What is spam mail?

It’s not uncommon to receive unsolicited and unwanted emails in your inbox. This is commonly known as spam mail or spam email. So, what is spam mail and are these messages dangerous?

This article includes tips, suggestions and general information. We recommend that you always do your own research and consider getting independent tax, financial and legal advice before making any important decision.

Spam mail refers to messages that are sent in bulk, usually targeting a large number of individuals simultaneously. It’s often characterised by its promotional or commercial nature, with the goal of advertising products, services, or sometimes fraudulent schemes.

Read on to learn about spam email and possible ways to manage it.

The difference between spam and phishing

While both spam mail and phishing emails fall under the umbrella of unwanted digital communications, there are important distinctions between the two.

Consider the below:

• Spam mail: Normally sent in bulk, spam mail bombards inboxes with unsolicited advertisements or promotional content. Though it can be irritating, spammers typically seek to generate revenue through mass marketing rather than launching targeted attacks.
• Phishing emails: Crafted by fraudsters, phishing emails are targeted attacks to obtain sensitive data like usernames, passwords, credit card details, or other personal information, which can then be used for things such as identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorised access to accounts.

Here is more detail on phishing:

Phishing emails

As described above, the goal of a phishing email is to deceive users into revealing sensitive information, leading to potential harm. These deceptive emails often masquerade as legitimate messages from trusted sources, aiming to trick recipients into sharing information or downloading malicious software.

Keeping an eye out for red flags can help individuals detect phishing emails. Suspicious signs could include:

• Suspicious senders
• Requests for sensitive information
• Grammatical errors
• Urgent demands

By staying cautious, verifying the authenticity of emails, and not clicking on unfamiliar links or attachments, can help individuals mitigate the risks associated with phishing attacks.

Email spoofing

Email spoofing is a technique used by attackers to make an email appear as if it is from a different source than the actual sender. By manipulating the email's "From" field or the reply-to address, attackers can make it seem like the email is from a trusted entity or individual.

While email spoofing can be a component of phishing attacks or spreading malware, it can also be employed for harmless purposes, such as spam mail.

It’s important to exercise caution when viewing suspicious emails, even if they are in the junk folder. If an email doesn’t appear legitimate or raises any doubts, never click on any links or provide personal of financial information.

What to look out for with scam mail

• Keep an eye out for pixelated or distorted logos, as well as glaring typos and grammatical errors in the email content.
• Check the sender's email address. If it appears random, unfamiliar, or doesn't match the claimed sender, delete the email.
• Be wary of emails that create a sense of urgency, pressure, or threats to prompt immediate action.
• Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or downloading attachments.
• Be cautious if the email uses generic greetings like "Dear Customer" or "Dear Sir/Madam."

• Avoid emails offering lottery winnings, rewards, or dubious investment opportunities. If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Potential scam can be reported to the relevant business or organisation. Many companies have dedicated email inboxes set up as a place to forward suspicious emails. It is also possible to report potential phishing to PayPal.

Ways to deal with spam email

Wondering what to do if you receive spam mail? While spam mail is often just a nuisance, there are ways that could minimize it.

A few examples include: reporting it as spam to the email service provider, blocking spam email addresses, unsubscribing from email lists, changing email privacy settings and using a third-party email filter.

Unsure if you received a scam or phishing email from PayPal? Learn about how to deal with suspicious activity here.