Is .CON a real email address?

With all of the scams and phishing attempts that are out in the wild today, it's easy for us to get caught up with our own personal security but forget about those around us. It's important to remember not just your friends and family members, but also other people online who may be trying to scam you as well.

While you might think that checking whether someone has an actual email address before sharing information with them would seem pretty obvious, we're going to show you everything you need to know about verifying an email address so you don't fall victim to a potential scammer.

The first thing you should do when creating a new email account is go through some basic steps to make sure this isn't actually a spoofed email address. If you use Gmail, one of the best ways to find out if an email address is legitimate is by using the search bar at the top of any page on Google’s website. Type in the name and see if anything pops up. This will give you a general idea of whether the person really exists. You can even click “more info" to learn more details about their history.

If they have no record, it could mean that they made the email address specifically for you (or another purpose). However, it doesn't always work because sometimes companies change email addresses without telling anyone. So while it's good practice to double-check, it's probably better to assume that an email address you've been given is legit until proven otherwise.

This brings me to my next point…

How can I check if an email address is real?

Once again, we start with Google. The same method used earlier works here too. Just type "the_name@gmail.com" into your browser and then hit Enter. Then scroll down to the bottom of the results where you'll see a link called "View Profile." Click this link to view a list of every email address associated with the account.

You'll notice right away if something looks fishy. For example, if an email address starts with @[company].com, that means that company owns the domain, which means that it's possible that the email address itself was created by the company instead of being handed out to the individual user.

Similarly, if an email address appears to be very short, it's likely that it was simply reused and the owner didn't bother changing the original recipient name.

On the flip side, if an email address uses a long set of numbers and letters, it's unlikely that that user made the email themselves. That said, we often see these kinds of addresses assigned to employees during onboarding processes or in cases where a business bought a bunch of domains and now needs to assign each employee an email address.

Sometimes businesses also hand out temporary accounts to customers or clients, so it's worth keeping an eye open for addresses starting with temp@[businessname].[somethingelse], [businessname][address], etc.

There are many other things that can indicate that an email address is bogus, including if it contains only a number or letter followed by the word "info," or "helpdesk," or similar terms. There's usually little reason why someone would want to hide behind these types of email addresses.

Also, if the email address matches part of the name of a social media profile, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc., there's a high chance that it's a fake email address. While it's true that you shouldn't share financial information over social networks unless you trust the source, you should never send sensitive documents via private messages either. A hacker could potentially intercept your message and steal whatever you sent.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why an email address might appear suspicious. But what happens after you discover that an email address is fake? What options do you have left?

What does a fake email address look like?

When an email address turns out to be fraudulent, it typically comes across as a generic looking placeholder, like @[company].com or  fakeidontknowwhatitis@gmail.com. These sorts of names tend to come up quite frequently, since most hackers try to avoid leaving identifiable traces of their activities.

In addition to having a generic name, a fake email address will almost always lack contact information. Even though it's common knowledge that websites like Yahoo Mail and Gmail ask users to provide additional information, it's surprising how many people overlook it. In fact, a lot of people believe that they're already providing enough information when signing up for a new email account.

So if you ever receive an email asking for additional information that seems unrelated to the topic of the conversation, take caution. Because chances are it's a fake!

And finally, a fake email address will rarely include a phone number anywhere near it. When you sign up for a free trial with a service provider, for instance, you won't normally get asked for your mobile number. And even if someone asks you to enter it, they'll typically put it somewhere else on the form.

It's rare that a fake email address includes both a username and password, especially if it's related to banking or credit card information. Instead, hackers will generally reuse passwords or pick simple ones from popular services.

How can I verify an email address?

Now that you understand the warning signs of a fake email address, let's talk about what you can do once you realize that you shared confidential data with someone who wasn't authentic. Again, we recommend doing a bit of research beforehand so you can catch any red flags early on.

First off, it's important to note that there's nothing wrong with requesting verification from a friend or colleague. After all, it's normal for people to pass along credentials or request permission to access certain files. The problem arises when you're giving out your bank information or making purchases online.

Because of this, you should always confirm that the person claiming to be the rightful owner of the email account is indeed whom they say they are. Here's how to do that with G Suite.

1) Log onto your G Suite dashboard.

2) Select Settings & Security under Account settings.

