Spoofed email definition
A spoofed email is an email that appears to be sent from a legitimate source, but is actually sent from a fake or unauthorized sender. The sender's email address is manipulated to make it appear as if the email is coming from a trusted or familiar source, such as a bank, a government agency, or a well-known company.
Spoofed emails are often used to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data. They may also be used to spread malware, phishing scams, or other types of cyber attacks.
Here are some common characteristics of spoofed emails:
- Fake sender email address: The sender's email address is manipulated to make it appear as if the email is coming from a legitimate source.
- Phishing attempts: Spoofed emails often contain phishing attempts, where the sender tries to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information.
- Urgency: Spoofed emails may create a sense of urgency, such as claiming that the recipient's account will be closed or that they need to take immediate action.
- Poor grammar and spelling: Spoofed emails may contain poor grammar and spelling, which can be a sign that the email is not legitimate.
- Suspicious links and attachments: Spoofed emails may contain suspicious links and attachments that can download malware or steal sensitive information.
Examples of spoofed emails include:
- A fake email from a bank claiming that the recipient's account has been compromised and asking them to provide sensitive information.
- A fake email from a government agency claiming that the recipient needs to provide personal information to comply with a new law.
- A fake email from a well-known company claiming that the recipient has won a prize or award and needs to provide sensitive information to claim it.
To protect yourself from spoofed emails, it's important to be cautious when opening emails and to verify the sender's identity before responding or taking any action.