How to Tell if a Cyber Monday Email Is a Phishing Scam
Learn the sender, link, and pressure checks that reveal a fake Cyber Monday email before you click.
A Cyber Monday email is likely phishing if it impersonates a familiar store and pushes you to click a link or open an attachment. Phishing means a fake message that pretends to be a trusted sender to steal passwords or payment details. Deal season brings more of these fakes aimed at bargain hunters.
The checks below show what to look at before you click.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 03, 2026.
What story does it tell?
The FTC says phishing emails impersonate trusted companies, banks, stores or payment apps and tell a story to make you act, described in the FTC guide to phishing. Common stories include suspicious activity, an account or payment problem, a request to confirm personal information, an unfamiliar invoice, or a free coupon. CISA says holiday-season criminals send messages designed to look like retailers with malicious links or requests for personal and financial information, noted in its holiday shopping safety guidance.
Treat any Cyber Monday order problem, refund, prize, or coupon claim as a prompt to verify, not to click.
Does the sender and link match the store?
Check the full sender address, not just the display name. Look for misspellings, extra words, or a lookalike domain that swaps letters or adds a hyphen. Hover over links without clicking to preview the real destination.
On mobile, press and hold the link to preview it. Google recommends this sender and link check in its Gmail help for avoiding phishing.
Is it rushing you with a big reward or threat?
Google warns that scammers use urgent or too-good-to-be-true emotion to make you act without thinking. A message saying "account suspended" or "today-only 90 percent off" uses pressure itself as a warning sign. Clean writing does not prove the message is legitimate.
The FBI's Jacksonville field office reported that threat actors now generate convincing phishing without spelling or grammar mistakes.
What is a safer way to check your account?
Never enter passwords, bank numbers, or payment details after clicking an email link. Instead type the retailer's known address yourself or open its app, then check for notices there. Be cautious with non-delivery and payment pressure.
The FBI's Cleveland field office says shoppers face paid goods that never arrive and spoofed messages demanding gift-card or prepaid-card payment.
How do you report and get rid of it?
Use the mail provider's reporting tool first, then delete the message. Microsoft Support explains how to select the message and use Gmail More > Report phishing or Outlook Report > Report phishing in its guide to protecting yourself from phishing.
- Select the message in Gmail or Outlook.
- Choose Report phishing.
- Delete the message.
- Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and internet crime at ic3.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a phishing email have perfect spelling?
Yes. Threat actors now write clean messages, so check the sender, link destination, and request instead of trusting grammar.
I clicked a Cyber Monday link. What should I do next?
Do not enter payment or login details. Open the store app or type its known address yourself, check for notices, then report and delete the message.
Where should I report a fake deal email?
Report it in Gmail or Outlook with Report phishing, delete it, then report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and internet crime at ic3.gov.