In the not-so-distant past, spam, while annoying, was easy to spot. Riddled with typos and glaring grammatical mistakes, you could easily tell them apart from legit emails. Fast-forward to today, and generative AI makes it possible to craft persuasive spam messages that are hard to distinguish from the real thing. Because AI tools are accessible to anyone with a basic smartphone, it’s never been easier to flood inboxes with convincing emails. The good news is that there are subtle ways to spot AI-powered spam within your inbox. We explore how to block this sort of communication so you can keep your inbox clutter-free.
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8
Unusual tone and repetition of buzzwords
If the tone feels off, trust your gut
Spam emails are no longer poorly written. It’s not surprising that AI-generated spam content reads well. However, one thing AI doesn’t always get right is the tone. Since it doesn’t understand context, the writing might seem too formal or unnaturally casual. If the sender hasn’t taken the time to personalize the email and adjust the tone, this type of writing is easier to spot. Still, assess whether the tone fits the context. If it doesn’t, it’s worth investigating further.
Another thing worth checking is the use of buzzwords, especially when the tone feels off. Businesses that want to communicate something important avoid marketing-speak. You’re likely reading AI-generated drivel if you see several instances of hollow, overused words and phrases.
7
Lack of personalization and details
If it wasn’t addressed to you, don’t waste your time
Does the email you received start with a “Hi there!” or “Dear customer,” instead of your name? Generally, legitimate senders address you by your name to get your attention. Even businesses that reach out to promote their products or services use some level of personalization. For instance, they might refer to a past purchase or include your account number.
AI-generated spam tends to lack these details. Since the spam content goes to several people at once, it’s intentionally kept generic. If you spot a message in your inbox that lacks details and isn’t tied to your interests or purchases, it’s safe to assume that it wasn’t written with you in mind.
6
Suspicious links or attachments
It’s best left untouched
Source: Unsplash / Wikimedia Commons
Spam emails often push you to take action, whether that’s clicking a link or downloading an attachment. Opening a spam email does not put you at risk. Still, take a moment to scan the email for suspicious links or attachments.
If you spot URLs with misspellings or strange formatting or attachments when you weren’t expecting any, it’s best to ignore the email. Spam can sometimes include a link to unsubscribe that might be malicious. Only unsubscribe via links in the email if you recognize and trust the sender. If you have doubts, consider unsubscribing via your email provider.
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5
Inconsistent visuals
The design often gives it away
Businesses spend a lot of time and money ensuring consistency in their branding. Fonts, colors, logos, spacing, and other visual elements are carefully chosen and remain consistent across emails, advertisements, and the like. That’s why you’ll never see an email from a legit company with a blurry or off-center logo.
However, AI content may display pixelated visuals, inconsistent color choices, and other discrepancies. These emails usually read fine, but the visual aspects tell a different story. If you receive such an email, double-check who the sender is before you click anything or reply.
4
Details that don’t match
If the details don’t add up, it’s not worth dealing with
Source: Justin Ward / Android Police
An easy way to spot spam, especially the kind that has malicious intent, is to look for mismatched details. For instance, if the email claims to be from Amazon, but the from address is customersupport.amazon@gmail.com, that’s a clear red flag. Legitimate companies use verified and recognizable domains.
You might also notice inconsistencies in how the sender introduces themself and signs off. If they open the email using a certain name and sign off with something different, they were likely in a hurry to send the email.
3
Generous offers
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
Source: Pixabay
Be wary of emails that promise exclusive deals, gifts, or money, especially if little to no effort is required on your end. While many businesses host giveaways, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Thanks to AI, bad actors can easily put together promotional emails with clickbait subject lines and deals.
As always, nothing comes for free, without a catch. If the sender promises extremely generous gifts, it’s likely a ploy to get you to interact with the email. Refrain from replying to such an email unless you can verify the offer’s legitimacy.
2
Repetitive ideas
AI writes well, but can sound repetitive
AI models don’t make spelling mistakes or hallucinate as much anymore. This can make it hard to tell if the promotional content you’re reading is AI-generated spam.
An issue with AI-generated text is that it can be repetitive in structure and ideas. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that the same idea repeats at least a few times in the email, with slightly different phrasing. Sentences might have a similar structure, unlike human-written content, which varies in length and tone.
1
Pushy requests for personal information
Don’t overshare over email
Source: Justin Ward / Android Police
AI-generated spam often blurs the lines between harmless marketing and malicious data collection. Many spam emails present themselves as incredible offers or helpful updates. The spammer might ask you for your personal information in exchange for these deals or information.
While legit companies occasionally request information, they seldom do so through email. If you see an email asking for unnecessary details, take a step back.
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Block AI-powered spam emails from your inbox
At best, spam emails clog up your inbox with promotional content. At worst, they try to get you to install malware on your device or push other scams. While some spam is inevitable, it’s best to take filtering and blocking seriously if your inbox is constantly flooded with spam.
Your email provider likely filters a lot of spam communication automatically. Still, these systems are not perfect, and spam can slip into your inbox. If you spot such emails, mark them as spam immediately. You can also use an alternative email address to filter out spam from your primary inbox.
It’s also a good idea to block email addresses to stop receiving emails from known spammers permanently. Most email providers allow you to do this. If you use Gmail, for instance, open the email, click the three-dot menu icon beside the sender’s name and email address, and select Block [name of the sender].
