Scam emails have come a long way from the obvious “You’ve won a million dollars!” messages we used to see. Today, scammers copy real brands, mimic real people, and create emails that look incredibly convincing.
The good news? With a few simple checks, anyone can learn to spot them quickly and safely.

Here’s your friendly guide to identifying scam emails and protecting yourself online.

Why Scammers Use Email

Email is still one of the most common ways cybercriminals try to trick people. It’s easy for them to send thousands of messages at once, and it only takes one person to click a fake link for the scam to work.

Their goals are usually to steal:

• Login details

• Banking or credit card information

• Personal data

• Access to your computer or email account

But with a little awareness, you can stay well ahead of these tricks.

1. Check the sender’s email address

Scammers often pretend to be trusted companies like Australia Post, PayPal, Telstra, or your bank.
But look closely — the email address is usually slightly off.

Examples:

• paypaI.com instead of paypal.com

• auspost-delivery.net instead of auspost.com.au

• Random Gmail or Outlook addresses pretending to be support teams

If it looks unusual or unexpected, treat it with caution.

2. Look for spelling errors or strange wording

Legitimate companies rarely send messages full of typos, poor grammar, or odd phrases.
Scam emails often feel slightly “off” — too urgent, too informal, or overly threatening.

3. Beware of urgent requests

Scam emails love to pressure you:

• “Your account will be closed in 24 hours!”

• “Unusual activity detected — verify now!”

• “Your parcel is on hold — click here to release it.”

Scammers know you’re more likely to click if you’re worried.

Legitimate companies don’t threaten you or demand instant action.

4. Never click suspicious links

Scammers use fake links to send you to imitation login pages.
They might look exactly like the real site — but your details go straight to the scammer.

Before clicking, hover your mouse over the link

You’ll see the real address.
If it looks strange, misspelled, or unrelated — don’t click it.

(On phones, press and hold the link to preview it.)

5. Don’t open unexpected attachments

Attachments can contain malware that installs itself if you open the file.

Avoid opening:

• ZIP files

• PDF invoices you weren’t expecting

• Word documents asking you to “enable macros”

If you didn’t request it, assume it’s unsafe.

6. Is the email asking for personal information?

Legitimate companies never ask for:

• Passwords

• Credit card numbers

• Tax File Numbers

• Passport or driver’s licence scans

If an email requests this, it’s almost certainly fake.

7. Look for branding mistakes

Most scammers try to copy logos, colours, and layouts — but small details often give them away:

• Low-quality or stretched logos

• Wrong fonts or colours

• Old branding

• No ABN or contact details

If something looks “not quite right,” trust your instincts.

8. Cross-check by logging in directly

If you’re ever unsure, don’t click the link in the email.
Go straight to the official website by typing the address into your browser.

Examples:

• Type my.gov.au instead of clicking a “myGov alert” link

• Type netbank.com.au rather than clicking a bank warning email

• Open the real Australia Post app instead of clicking a “parcel failed delivery” email

If anything is wrong with your account, you’ll see it there.

What to Do if You Receive a Scam Email

✔ Delete it immediately
✔ Block the sender
✔ Report to your email provider (Outlook/Gmail/etc.)
✔ Change your passwords if you clicked anything
✔ Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for extra protection

If the scam is pretending to be from your hosting or Snowtech account, forward it to our support team — we can verify it for you.

At Snowtech, Your Security Matters

Cybersecurity doesn’t need to be complicated.
Simple habits like checking links, avoiding unknown attachments, and using strong passwords go a long way towards keeping you safe online.

If you ever have concerns about an email, your hosting login, or your domain security, Snowtech is here to help — just reach out.