How to Recognize Spoofing in Outlook
Spoofing occurs when an email sender pretends to be someone else in order to persuade email recipients to do something. This might include opening an email, clicking on a link, sending money or providing sensitive information, such as a credit card number. Spoofers can easily change the "From" information--or even hide the originating server's identity--in emails that they are sending out. You can employ several quick and easy tactics to proactively recognize spoofed emails.
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Instructions
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Review the name in the "From" field for all incoming messages before opening them. A message that shows a misspelled name, a high-profile politician or a foreign dignitary is most likely spoofed, so you should assume that the email is spam and delete it without opening.
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Check the email address listed in the "From" field to confirm that it shows a real domain (i.e. @abccompany.com instead of @1234567.org). Unrecognized, cryptic or misspelled domains should raise a red flag as possible spoofs, so you should take care when opening those emails--or delete them entirely without reading.
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View the mail header to identify the real server from which this email was sent if the name or email address in the "From" field looks suspicious. Open the message, then click on "View" and "Options." You may only need to click on "Options" in some versions of Outlook. The "Internet headers" section will display "Received from" information for both the server and the machine that sent out the email. Assume that the email is spam if the server and computer name seem suspicious.
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Tips & Warnings
Spoofing is considered a form of identity theft and some U.S. states have laws against it. The federal CAN SPAM Act also prohibits spoofing.
References
Resources
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