how do you spot spoof emails?

Answer 1

If you have "won" a sweepstakes you didn't enter, have a relative you never heard of leave you a lot of money, or they need your personal id info or password the e-mail is a fake. Delete before opening any e-mail you don't know.

Answer 2

The best spoof emails are from banks... well people pretending to be banks.
For a start off they will say dear customer instead of your name, they will then ask you to give details or confirm details of your account.
NEVER EVER GIVE ANY DETAILS!!!

If you get any mail that you think is suspicious, then go with your instincts, you will probably be right in your judgement.

I notice you are an ebay person.
Ebay never really send mails unless you have requested them, so that is another easy one to spot. you can also copy the link or address and report it to Ebay themselves, who, in some cases, can get it stopped.

Hope this has helped?!

Answer 3

In reference people pretending to be businesses or websites?
Well, if it just doesn't sound right to you, its most likely not.
For ebay, it usually says that there's a problem with your account and they need you to re-enter all your info at a seperate link. Ebay's site states it would NEVER do this. If there was an issue with anything, they'd contact your user messages on their site itself, not your email address.
I've also been receiving emails from a bank saying that my account will be suspended for overdrafts and account information issues, and that I need to visit the link provided to re-enter the info to keep my account. I'd have believed it a bit more if I actually had an account at that bank.
There are also some mock Yahoo! and Myspace emails going around, saying they're now charging members for certain features and you'll need to visit the provided link to give them your credit card info. Again, if its not at your account area of the website itself, its most likely fake.
When in doubt, contact the place the email claims to be from and ask them if its true.

As for people pretending to be someone you know, check out the phrasing used. Does it sound like this person really knows you? And are they asking you for or telling you things that don't seem to make sense? If so, hit "delete".

Answer 4

Spoof e-mails tend to want something from you; your login or account details, your credit card number, or your money.
No company will ask for these details by sending you an e-mail. Never click on a link in such an e-mail.
Companies realise the problems and won't mind you phoning or e-mailing them to ask if its a genuine e-mail or a fake.

Answer 5

The other answers in this forum explain phisching very well. However, you can also check the message header in Outlook by selecting View --> Options.

Sometimes, the email addresses used will not resemble EBay/Paypal, have wierd additions to them e.g. [e-mail], or characters have been changed for numbers e.g. [e-mail]

Answer 6

http://pages.ebay.com/education/spooftutorial/