Is This Email a Scam? How AI Can Help You Decide.
By Steve
Learn how the smart filters in your inbox work, plus a new tool to help you spot tricky scams.
A Tech-Savvy Tuesday!
Have you ever opened your email and stared at a message, a knot of uncertainty in your stomach? It might look like it’s from your bank or a delivery service, but something feels slightly off. It’s a question many of us, including many readers, have asked themselves frequently: "I've got this email. Is it spam?". That moment of hesitation is smart; it’s your mind’s own security filter at work.
The good news is, you also have a powerful digital ally in this fight. The technology that keeps junk mail out of your inbox has become incredibly intelligent, using AI to act as a watchdog for your digital safety. Today, let's demystify these "spam-spotting super-eyes" and explore how they work to protect you.
How AI Helps Keep You Safe
You may not realize it, but every time you open your email, you’re benefiting from one of the oldest and most effective uses of Artificial Intelligence. Your email provider (like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo) uses sophisticated AI to analyze the billions of messages that fly across the internet every day.
How Does AI Learn to Spot a Scam?
Think of it like an experienced detective who has studied thousands of counterfeit bills. Over time, that detective develops an instinct for the tiny details that just feel "off." AI spam filters work similarly, but on a massive scale. They are "trained" on a colossal library of emails, learning to recognize the subtle patterns and red flags common in fraudulent messages. This allows them to get remarkably good at identifying scams, even new ones.
Common Scams AI Is Trained to Catch:
Phishing Emails: These are messages pretending to be from your bank, credit card company, or a service like Netflix, trying to trick you into revealing your password or financial information. The AI filter looks for clues: Does the sender's email address really match the company's? Does the message create a false sense of urgency (e.g., "Your account will be suspended!")? Do the links point to the real company website?
Fake Shipping Notices: You might get an email from "FedEx" or "Amazon" about a package you didn't order. The AI can spot that the tracking number isn't in a valid format or that the email is sent from a suspicious, unofficial address.
Call-Blocking & "Grandparent Scams": This same pattern-matching logic applies to your phone. Modern spam-blocking apps and phone services can use AI to identify call patterns associated with robocallers or known scam operations, like those "grandparent scams" where a fraudster fakes an emergency to ask for money.
"Phishing" (pronounced like "fishing") is a type of online scam where criminals "fish" for your personal information, like passwords, account numbers, or Social Security details. They do this by sending deceptive emails, texts, or messages that are designed to look like they're from a legitimate, trustworthy company. Their goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link or entering your private information on a fake website. Here are some examples.
Example 1: The "Problem With Your Account" Scam
This is one of the most common types. It's designed to make you panic and react quickly. You might receive an email that looks like this:
Subject: Urgent Security Alert - Your Account Is On Hold!
From: Bank of America Security <support-desk029@randomservice.com>
Dear Valued Customer,
We have detected unusual activity on your account. For your protection, we have placed a temporary hold on your account. Please click the link below immediately to verify your identity and restore access.
[Link that says "Verify Your Account Now"]
The Red Flags to Spot:
The Sender’s Email Address: Look closely. Even though the name says "Bank of America Security," the actual email address is from a random, unofficial service, not @bankofamerica.com.
The Generic Greeting: "Dear Valued Customer" is impersonal. Your real bank will almost always use your name.
The Sense of Urgency: Phrases like "Urgent," "On Hold," and "immediately" are used to rush you into clicking before you have time to think.
The Suspicious Link: If you were to hover your mouse over that link on a computer, it would likely show a strange, unofficial web address, not the real bank's website.
Example 2: The Fake Delivery Notice Scam
Scammers know we all get packages these days, so they send out millions of these fake notices via text message or email. It might look like this:
Text Message From: (833) 555-0123
"Your FedEx package with tracking #1Z999... has a delivery exception. An additional shipping fee is required. Please visit
http://fedex-shipping-updates.net
to resolve."
The Red Flags to Spot:
Were You Expecting a Package? If you weren't expecting a delivery, this is an immediate red flag.