3) Choose Sign-in methods under Email authentication methods.

4) Scroll down and select Confirm ownership.

5) On the confirmation screen, choose Send email to help identify yourself.

6) Follow the instructions provided.

7) Once the email arrives, click the button labeled View the identity document.

8) Review the ID displayed to ensure that it belongs to the sender.

9) Now that you've confirmed that the email address belongs to the person who claims to be the owner, you can delete the email address from your contacts so you don't accidentally share it with someone else.

But what if the email address is tied to a specific device? Or maybe you need to reset the password on your computer or laptop? Thankfully, there are tools available to help you manage your entire digital life. Some examples include LastPass, 1Password, Keeper, Dashlane, Bitwarden, and others. They offer different features depending on your requirements, but they all allow you to store multiple logins and passwords for various sites.

Most importantly, they'll generate unique codes whenever you need to reauthenticate. By storing these codes locally rather than relying on your memory alone, you reduce the risk of forgetting your login information.

Additionally, you should consider setting up two-factor authentication. With 2FA enabled, you'll need to input a code generated by your app alongside your password whenever logging into a site. As long as you have physical control of your phone, you'll be able to regain access to your account immediately.

Is there a way to verify an email address?

Even though there aren't any foolproof methods, there are several ways to determine if an email address is legitimate. First off, you can always call the person directly to verify the validity of their claim. Second, you can visit the company's official website and see if there are any clues that could lead you to the correct person. Finally, you can browse social media profiles belonging to the purported owner to see if there's any indication that they exist.

Remember, however, that none of these techniques guarantees that the email account is valid. All you can truly rely on is the information presented to you by the sender.

Hopefully this guide helped clarify exactly what makes a fake email address. If you'd like to learn more about protecting yourself against fraudsters, be sure to explore our guides below.

The internet has become a huge source for finding and communicating with people around the world. And while we all know that using your own personal email address is probably best practice (and one way to avoid spam), many people don't realize that they can also use other names as their primary email accounts -- such as.COM domains like.COIN and.GOV!

There's nothing wrong with using these domain extensions to set up a new email account on sites like Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail or AOL Instant Messenger. But just because it looks official doesn't mean it's legitimate. So let's take a closer look at determining whether.CON really is a valid email address.

Is there a.CON email address?

In theory, there should be no problem creating a.CON email address. After all, you're simply setting up a new email account under a different name, right? Well, yes and no..CON isn't exactly a common extension, but since it was created by a company called Coinage Inc., some may assume it's legitimate. It turns out that.CON addresses aren't actually considered "real" email addresses. Instead, they're used as vanity URLs so users can easily remember them when signing into websites.

That said, if someone were to try to send you something via this domain extension, it would likely get marked as junk mail. The reason why is because most major email providers will automatically block any messages sent through a URL. This includes ones coming from known scammy sources like phishing scams and 419 scams. If you ever receive anything suspicious from a website with a.CON address, be sure to report it immediately. You could even save yourself some trouble by uninstalling the app responsible for sending the message in the first place.

If you want to test your luck and see if an unknown sender knows about your.CON email address, go ahead and reply back to whatever was the last thing they emailed you. Most likely, it won't work, but hey – you tried.

Can I look up an email address?

When you have a brand-new email address associated with your Google Account, you might wonder if you can find out more information about it online. Fortunately, this is possible. All you need to do is head over to Google’s support pages where you’ll learn how to access your old inboxes. Here, you can also review your search history and manage your settings. Just make sure you read everything carefully before proceeding, especially regarding password resets.

It’s important to note that your original username and password cannot be retrieved once you reset it. In fact, if you forget your password, you must wait 24 hours before trying again. That means you’d have to wait until tomorrow to log in again. However, if you choose to change your password after doing this, you can retrieve your usernames and passwords.

Once you've got your hands on the info, feel free to share it with others. For example, you can include it in your resume so employers can contact you directly instead of having to hunt for your current email address. Or maybe you'd rather list it somewhere public so you can stay connected with friends and family who haven't updated their profiles yet. Whatever the case, we recommend keeping track of your old email credentials in case you lose yours.

One final piece of advice: never disclose your private data publicly without permission. Even though Google uses its advanced security features to protect your personal information, hackers can always access those records. That's why you shouldn't post your old email password anywhere unless you absolutely trust whoever wants to view it. Then again, if you're willing to give away the information, chances are good that you already know too much anyway.

