Spotting Scams in Email and Online

There you are, peacefully checking the weather or reading the news when a bright red box suddenly takes over your screen. It flashes, maybe it beeps, and it tells you that a virus is erasing your computer right now.

These panic tactics have evolved from simple emails to sophisticated psychological traps. They aren't trying to outsmart your computer; they are trying to get you to click by making you feel rushed.

The good news is that awareness and a little training makes an enormous difference. Everyone who learns the basics is able to help their neighbors, their friends, and their family spot scams online and in email.

The habit we want to build is to ask three quick questions before clicking or calling.

The 3-Step Check: STOP, LOOK, LISTEN

1. STOP: Emotional Check

Is this message trying to make me feel panicked, scared, or rushed?

Urgency is a scammer's most reliable tool. "Act now or your account will be closed",  "Your computer is infected - Call Immediately", "You've been selected, but this offer expires in 10 minutes". Legitimate companies do not communicate this way. If a message makes you feel like you don't have time to think, that feeling itself is the red flag.

2. LOOK — Identity Check

Does the sender's email address or website URL actually match the company?

Scammers are skilled at making things look and feel like a site you trust, using what look like official logos, professional language, and familiar color schemes. But the address in the browser bar or the email will always show exactly who the sender is. support@micros0ft-help.net is not Microsoft, and amaz0n-orders.com is not Amazon. Looking carefully at the actual address before clicking or calling will catch most scams right there in your inbox.

3. LISTEN — Gut Check

If I didn't ask for this help, prize, or warning — why is it showing up now?

Legitimate refunds don't arrive unannounced. Real tech support doesn't call you. You don't win contests you didn't enter. When something appears out of nowhere and asks for action, the gut already knows something is off. This step is about giving people permission to trust that feeling — and to pause long enough to honor it.

What This Looks Like in Practice

• The Panic Pop-Up. A red box fills the screen claiming a virus is erasing the computer. There's a phone number to call. The STOP step catches it immediately because the manufactured urgency reveals the scamming intent. 

• The Overpaid Refund. A caller claims to be from Amazon and says there's been an overpayment that needs to be refunded, but they need to download a program to process it. The LISTEN step catches it because no one asked for this call, and no legitimate refund requires installing software.

• The Helpful Search Result. Searching for printer support brings up a paid ad at the top of the page. The site looks official, but asks for a credit card before providing any help. The LOOK step catches it because the URL doesn't match the printer manufacturer's actual website.

In each case above, applying the 3-step check changes the outcome.

The stories of people getting scammed aren’t about people who were not being careful. They are stories about people who were caught off guard by messages and websites specifically designed to put them off guard. Scammers are professionals who test their tactics, refine their scripts, and deliberately target people who they believe have less experience with computers. Older adults, young people, and rural residents have the highest risk.

Almost every online scam requires the user to do one of two things: click a link or call a number. Whether the click leads to downloading a file, allowing remote access, or granting permission, the user must click or call for the scam to work.

This means there is almost always a moment right before the click where the scam can be stopped. Scammers work hard to make sure that moment feels urgent, scary, or exciting enough for the user to feel rushed into taking action. It could be a flashing warning on a computer, tablet, or phone screen, a robotic voice saying your Social Security number has been suspended, or an email that looks exactly like it came from your bank.

Remember to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to avoid the carefully laid traps of scammers.

Stay wonderful, and stay safe in your digital world,

My Friendly Tech Helper

www.myfriendlytechhelper.com

(719)256-0325

My Friendly Tech Helper offers single-session and ongoing remote tech support for seniors nationwide, and in-home support in the Colorado Springs area.