Email scams (phishing)
Fake invoices, renewal charges, and account alerts landing in your inbox — and how to tell a real message from a phishing one.
How these scams work
A phishing email impersonates a brand — PayPal, Norton, Apple, your bank — with a subject built to alarm you: a charge, a suspended account, an invoice you don't recognize. The goal is to get you to click a link or call a number in a panic. The tells are in the details: the real sender address (not the display name), a deadline or threat, and a link that doesn't go where it claims.
What to check first
- Check the full sender address, not the display name — look-alikes swap letters (paypa1, app1e).
- Hover or long-press a link to see where it really goes before you ever tap it.
- Never use the link or phone number in the email — open the app or type the company's real address yourself.
The email scams we've checked
SCAMEmail
PayPal email scam: is that invoice or alert real?
Got a PayPal email about a payment, invoice, or account limit you don't recognize? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
Amazon email scam: is that order or account alert real?
Got an Amazon email about an order, a locked account, or a charge you don't recognize? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
Apple ID email scam: is that "locked account" alert real?
Got an email saying your Apple ID was locked, suspended, or accessed from a new device? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
Geek Squad email scam: is that renewal real?
Got a Geek Squad email about a subscription renewal or auto-charge you don't remember? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
Norton email scam: is that renewal charge fake?
A “Norton” email about an auto-renewal or a $400 charge you never approved? Here's why it's a scam — and what to do before you call that number.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
McAfee email scam: is that renewal charge real?
Got a McAfee email about an auto-renewal charge or expired subscription you don't recognize? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
Microsoft email scam: is that account alert real?
Got a Microsoft email about a sign-in, account suspension, or expiring password you don't recognize? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
Netflix email scam: is that "payment failed" alert real?
Got a Netflix email saying your payment failed or your account is on hold? Here's the verdict on the Netflix email scam and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
DocuSign email scam: is that document real?
Got a DocuSign email asking you to review or sign a document you weren't expecting? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
USPS email scam: is that delivery notice real?
Got a USPS email about a package on hold, a failed delivery, or a redelivery fee? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
IRS refund email scam: is that refund notice real?
Got an email about an IRS tax refund you need to claim or verify? Here's the verdict on the IRS refund email scam and what to do.
Read the case →
SCAMEmail
Fake check scam: why you'll owe the money back
Someone sent you a check and asked you to deposit it and send part back? The check is fake and you'll owe every cent. Here's the verdict and what to do.
Read the case →