Have you ever been enticed by an offer from an email? Maybe you’ve been told you won a free prize and just need to take a quick survey to claim it. Or maybe you just need to enter your payment details for shipping. You’ll likely need to act fast because the offer is only for a limited time. The email appears to be coming from a trusted retailer or a place you’ve done business with before.

Among the most common email scams today is the free prize/survey offer. Many retail companies legitimately offer their customers a chance to win a prize for taking a survey, but these scam emails will guarantee a prize, such as a gift card or a new cooler. These offers almost always require the customer to enter payment details to “pay for shipping”. To seem trustworthy, scammers often take logos and images from legitimate companies to pose as them. It’s important to know how to spot fake email offers from real ones.

The first red flag is the sender’s email address. It doesn’t contain the word Costco in it. It’s worth noting that the presence of the store’s name in the email doesn’t solely make it legitimate. Scammers will often create fake email addresses designed to look like they’re coming from another source. While it’s easy to create the first half of a fake email address, the domain to which the email belongs is what you really want to look out for. A legitimate email from Costco would likely be from @costco.com.

Another red flag is that this email practically guarantees that the recipient will receive a reward. There are a lot of regulations and laws around surveys offering prizes, and companies offering surveys are required to publish the rules. Generally, they can’t require you to make a purchase to enter or pay a fee for a chance to win.

A big giveaway on email scams is the address listed for the company. If you’re considering clicking on an offer like this, it’s a good idea to search for the address and see if it is associated with the company that’s presenting the offer. If it does not match where the offer is coming from, this is a red flag.

Signs of a Legitimate Survey Offer

This offer comes from the domain @feedback.walmart.com, matching the company name. The verbiage here is clear you have the chance to win, not a guarantee. This offer also doesn’t appear to be random, referring to an order placed by the recipient that prompted the survey. Lastly, it also clearly defines the conditions for entry, noting that no purchase is necessary to enter.

Common Red Flags in an Email Offer

• Vagueness. Be wary if rules or deadlines for entering aren’t clear, or there’s a promise of a gift that isn’t specified.
• Urgency. Almost all phishing emails have a time sensitive component to them. Anything that urges you to act quickly without thinking should give you pause.
• Sender’s Email. Pay particular attention to the domain after the @. If the email is coming from seemingly random letters and numbers,, or if there are typos and grammatical errors that don’t appear professional, be extremely cautious.

How Can I Protect Myself from Email Scams?

• Slow down and review the email carefully, including the sender’s email address.
• Ask yourself, have I ever entered a sweepstake from the company sending me this offer?
• Never click links in a suspicious email or provide payment information.
• Be cautious of anything creating urgency, guaranteeing you’ve won a prize, or saying things like “you’ve been randomly selected.”
• Are the rules for entry clearly laid out? A legitimate offer will outline the conditions in which you can win will not require payment information and will not guarantee a prize.
• Call the company in question or visit their website directly to verify the legitimacy of the email when you’re unsure.

Remember that email scams are some of the most common scams today. Take a moment to slow down, review emails closely, and always err on the side of caution to protect your information.