How to Check if an Email Is Real

Summary: Fake emails can be hard to spot, but they always leave clues. This guide walks you through what to look for in the sender address, subject line, attachments, and links before you interact with any email.

How to Check if an Email Is Real

Email has been around for decades, and most of us have come to trust it. We expect messages from our bank, our doctor's office, our grandchildren, and the stores where we shop. That trust is something scammers use against us.

Fake emails, sometimes called phishing emails, are designed to look exactly like messages from real organizations. They use logos, colors, and language that feel familiar. But underneath, they are trying to get you to click a harmful link, open a dangerous attachment, or hand over personal information.

The good news is that every fake email leaves at least a few clues behind. Here is how to find them.

Start With the Sender's Email Address

The most reliable way to check if an email is real is to look carefully at the sender's email address. Not just the name that appears at the top, but the actual address.

• A real email from Amazon comes from an address ending in @amazon.com.
• A real email from your bank uses that bank's official domain.
• A fake email might show "Amazon" as the display name, but the address might be something like orders@amazon-helpdesk.net or support@amazon.co.support.info.

On most email programs, you can see the full address by tapping or hovering over the sender's name. Look carefully at every character.

Warning Signs to Look For in Any Email

• Urgency and threats. Phrases like "your account will be closed," "respond immediately," or "legal action will follow" are pressure tactics meant to stop you from thinking clearly.
• Spelling and grammar errors. Real companies proofread their emails. Unusual phrasing, odd punctuation, or spelling mistakes are a sign something is off.
• Links that do not match the company name. Before you click any link, hover over it (on a computer) to see the actual web address. If it does not match the company's official site, do not click it.
• Unexpected attachments. If you were not expecting a file, do not open it, even if it appears to come from a familiar name.
• Requests for personal information. Real companies do not ask for passwords, Social Security numbers, or full account numbers through email.
• Generic greetings. Emails that say "Dear Customer" instead of your actual name are often sent in bulk by scammers who do not know who you are.

Invoice Scams: A Common Email Threat

Invoice scams are messages that look like billing notices. They claim you owe money for a subscription, purchase, or service you do not recognize. They often include a phone number to call if you did not authorize the charge.

If you call that number, you are connected to the scammer. They will ask for your bank or card information to "process a refund."

If you receive an invoice email for something you did not order, do not call any number in the email. Instead, go directly to your account on that company's official website to check your order history. If nothing is there, the invoice is fake.

What to Do With a Suspicious Email

1. Do not click any links or open any attachments.
2. Check the sender's full email address.
3. Look for urgency, unusual language, or requests for personal information.
4. If you are unsure, go to the company's official website directly and log in to check your account.
5. Mark the email as spam or delete it.
6. If you want a second opinion, forward it to a trusted family member and ask what they think before doing anything.

What Not to Do

• Do not reply to the email, even to ask if it is real. Replying confirms your email address is active.
• Do not click an "unsubscribe" link in a suspicious email for the same reason.
• Do not feel pressure to respond quickly. A real company will not close your account before you have time to verify the message carefully.