What is Avalid email address?

Avalid email addresses are a bit trickier than.CON domains. They're meant to provide a unique identifier to help businesses recognize customers quickly when logging onto their site. While some companies allow non-unique email accounts, most require users to sign up with only one. When you register for an email service provider, you typically enter your full legal name and physical address. Of course, some services offer anonymous registration options.

But here's the catch: you can use virtually any kind of name for your email address, including made-up ones. As long as they’re spelled correctly and formatted properly, it won't matter.

For instance, you could call yourself John Smith Jr. or Joe Doe. But if you decide to stick with your real name, you should ensure that you follow certain guidelines. First off, you must verify your identity using government IDs and/or credit cards. Next, you should pick a memorable email address that you can easily type quickly whenever needed. Lastly, you should think twice before giving out your personal details. Remember that cybercriminals often collect sensitive information like SSNs and bank account numbers. Once they have enough material to open fraudulent accounts, they can start draining funds from unsuspecting victims.

Now that you understand how to determine whether an email address is legit, you can enjoy a safer online experience. Don't worry, though: there are plenty of ways to secure your digital life beyond verifying the authenticity of each incoming communication. Take our beginner's guide to protecting your privacy for starters.

And if you're looking for more tips on improving your cybersecurity skills, we suggest checking out our guide to the top 10 essential computer safety habits everyone needs to master.

How do I know if it's legit?

When deciding whether or not to accept an offer, there are several things you should ask yourself before sending any money.

Do you trust this person enough to send them hundreds of dollars? If so, then go ahead... just be sure to have some kind of proof in case anything goes wrong.

Does this look legitimate? Is it something you would actually want to buy? If yes, then proceed... but make sure everything looks good on both sides first.

Are they going through normal channels? Are they asking for payment via PayPal? Do they seem professional enough to handle your funds without screwing up?

If you're dealing with someone who isn't reputable, chances are that once you give them access to your account, they will screw you over. At least try to verify information about the seller prior to handing over cash.

In order to determine whether or not an email is legit, here are a few tips on how you can check out the sender.

First off, check the domain name. You may see a company listed under its official website link. However, if it's really a scammer trying to steal your identity, you might notice that the "official" site doesn't exist at all. Instead, most sites will direct you to a bogus page where they claim to sell products or services.

Next, take a close look at the contact info. Does it match up with the business' actual phone numbers? Or does it simply say "info@domainname.com"? It could even be a different number altogether. Make sure you double-check these details because there's no telling when a scam

If you're looking for work, it's likely that someone will contact you via email at some point in your career. It could be a recruiter who wants to set up an interview with you, or maybe just a friend asking about something cool they've seen online and want to share. Whatever the case may be, as tempting as it might seem, never reply to any unsolicited messages!

Email scams are rampant on the internet, so much so that many people have become wary of opening anything suspicious-looking. But even legitimate companies get hit by phishing attacks every now and then -- which means you need to know how to spot one before you fall victim. And since there isn't always time between when a company sends out their first message through social media and when they actually respond, knowing whether an email address is legit is important.

So let's take a closer look at how you can determine if an email address is real or not.

How can you tell if an email address is real?

Before we dive into the technical aspects of verifying an email address, here's a quick primer on how to identify a spammer. Spamming refers to sending bulk amounts of non-targeted communication to random recipients all over the world without permission. This kind of activity is usually done through automatic programs known as bots (short for robots). The most common way these bots send email is through compromised accounts.

Here are some signs that an email address might belong to a bot:

The sender includes a link to another site where the user supposedly has to click "Yes" in order to continue. These links often redirect users elsewhere, making them difficult to trace back to the original source.

There are multiple signups required in order to verify the email address. One example would be requiring two pieces of information, such as name and password, while others require more complex verification steps, including answering questions correctly or providing additional personal data.

An email address doesn't come directly from the company itself but rather from an affiliate program. Companies use affiliates because they don't want to pay for advertising costs themselves. Instead, they allow third parties to promote certain products and services within their own websites. That said, if a business uses an affiliated marketing firm, it should make sure that its domain names aren't registered under those domains.

