How to Check for Spam Emails
Published November 3, 2024 · Updated July 18, 2026 · Email Security
Whether you are protecting your inbox or checking that your own campaigns are not being flagged, knowing how to check for spam matters. There are two sides to it: spotting spam you receive, and testing whether your outgoing mail looks like spam. Here is how to do both.
Spotting spam you receive
- Check the real sender - hover over the address; display names are easily faked.
- Watch for urgency and threats - "act now or lose access" is a classic tactic.
- Hover over links before clicking to see where they truly go.
- Failed authentication - mail that fails SPF/DKIM/DMARC is a red flag.
Testing your own mail's spam score
Before a campaign, send a test to a spam-check service. It scores your message on content, authentication, and reputation, and flags what to fix - so you reach the inbox instead of the junk folder.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an email is spam?
Verify the real sender address, watch for urgency and suspicious links, and check whether it passed SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication.
How do I check my own email's spam score?
Send a test to a spam-check service - it scores content, authentication, and reputation, and tells you what to fix before you send.