Spotting Scam Emails with ChatGPT

We’ve all had that moment: an email arrives in our inbox that looks a little… off.

Maybe the sender’s address doesn’t look quite right. Maybe the wording feels clumsy. Or maybe it includes an urgent warning that something terrible will happen if you don’t click a link immediately. These are all classic signs of scam, spam, or malware-laden emails—and falling for them can be costly.

This is where ChatGPT can be a surprisingly useful ally. By pasting the suspicious text of an email into ChatGPT, you can get a second opinion on whether it raises red flags. ChatGPT can help you break down the email’s language, tone, and structure, pointing out potential tricks scammers use, such as urgency, threats, fake authority, or too-good-to-be-true offers.

How ChatGPT Helps

ChatGPT isn’t a replacement for professional cybersecurity tools, but it can complement your existing vigilance. For example, if an email claims to be from your bank but is riddled with spelling mistakes, ChatGPT will highlight that this is unusual for official correspondence. If an email is pushing you to click a link or download an attachment urgently, ChatGPT can explain why that’s a common scam tactic.

By analyzing the text, ChatGPT can flag inconsistencies or manipulative language you might miss when quickly scanning an inbox. It’s like having a cyber-savvy friend on call to give you a calm, reasoned breakdown before you act.

Step-by-Step: Safely Checking a Suspect Email with ChatGPT

If you want to use ChatGPT to help analyze an email, here’s the safest way to do it:

1. Open the email without clicking anything inside it.
   
   • Do not click links, download attachments, or press any buttons in the email.
   • You’re only going to look at the text.
     
2. Highlight the text of the email.
   
   • With your mouse, click and drag to select the words of the email body.
   • You can usually skip the header details (like subject, date, etc.) unless they look suspicious too.
     
3. Copy the text.
   
   • Right-click and select Copy, or use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + C on Windows, Command + C on Mac).
     
4. Open ChatGPT.
   
   • Go to the ChatGPT app or website where you normally use it.
     
5. Paste the text into the chat.
   
   • Right-click and choose Paste, or use Ctrl + V (Windows) / Command + V (Mac).
     
6. Ask ChatGPT to analyze it.
   
   • A simple prompt works best, such as: “Can you check this email text and tell me if it looks like spam, a scam, or phishing?”
     
7. Read the analysis carefully.
   
   • ChatGPT can point out suspicious language, tricks scammers use, or other warning signs.
   • Use this alongside your own judgment – if you’re in doubt, delete the email.

⚠️ Important Reminder: Never copy or upload attachments, images, or files from a suspicious email. Only copy the plain text.

Additional Safety Tips

While ChatGPT can help you spot scams, it works best when paired with common-sense safety practices:

• Check the sender’s email address: Scammers often use addresses that look almost right but are slightly misspelled.
• Look for generic greetings: “Dear Customer” is a red flag if the sender should know your name.
• Watch for urgency or threats: Phrases like “Act immediately or your account will be closed” are designed to panic you into making mistakes.
• Hover over links: On a computer, you can hover your mouse pointer over a link (without clicking) to see the real destination URL. If it doesn’t match the sender’s supposed identity, it’s suspicious.
• When in doubt, contact the source directly: If an email claims to be from your bank, don’t reply – call the bank using the official number on their website.

Final Thoughts

Email scams are becoming more sophisticated, and staying safe requires a mix of technology and awareness. ChatGPT is a handy tool to help you analyze the language of questionable emails and give you more confidence in deciding whether to delete or report them.

But remember: your strongest defense is caution. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts. And above all, never click attachments or links in a suspicious email.