A Request for Money: Legitimate shipping companies like FedEx or UPS will never text you to demand an extra payment to complete a standard delivery.
The Unofficial Link: The web address looks plausible, but it is not the official fedex.com. Scammers create these look-alike websites to steal your credit card information.
Example 3: The "Shared Document" Scam
This one is increasingly common and can be tricky because it might seem to come from someone you know.
Subject: Document Shared With You: "2025 Financial Report"
From: Your Friend's Name <hacked.friend@example.com>
You have been sent an important document. Please click below to open and review the shared file.
[Link that says "Open in Google Docs"]
The Red Flags to Spot:
Is it Expected? Did your friend tell you they were sending you this document? If it comes out of the blue, be suspicious. Their email account may have been hacked.
The Login Page: If you click the link and it immediately asks you to sign in to your Google or Microsoft account, stop! If you're already logged in on your computer, you shouldn't need to log in again. This is likely a fake login page designed to steal your password.
The best defense is always a healthy dose of skepticism. If a message feels off, trust your gut. The safest action is to ignore the link in the message and go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself, or call the company using a phone number you know to be legitimate.
A Word of Caution: The Most Important Filter is You
As good as these AI tools are, they aren't perfect. Some clever scams will always get through. That’s why your own informed judgment remains the most important security tool you have. If an email or text feels suspicious, trust that instinct.
We know that sometimes, even with all this knowledge, a particular message can be genuinely confusing. It can be incredibly helpful to get a second opinion. That’s why we’re developing a simple new tool at Hotline. If you receive an email that you're just not sure about, you can simply forward it to our Hotline Tech Expert Bill. He will analyze it for you and send a message back letting you know if it shows the telltale signs of a scam, giving you that extra bit of peace of mind.
Here’s an example of Bill analyzing a spam email I forwarded him:
If you want to learn more email me at steve@gestalt.com or reply to this email.
Quick Tech Tip
You can also help your email filter get smarter! When a spam email does make it to your inbox, don't just delete it! Use the "Report Spam" or "Mark as Junk" button. This action is a signal that tells the AI, "Hey, this is one of the bad ones." It learns from your feedback and gets better at blocking similar messages for everyone.
Tech Term Demystified: Spoofing
Have you ever received a phone call where the Caller ID shows a local number—perhaps even one from your own area code and prefix—only to answer and discover it's a robocall or a scammer from far away? This common and deceptive trick is called "Spoofing." It’s a technique criminals use to deliberately disguise their identity by faking the information that appears on your screen.
Think of it like a scammer sending a letter but writing a fake, trusted return address on the outside of the envelope. The postal service delivers the letter as addressed, but the return address is a lie, designed to make you trust the contents before you even open it. Phone number spoofing works the same way; criminals use technology to change the Caller ID information before they place the call to make it look familiar or local. This isn't just for phone calls, either—scammers can also "spoof" email addresses to make a phishing message look like it’s coming from your bank or a colleague. The entire goal is to trick you into picking up the phone or opening the email by making it appear to come from a source you might trust.
Good News Byte
Phone companies are working together to combat spoofing! They are implementing a new technology framework called STIR/SHAKEN, which works behind the scenes to verify that the number you see on your screen is the real number that placed the call. It's a major, collaborative step forward in the fight against robocalls and phone scams.
Did You Know?
Where did the term "spam" for unwanted email come from? It's widely believed to have originated from a famous 1970 Monty Python sketch. In the sketch, a couple in a cafe tries to order a meal, but every item on the menu includes Spam luncheon meat. A group of Vikings in the background then begins chanting "Spam, Spam, Spam!" over and over, drowning out all other conversation. Early internet users adopted the term to describe the flood of junk emails that were drowning out legitimate messages in their inboxes!
Your Turn to Train the AI!
This week, make a point of using the "Report Spam" button in your email app instead of just deleting a piece of junk mail. Each time you do, you're not just cleaning your inbox; you're contributing a tiny piece of data that helps make the AI filters smarter and the internet a little bit safer for everyone.
Stay sharp and stay safe!
Warmly,
Steve