How to tell if an email is genuine or fake? Learn the correct way to identify a spoofed email.

Email spoofing is a cyber technique in which cybercriminals send fake emails in the name of a trusted person or organization. The email's From address and header are altered to make the message appear genuine.

In today's digital age, email has become an integral part of our daily lives. From banks to offices to online shopping, communication is now conducted through email. However, taking advantage of this newfound convenience, cybercriminals are targeting people with techniques like email spoofing. Sometimes, fake emails appear so genuine that people unthinkingly click on the link and share their personal information. So, let us tell you how to tell if an email is genuine and the correct way to identify email spoofing.

What is Email Spoofing?

Email spoofing is a cyber technique in which cybercriminals send fake emails in the name of a trusted person or organization. In this, the email's From address and header are altered to make the message appear genuine. The user believes the email is from a bank, company, colleague, or a familiar institution, but in reality, it's a fake one. Cybercriminals often use emails to trick users into clicking links, downloading attachments, or obtaining sensitive information like passwords and bank details. This method has been used in several major financial scams and business email compromises.

How does this technique work?

Email systems use the SMTP protocol, allowing the sender's address to be easily changed. Cyber ​​attackers can use scripts or email APIs to send emails where the apparent address appears genuine, but the actual source is different. Email headers contain complete technical information about the message, such as the server it originated from and the IP address it was sent from. However, ordinary users often don't check headers, making fake emails undetectable.

How to Identify a Fake Email?

• To determine whether an email is genuine or fake, it's important to pay attention to certain things. For example, look for the full address in the email, not just the name. Sometimes, there are slight changes in the domain, such as amaz0n.com being written instead of amazon.com. Such small changes can be a significant indicator.
• Also, if the name belongs to a familiar person, but the email address appears different or suspicious, be cautious.
• Fake emails often create an atmosphere of intimidation or urgency. Such statements as "The account will be closed now," "Take action immediately," and grammatical errors and strange wording can also be signs.
• Also, before clicking on an attachment in an email, hover over it to see which website it leads to. Avoid downloading unknown attachments.
• Banks and other reputable institutions don't ask for passwords, OTPs, or bank details in exchange for email addresses. If such demands are made, be aware that the email may be fake.
• Apart from this, technically savvy users can guess the real source by looking at information like Received, Return-Path, and Authentication Result in the email header.