We all get unsolicited e-mails that offer us deals, opportunities and fortunes.  Some are legitimate while others are not.  How can we spot the difference though, before it’s too late?

Here are some tips to help us pick out e-mail scams.  Taking a minute to review these and then heed these, can save us from the financial and emotional cost of being scammed.

1.  Check the words and sentences. Are they written in all uppercase or lowercase letters? Are there a string of exclamation points? Are there run on sentences?

2.  Look at the e-mail return address. Many fraudsters use free e-mail accounts from providers such as Hotmail or gmail.

3. Does the information seem too good to be true? Did you win something "big" out of nowhere? Have you been randomly selected to receive a large amount of money?

4. Look for grammatical and spelling errors. Some scamsters are not from the same country you are and probably don’t have a firm grasp of your language.

5. Keep in mind…any e-mail that asks you to send money immediately or through a wire or courier is most likely a scam.

6. Understand that if an e-mail contains instructions to forward it, you should probably delete it instead. Chain mail letters most often contain misleading information. If you aren’t sure whether the information is true or not, do your homework and search the Internet for proof. Try checking web sites like Phonebusters that investigate phony e-mails and Internet hoaxes.

If you have been scammed, call police.  In Saanich, dial 250-475-4321.