Q. Lately, I’ve been receiving a lot of emails saying that I’ve won a prize, gift card, or sweepstakes from companies that look legitimate. The message often contains the company’s logo, and most of these messages are from places I shop at frequently. I find myself extremely confused, especially since I can’t remember entering any contest or sweepstakes.
Part of me wonders if I’m missing out, but the other part of me is worried it could be a scam. A close friend of mine lost a significant amount of money a few years ago after responding to something similar online, and seeing what she went through has made me extremely cautious.
I try to be careful, but scammers seem more convincing these days. How can someone my age tell the difference between a legitimate email and a scam (or phone call, for that matter)? What can I do to better protect myself from fraud in the future?
A. Thank you for writing in. Your concern is not uncommon, especially among older adults.
First, I want to start by saying that your instincts are spot on. If you don’t remember entering a contest or promotion, it’s smart to pause before clicking anything. Scammers often rely on excitement, urgency, or fear to get people to react quickly.
One of the easiest ways to distinguish a legitimate email from a scammer is to check the sender’s email address. Don’t always rely on the name displayed at the top; anyone can make this look as if it’s coming from an actual company. Scam emails often come from suspicious addresses that may include extra numbers, misspellings, or random letters. A message may say it’s from a major retailer, but the actual email address tells a different story.
Another important rule to abide by is to never provide personal information, banking details, passwords, or Social Security numbers through an email link. Legitimate companies generally will not ask for sensitive information this way, especially to claim a prize.
I find it helpful to create a separate email account just for shopping, loyalty programs, coupons, and online sales. Keeping these promotional emails separate from your main, personal account makes it easier to spot suspicious messages and better protect important information.
If your current email inbox feels overwhelming or has become flooded with spam, you may want to consider starting over with a fresh email account. Before you delete the old account, make sure all important contacts, bills, subscriptions, and accounts have been moved to your new address. Then, only share the new email with trusted people and organizations. Again, now would be the time to start that second email account specifically for shopping and promotional purposes.
The good news is that you don’t have to figure this out all alone. Many public libraries now offer free technology assistance, including help with email safety, scam awareness, and online privacy. Some even provide one-on-one appointments or beginner computer classes for older adults. If your local library does not currently offer this service, it may be worth asking; they may consider adding a class if there’s enough interest in the community.
Above all, remember that when something online feels questionable, it’s perfectly okay to ignore it. Delete the email, mark it as spam, or ignore it altogether. A legitimate opportunity will still be there tomorrow, but scammers always make the matter seem urgent, hoping you’ll react quickly and foolishly.
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