How to tell if a login alert is real or a scam

A phishing email might ask you to update your tax details or claim you've won a lottery or a free product, all to get you to click a malicious link.

As Robert from Danville asks, "I constantly get in my spam junk folder emails saying 'someone has logged into your account.' Is this spam? legitimate? concerning? How do I know? How to avoid wasting time checking? How do I check?"

Thanks for writing to us, Robert. I completely understand how tricky it can be to figure out whether these messages are legitimate or just another scam attempt. Let's break down what these urgent warnings usually look like and go over a few ways you can stay safe.

Login alert scams have been around for a while. Early reports date back to 2021, and the trend has persisted since then. In 2022, reports surfaced that scammers were impersonating Meta and sending phishing emails to users.

One such email used a clean layout with minimal text. It avoided the usual scare tactics and stuck to a simple message. But that is not always the case. A common red flag in phishing attempts is the tendency to overload the email with unnecessary details. These messages often include cluttered formatting, excessive explanations and an increasing number of typos or design errors. One phishing email simply gets to the point:

Someone tried to Iog into Your Account, User lD

A user just logged into your Facebook account from a new device Samsung S21. We are sending you this email to verify it's really you.

Thanks,

The Facebook Team

What's concerning now is that poor grammar is no longer a reliable sign of a scam. Thanks to AI, even those with limited English skills can write emails that sound polished and professional. As a result, many phishing messages today read just like legitimate emails from trusted companies.

Receiving a phishing email is not the real issue. The real problem starts when you click on it. Most of these emails contain links that lead to fake login pages, designed to look exactly like platforms such as Facebook, Google or your bank. 

If you enter your credentials there, they go directly to the scammer. In some cases, simply clicking the link can trigger a malware download, especially if your browser is outdated or your device lacks proper security. Once inside, attackers can steal personal information, monitor your activity or take control of your accounts.

Real login notifications do exist; they're just much less scary. A genuine alert from Google, Apple or Microsoft will come from an official address (for example, no-reply@accounts.google.com or security@apple.com) and use consistent branding. The tone is factual and helpful.

For instance, a legit Google security alert might say, "We detected a login from a new sign-in to your Google Account on a Pixel 6 Pro device. If this was you, you don't need to do anything. If not, we'll help you secure your account."  It may include a "Check activity" button, but that link always redirects to a google.com address, and it won't prompt you to reenter your password via the email link. Similarly, Apple notes it will never ask for passwords or verification codes via email.

1. Don't click any links or attachments and use strong antivirus software: Instead, manually log in to the real site (or open the official app) by typing the URL or using a bookmarked link. This guarantees you're not walking into a scammer's trap. The FTC recommends this: if you have an account with that company, contact them via the website or phone number you know is real, not the info in the email.

2. Remove your data from the internet: Scammers are able to send you targeted messages because your data, like your email address or phone number, is already out there. This often happens due to past data breaches and shady data brokers. A data removal service can help clean up your digital trail by removing your information from public databases and people-search sites. It's not a quick fix, but over time, it reduces how easily scammers can find and target you.

5. Report suspicious emails: If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from a specific organization, report it to that organization's official support or security team so they can take appropriate action.

You shouldn't have to vet every sketchy email. In fact, your email's spam filters catch most phishing attempts for you. Keep them enabled, and make sure your software is up to date so that malicious sites and attachments are blocked. Still, the most powerful filter is your own awareness. You're definitely not alone in this. People receive these spammy login scares every day. By keeping a cool head and following the steps above, you're already ahead of the game.

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