Here’s a run-down of five of the newest, most dangerous/clever spam-email types happening in 2025, how they work, and what you can do to protect yourself.
- AI-Generated Phishing / Hyper-Personalized Scams
Spammers are using large language models (LLMs) or other AI tools to craft phishing emails that are much more convincing. These messages often mimic your style, reference things you care about, use proper grammar/spelling, sometimes even quote bits of your social media or public profile to seem authentic. - Deepfakes & Voice or Multimedia Impersonation
Beyond just text, attackers are using voice cloning, AI-generated video, or other media to impersonate people you trust (colleagues, family, influencers). They can send emails or follow-ups that include audio/video that seems legitimate. - Blob URL / Obfuscated Link Attacks
Phishing and scam emails are increasingly using obscure or indirect link forms (for example “blob:” URLs, Google Translate-wrapped pages, subdomains that mimic trusted ones) to hide their true destination. These help them evade detection by filters. - Business Email Compromise (BEC) / Spear Phishing Upgrades
These are highly targeted attacks: the sender poses as someone you know or an organization you trust (vendor, client, company exec). They may demand payments, request changes to banking info, or trick you into transferring funds or sensitive data. With AI, the speed and personalization of these attacks is rising. - Malicious “Unsubscribe” / Passive Confirmation Tactics
Some spam emails include unsubscribe links that are themselves malicious or designed to confirm that your email address is active. Clicking them can trigger more spam, or redirect you to phishing sites. Also, email bomb attacks can overwhelm you, burying legitimate emails.
How to Overcome / Defend Against Them
Here are practical prevention and response strategies:
| Risk / Tactic | What To Do |
|---|---|
| AI-generated, hyper-personalized phishing | • Be skeptical of unexpected emails, even if they seem personal. • Hover over sender addresses and links before clicking. • Use two-factor authentication, especially phishing-resistant methods (hardware keys, etc.). • Keep software patched, use up-to-date email security tools that can analyze content/style anomalies. |
| Impersonation & deepfake media | • Verify using out-of-band channels: if someone claims to be a colleague, call or message them separately to confirm. • Don’t rely solely on voice or video; look for inconsistencies (voice timbre, language slips, weird behavior). • Treat requests involving money or credentials with extra suspicion. |
| Obfuscated / disguised links | • Never click links you don’t expect; rather go directly to the website via your browser. • Enable link scanning / safe-link protections in your email client/security software. • Look carefully at the URL (domain, subdomain, protocol). If it looks weird (e.g. “translate.google.com/…” or blob: URLs), assume risk. |
| BEC / Spear Phishing | • Train for recognizing red flags: urgent requests, changes in billing info, odd login prompts, etc. • Have verification processes: e.g. if someone requests a wire, confirm with a known phone number. • Monitor internal communication chains: often these start via compromised or spoofed accounts. • Use email domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to reduce spoofing. |
| Malicious “unsubscribe” / inbox flooding (“email bombing”) | • Avoid clicking unsubscribe links from unknown or suspicious senders. • Use your email provider’s built-in spam/ junk/ unsubscribe tools rather than in-email links. • Use filters or rules: block or divert email from suspicious domains. • For email bombing, set up secondary “catchall” or “junk” folders; also notify your provider—they may have defenses. |
Why It’s Getting Harder & What You Should Do Now
- Spam filters & email security tools are playing catch-up with AI-powered threats. Many traditional filters are less effective when attackers use models that mimic normal writing.
- The human element is still the weakest link. Even with tools, if someone clicks without thinking or is socially engineered, damage occurs. Training & habit are key.
- Organizations & regular users both need to combine technical, policy, and behavioral defenses.
