Why do some spam or phishing emails look so obviously fake?

Sometimes, emails are designed to be obviously fake to filter out savvier targets, focusing only on the most gullible. Other times, it's due to poor execution, language barriers, or a lack of understanding of legitimate email practices.

Can reporting funny spam emails actually help prevent future attacks?

Yes, even if an email is amusing, reporting it to your email provider or IT department contributes to threat intelligence. This helps in training spam filters and identifying new attack patterns , even if the current one is laughable.

Are email marketers more or less susceptible to phishing attempts?

Email marketers are often more aware of red flags due to their daily work with email, making them potentially less susceptible to common scams. However, they can be targeted by highly sophisticated or spear-phishing attempts that leverage their professional context.

What is a 'blacklist' or 'blocklist' in the context of email security?

A blacklist (or blocklist) is a list of IP addresses or domains known to send spam or malicious emails. If your domain or IP gets listed, it can severely impact your email deliverability, sending your legitimate marketing emails to the spam folder.

How can I check if my domain has been put on a blocklist?

You can use a blocklist checker to see if your domain or IP address is listed on any common email blacklists. Regularly monitoring these lists is key to maintaining good sender reputation.

What are some funny examples of spam or phishing attempts targeting email marketers? - Compliance - Email deliverability - Knowledge base

As email marketers, we spend our days crafting compelling campaigns, optimizing deliverability, and diligently avoiding anything that might land our messages in the spam folder. We are constantly on the lookout for suspicious activity, ensuring our email authentication is robust and our domain reputation stays pristine. But sometimes, the roles reverse, and we find ourselves on the receiving end of emails that are not just unwanted, but hilariously absurd.

While spam and phishing are serious threats with real consequences, there's a certain dark humor in the sheer incompetence or bizarre creativity sometimes employed by bad actors. These attempts can range from poorly translated pleas to wildly imaginative schemes, often making us chuckle even as we hit the delete button. It's a testament to the fact that even in the serious world of cybersecurity, there's room for the ridiculous.

I have seen some truly remarkable attempts over the years, and many fellow marketers have shared their own memorable encounters. From propositions involving exiled princes to urgent requests that defy logic, these emails serve as a strange reminder of the digital landscape we navigate daily, often providing a much-needed moment of levity.

The art of the absurd subject line

The first line of defense, or attack, in any email is the subject line. While marketers strive for clarity and engagement, spammers often operate in a realm of creative chaos. I've seen subject lines that are so nonsensical they almost come full circle to being brilliant, simply for their ability to bypass filters through sheer randomness or to pique curiosity in the most unexpected ways.

One common, almost comical, tactic involves variations of the classic Nigerian prince scam. Imagine a subject line like “Urgent business proposal: Email marketing profits for you.” It’s a laughable attempt to target marketers specifically, thinking we might be so eager for profit we'd overlook the obvious red flags. These often promise outlandish sums for minimal effort, which is precisely why they're so easy to spot as fake.

Other times, the humor comes from sheer desperation or bizarre phrasing. Subject lines like “Your package is here now collect it fast” or “Important information regarding your unsubscription” (when you never subscribed in the first place) are common. The directness, combined with poor grammar and odd urgency, is often more amusing than threatening, especially if you understand how email blacklists actually work and how legitimate companies communicate.

Recognizing a suspicious subject line

Unusual grammar: Look for obvious spelling mistakes or awkward phrasing that doesn't sound natural.
Excessive urgency: Phrases like 'ACT NOW!' or 'Immediate Action Required' are common in spam and phishing.
Irrelevant topics: If the subject line has nothing to do with any of your recent activities or subscriptions, be wary.
Personalized but vague: It might include your name but then refer to a generic 'account issue' without specifics.

Unbelievable scenarios and requests

Beyond the subject line, the content of these emails often veers into the realm of the truly unbelievable. I've encountered phishing attempts that claim to be from various high-profile organizations, but the scenarios they concoct are so far-fetched, they're more likely to induce laughter than panic.

One particularly amusing type targets marketers with promises of exclusive, revolutionary tools that will guarantee 100% inbox placement or bypass all spam traps. The irony for those of us who live and breathe deliverability is palpable. It's like receiving a magical potion from a cartoon wizard, only less credible.

Then there are the blackmail emails. While generally malicious, some have such bizarre narratives they become comedic. I recall one that started with “Hello pervert” and proceeded to claim webcam footage of embarrassing acts, threatening to expose it unless a cryptocurrency ransom was paid. The alleged 'evidence' was always non-existent, of course, but the sheer audacity and poorly constructed narrative often led to a good laugh among my colleagues and I.

