Spam Emails vs Phishing Emails

Spam Emails vs Phishing Emails: What’s the Difference?

We see many emails reported as phishing that are, in fact, just spam. While it’s always better to be cautious, understanding the difference helps everyone respond more appropriately—and helps genuine threats be dealt with more effectively.

So let’s keep it simple.

What is a spam email?

Spam emails are unwanted, but they’re usually not dangerous.

They’re sent in bulk and are often trying to sell something, promote a service, or push an offer you didn’t ask for.

Common signs of spam emails:

  • Marketing or sales messages you didn’t subscribe to

  • Generic subject lines like “Special offer just for you”

  • No personal details about you or your company

  • Often sent from legitimate-looking companies

  • Annoying, but not urgent

Example:
“Upgrade your business phone system today”
“Limited-time software deal”

Spam emails are best dealt with by:

  • Deleting them

  • Using the “Report as spam” option if there is one, not report as phishing.

They don’t usually need urgent investigation.

What is a phishing email?

Phishing emails are designed to trick you.

Their goal is to get you to:

  • Click a malicious link

  • Open a harmful attachment

  • Hand over login details or personal information

Phishing emails are often targeted and attempt to appear urgent or alarming.

Common signs of phishing emails:

  • Urgent or threatening language

  • Requests for passwords, codes, or payment details

  • Unexpected attachments or links

  • Messages pretending to be from Microsoft, banks, delivery companies, or internal staff

  • Slightly wrong email addresses or spelling mistakes

Example:
“Your Microsoft account has been suspended”
“Immediate action required — unusual sign-in detected”

These should always be reported as phishing, even if you’re unsure.

The key difference in one sentence

Spam is unwanted. Phishing is dangerous.

Why the difference matters

When everything is reported as phishing:

  • Real threats take longer to investigate

  • Security teams spend time checking harmless emails

  • Genuine phishing attempts can get buried

When reports are accurate:

  • Real risks are dealt with faster

  • Systems stay safer

  • Everyone benefits

A simple way to decide

Before reporting an email, ask yourself:

Is this trying to scare me or rush me into doing something?

  • Yes → Report as phishing

  • No → It’s likely spam

Is it asking for information, access, or money?

  • Yes → Phishing

  • No → Probably spam

If you’re ever in doubt, it’s still okay to report it — but this quick check helps reduce noise.

What we’d encourage everyone to do

  • Report spam as spam

  • Report suspicious or risky emails as phishing

  • Don’t click links or open attachments unless you’re confident

  • Ask if something doesn’t feel right

Cybersecurity isn’t about catching people out — it’s about helping everyone make better decisions with confidence.

You don’t need to be technical to stay safe. Knowing the difference between spam and phishing is one of the simplest ways to reduce risk and protect the business.

When in doubt, pause, think, and ask for clarification.