How to spot a spoofing attack—whether via email, text, or social media
By now, most of us are familiar with online scams. For example, we know to be wary of misspellings in emails and to watch out for robocalls from unfamiliar numbers. But what if something comes from a trusted source? What if the caller ID shows a trusted business, or the “from” email address matches a known organization or individual?
When a fraudster impersonates someone else, whether via social media, text, or email messages, it’s known as spoofing. When these scams succeed, it can lead to losses of hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars. Let’s take a look at spoofing scams so you understand how to protect yourself.
Key Points
- Spoofing is when a fraudster impersonates someone or a company to target victims.
- Common spoofing scams involve social media, phone calls, and email.
- Be wary of any attempt to gather your personal information from an unsolicited source.
What is spoofing?
Spoofing is when a scammer pretends to be someone else, usually someone you trust. For example:
- Caller ID spoofing comes from scammers who send falsified information to your phone or other caller ID devices that appears to be the name of a legitimate business or person.
- Social media spoofing could involve a message “from Facebook” claiming that your page or account violated guidelines and threatening to shut it down.
- Email spoofing appears to come from a legitimate company account with an email address that’s designed to look authentic. In some cases, an email spoofing attack might come after a fraudster has gained access to an executive’s email and sends a message to employees before the breach is discovered.
- Website spoofing is a practice by which scammers create a realistic webpage—maybe even using the image of an official logo—to convince you to provide personal information.
In short, spoofing is designed to look like a message from a trusted, legitimate business. The purpose is to trick you into thinking it’s secure and prompt you to divulge key information, such as account numbers, passwords, or other sensitive data that can be used to steal your identity.
Spoofing vs. phishing
Spoofing is similar to phishing in that a fraudster tries to get your information illegally. With spoofing, the fraudster pretends to be a known and trusted source. With phishing, the idea is to trick the victim into performing an action (such as clicking on a link) or giving up personal information.
Phishing scammers often use spoofing techniques as part of the ruse to convince victims that they can be trusted.
Sample spoofing scams
Here are some examples of spoofing scams—both actual attacks and potential ones. Note that they target you where you live, work, and interact each day.
- Your electronic devices. In 2019, automated calls displaying the Apple (AAPL) logo and phone number warned of a data breach and provided a fraudulent phone number to call for support. Victims thought the calls were legitimate, called the fake number, and provided information to confirm their identities, setting them up to be scammed.
- Your employer. Suppose you receive an email from what appears to be an internal source at your employer. The message might request access to a system and provide steps for you to take—steps that will provide the scammer with sensitive information. You later discover the email address was spoofed and the source is a fraudster.
- Your social media accounts. One popular spoofing scam in 2023 was the “community standards” approach. A comment, message, or other communication appears to come from Facebook warning that there is a problem with your page, but it’s actually a scammer trying to steal passwords or other information when you attempt to salvage your account.
- Your bank. Suppose you get an email that appears to come from your bank, claiming there’s a problem with your account. You click on the link and are taken to a website that looks similar to your bank’s website—even the logos match. But the fake site is designed to steal your login credentials and possibly infect your computer with malware. Meanwhile, you’re told your login has failed.
- Your package delivery. Perhaps a text message claims a carrier is having trouble delivering a package to you. If you tap the link provided, you may be asked to “verify” your identity. If you proceed, the fraudster can collect sensitive information for future use.
How to detect spoofing
Scammers are increasingly sophisticated, so it can be difficult to detect a spoofing attack. Here are some tips to help spot spoofing:
- Check to ensure web pages are secure. Look for a URL that begins with “https”—not just “http”—and displays a padlock icon.
- If you use a password manager, and it doesn’t recognize a web page or attempt to fill in your information, you may be visiting a spoofed website.
- When you receive a suspicious email, try copying the body of the email into your favorite search engine. You may find that others have reported the same text, warning about scams (or possibly confirming it’s legitimate).
- Double-check the sender’s email address. In some cases, the domain is similar—but not quite the same—as the legitimate business URL. For example, you might receive an email from “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com.” That zero in place of the “o” can be tough to spot, but it indicates the email isn’t legit.
- When you hit Reply, check the return email address. Some spoofers have what appears to be a legitimate “sender” address, but when you reply, a different address is used.
- In a text message, press and hold any links without opening them. You should be able to see the full URL to determine whether the site is legitimate. Many text message spoofing scams display shortened links to obscure the page’s real destination.
How to prevent falling victim to a spoofing attack
Spoofing is a common way for fraudsters to attempt to steal consumers’ personal information, but there are some simple strategies you can use to stay safe:
- Avoid opening attachments from unfamiliar or suspect sources. Don’t tap on links in text messages from unknown sources asking you to verify information.
- If you suspect a phone call is a spoofing attack, hang up immediately.
- Some scam messages include instructions on how you can be “removed from the list.” This may be a trick to get you to click through and set you up as a target later.
- Don’t give out personal information to someone who emails, texts, calls, or otherwise contacts you first.
- If you receive an email, text, or call saying that your bank account has been compromised, don’t respond directly or follow any links. Instead, type your bank’s correct URL into your browser and check for any alerts on your account. Another option is to call the number on the back of your debit or credit card, or the customer service number shown on your bank’s website, and advise the representative that you received a message about your account.
The bottom line
Spoofing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but you can protect yourself by being on your guard and keeping an eye out for suspicious emails, texts, calls, and social media messages asking for personal information. If you suspect someone is impersonating a legitimate business or other identity, don’t click on a link or respond with personal data. If you want more information, go directly to the real source.