing logins or money.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Tax Document Email Scam
This scam emails that a tax document, payslip, or important form is ready to download or view, linking to a fake login page or a malicious attachment that steals credentials or installs malware.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
HR Portal Email Scam
This scam emails employees pretending to be the HR or staff portal, asking them to log in to review a policy, payslip, or benefits update, leading to a fake page that captures work credentials for further fraud.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Account Closure Email Scam
This scam emails that your account will be permanently closed or deleted for inactivity unless you log in to confirm it, leading to a fake login page that steals your credentials.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Payment Confirmation Email Scam
This scam emails a fake payment or order confirmation for something you did not buy, prompting you to call a number or click a link to 'cancel' or 'dispute' it, leading to a scammer or a phishing page.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Utility Bill Email Scam
This scam emails a fake utility bill or overdue-payment notice, warning of disconnection unless you pay or log in through a link that collects your card details and account credentials.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Charity Appeal Email Scam
This scam emails an urgent appeal impersonating a charity or disaster relief effort, using emotional language to direct you to a fake donation page that collects your card and personal details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
eFax Document Email Scam
This scam emails a fake notification that a fax or scanned document has arrived for you, with a link or attachment to 'view' it that leads to a phishing login page or downloads malware.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Seller Account Suspension Email Scam
This scam emails online sellers claiming their marketplace account is suspended, limited, or needs verification, linking to a fake login page that captures seller credentials and, in turn, their payouts.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Insurance Renewal Email Scam
This scam emails a fake insurance renewal notice, claim update, or refund, impersonating your insurer and linking to a page that collects your card, policy, and personal details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Tax Software Account Email Scam
This scam emails users of tax-preparation software around filing season, claiming an account issue, refund, or required verification, linking to a fake login page that captures credentials and financial data.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Teams Notification Email Scam
This scam emails a fake notification that you have a new Microsoft Teams or Slack message or missed call, linking to a fake login page that captures your work credentials.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Airline Miles Expiry Email Scam
This scam emails that your airline miles, hotel points, or loyalty rewards are about to expire unless you log in to claim or redeem them, leading to a fake page that captures your account and card details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Freelance Platform Email Scam
This scam emails freelancers posing as a platform message, client, or job offer, linking to a fake login page or pushing you off-platform to be paid by fake cheque, advance-fee, or overpayment tricks.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Data Download Ready Email Scam
This scam emails that your requested data download or account export is ready, urging you to log in to retrieve it before it expires, leading to a fake login page that captures your credentials.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Conference Invitation Email Scam
This scam emails a flattering invitation to speak, exhibit, or attend a conference, then charges bogus registration, travel, or visa fees, or collects your personal and payment details for an event that is fake or misrepresented.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Ad Account Suspended Email Scam
This scam emails advertisers claiming their Google Ads or Meta Ads account is suspended or has a billing problem, linking to a fake login page that captures account access and, in turn, ad spend and linked cards.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Card Verification Email Scam
This scam emails that your card needs 'verification' for online payments, impersonating 3-D Secure schemes like Verified by Visa or Mastercard SecureCode, linking to a fake page that captures your card and banking details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Class Action Settlement Email Scam
This scam emails that you are owed money from a class action settlement and must verify details or pay a fee to claim it, harvesting your bank and personal details or taking a bogus processing fee.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
App Store Receipt Email Scam
This scam emails a fake App Store or Google Play receipt for an app or subscription you did not buy, urging you to click or call to 'cancel' or 'refund', leading to a phishing page or a scammer posing as support.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Student Portal Email Scam
This scam emails students claiming a tuition issue, refund, grant, or portal verification, linking to a fake university login page that captures credentials and, in turn, financial aid or personal data.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Patient Portal Email Scam
This scam emails that you have new test results, a medical bill, or a required portal verification, linking to a fake patient-portal login that captures your health, identity, and payment details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Mortgage Statement Email Scam
This scam emails a fake mortgage statement, payment issue, or rate-change notice from your lender, linking to a fake login page that captures your mortgage account and banking credentials.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Frequently asked questions
How can I check who really sent an email?
Is it dangerous to open a phishing email?
What should I do with a phishing email?
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