Spammers also tend to avoid using popular brands and well-known addresses, opting instead for less recognizable ones. For instance, spammers often try to register email addresses ending in ".xyz", ".org," ".edu," ".gov," and ".mil." They also avoid using long alphanumeric strings to represent numbers, preferring short codes instead. In fact, according to security researcher Brian Krebs, ".xyz" was previously reserved for private registrars.

Now that you understand why identifying a spammy email account can be challenging, let's talk about how you can confirm if an email is real.

How do I check if an email address is genuine?

As mentioned above, there are several ways you can find out if an email address belongs to a scammer. Here are a few examples of things you can do to help protect yourself against fraudsters.

Check the URL associated with the email address. If there's no website linked to the email address, chances are good that it's a fraudulent account.

Look for signs of automated replies. Some spambots will automatically reply to all incoming requests (even if they were sent individually) with canned responses designed to mislead potential victims. You can see if the recipient got an auto response by checking the headers section of the mail client software.

Search the web for mentions of the email address. A Google search for the email address will show you results related to the person whose name appears next to the email address. If there are too many results to read through, consider doing a reverse image lookup.

Google Mail provides support for IP blocking. When enabled, Gmail will block attempts made from specific IP ranges. To enable this feature, go to Settings & Accounts & Email, scroll down to Blocked Senders, and select Enable IP Block Listening.

You can also ask other users on Twitter or Facebook if the email address is valid. Just remember that anyone can follow you on either service, so it's possible that whoever follows you is trying to trick you into disclosing sensitive info.

Also note that if you suspect an email is fraudulent, you shouldn't open it. Do everything you can to delete the email immediately after reading it. There's nothing worse than having your inbox flooded with unwanted solicitations.

What does a real email address look like?

When searching for a reputable email provider, it pays off to spend some extra money and pick a premium plan. While free plans offer plenty of features, they won't include basic functionality like being able to view deleted items, manage attachments, or receive a monthly bill statement. Premium plans typically cost $10 per month plus tax for individuals, though prices vary based upon country.

Premium providers provide access to advanced tools that give you peace of mind when browsing for emails. For instance, you can track the history of each individual email account, filter junk emails, and easily unsubscribe from newsletters and promotional campaigns. Additionally, you can customize the appearance of the email interface to match your brand colors.

Some top tier providers offer additional perks, such as the ability to integrate contacts stored in your phone’s address book into your email system, allowing you to sync across devices and have access to both mobile and desktop versions of your inboxes. Many premium email providers even offer apps for smartphones and tablets that allow you to quickly access your inbox right from your device.

Finally, a lot of high quality email systems offer 24/7 customer support. Not only can you call them during normal working hours, but you can also chat live with a representative whenever you need assistance.

It goes without saying that your best bet is to choose an email provider that offers all of the aforementioned benefits and more. However, if you can’t afford to shell out hundreds of dollars a year, you can opt for a cheaper alternative. Most free email platforms like Yahoo!, Outlook.com, AOL Instant Messenger, or Microsoft Exchange Online offer robust capabilities that rival their paid counterparts.

But if you really want to ensure that an email address is legitimate, you can double-check it with a couple of different sources.

First, visit the official website of the organization in question. If the page loads normally, it probably isn't a phony account. Second, check the WHOIS database hosted by ICANN. By entering the email address into the search bar, you can find the owner of the domain, along with other details, including the date the domain was purchased and the current status of the registration.

Lastly, you can perform a DNS lookup. Simply enter the email address into the browser and press Enter. Your computer will query various authoritative DNS servers around the globe until it finds the correct result. Then, it will display the IP address corresponding to the given domain. Finally, you can type the IP address into whatever search engine you prefer. Even better yet, you can run a traceroute to pinpoint the exact location of the server hosting the email address.

Is this email address fake?

A large portion of emails received on our inboxes comes from businesses, organizations, and friends alike. Unfortunately, a significant amount of these emails contain malicious content meant to steal your identity or infect your device with malware. As a result, knowing how to distinguish between authentic correspondence and illegitimate messages takes practice.

However, once you learn the tricks of the trade, you'll feel confident enough to confidently browse the Internet without worry. Happy snooping!

Have you ever been contacted by someone claiming to be part of a big corporation? Did you recognize the email address as a familiar one? What did you do? Share your thoughts below!