Legitimate email marketing

Legitimate marketing emails focus on delivering value, respecting privacy, and building trust. They are permission-based, clearly branded, and offer easy unsubscribe options.

Clear sender: Sender address aligns with the brand.
Relevant content: Content matches your interests or subscriptions.
Professional tone: Well-written, no glaring errors.

Absurd phishing attempts

Phishing attempts, even the funny ones, often use social engineering, false urgency, or unbelievable promises to trick recipients. Their goal is data theft or malware delivery.

Spoofed sender: Looks real but is slightly off, often used to bypass email blocklists.
Outlandish claims: Promises of wealth, urgent threats, or bizarre personal details.
Poor quality: Grammar, spelling, and formatting errors are common indicators.

When scammers get marketing wrong

Perhaps the most amusing spam and phishing attempts are those that try to co-opt familiar marketing tools or concepts, but do so with such a fundamental misunderstanding that it’s almost endearing. It’s like watching someone try to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions, using only a hammer.

A perfect example I encountered recently involved a Calendly invite, supposedly from me, sent to someone. The purpose was to try and get a marketing automation platform into trouble. The clincher was the note left in the Calendly appointment itself: “Please send me all your promotional materials one by one by email.” This is a brilliant display of a scammer’s poor attempt to gather email content for spam while trying to frame it as abuse.

This highlights a particular type of phishing, where the aim isn't just to steal credentials, but to weaponize a legitimate service against another. The request for promotional materials, one by one, is an amusing detail that exposes the scammer’s attempt to generate a large volume of emails through an unsuspecting third party. It serves as a reminder that even when trying to be malicious, scammers can sometimes be unintentionally comical.

The human element and irony

The irony of email marketers receiving poor-quality spam or clumsy phishing attempts is not lost on us. We spend our careers perfecting email campaigns, ensuring they are professional, compliant, and deliver results. To then open an email that defies all best practices is both amusing and a little painful.

These funny examples serve as a constant, albeit lighthearted, reminder of what not to do in email marketing. They highlight the importance of proper grammar, clear calls to action, and above all, legitimacy. It also underscores why understanding what phishing is and how to identify it is crucial for everyone, especially those working with email daily.

Ultimately, while these emails can provide a good laugh, they also reinforce the importance of vigilance. Even the funniest spam or blocklist (or blacklist) attempt still represents a potential threat. Marketers, perhaps more than anyone, need to be adept at spotting these anomalies, not just for their own security, but to understand the evolving landscape of online deception.

Views from the trenches

Best practices

Implement multi-factor authentication for all email and marketing platform accounts.

Regularly review your email service provider's logs for unusual activity or sending patterns.

Report any suspicious emails or phishing attempts to your IT security team or email provider.

Maintain an updated knowledge of common scam tactics and share insights with your team.

Common pitfalls

Clicking on links in suspicious emails out of curiosity, even if they seem funny or harmless.

Dismissing poorly constructed phishing attempts without reporting them to the relevant parties.

Assuming your email platform's security features are sufficient without additional vigilance.

Underestimating the potential for reputation damage if your email services are misused by scammers.

Expert tips

Always verify unexpected requests, even if they appear to come from known contacts or services.

Scammers exploit trust and urgency; pause and scrutinize before acting on unusual emails.

Use email authentication protocols like DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to prevent your domain from being spoofed.

Educate your team on common phishing indicators, no matter how trivial they may seem.

Marketer view

A marketer from Email Geeks says they received a Calendly confirmation out of the blue, supposedly from themselves, with a note asking for promotional materials to be sent one by one. It was clearly an attempt to misuse the service and get the email marketing platform in trouble.

2024-10-18 - Email Geeks

Expert view

steve589 from Email Geeks says they often encounter phishing emails with ridiculously vague promises that almost make them laugh, such as offers of 'unlimited leads for life' for a nominal fee.

2024-09-01 - Email Geeks

Maintaining vigilance with a sense of humor

Even the most seasoned email marketer will occasionally find a spam or phishing email that stands out, not for its maliciousness, but for its sheer absurdity. These instances serve as a humorous reminder of the constant battle against unwanted messages and the creative, albeit flawed, efforts of those who send them.

While we can chuckle at the comical attempts, it is important to remember the underlying risks. Staying informed about the latest spam and phishing tactics, even the funny ones, helps us better protect ourselves and our organizations. By sharing these funny examples, we not only lighten the mood but also raise awareness in an engaging way, helping everyone recognize the signs of a fraudulent email, no matter how ridiculous it may seem.