# What is the ONE word that screams “scam” to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 13, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343 "2025-05-13T20:14:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/41 "2025-05-14T06:20:42Z")
Lol, no, but ‘modalities’ is a very common shibboleth for advance fee scams; others include: United State Dollars Dear Beneficiary Dear Email Owner Remain Blessed But ‘modalities’ was the first single-word attribute that sprang to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/42 "2025-05-14T09:42:17Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > or a receipt An email with ‘Receipt’ in the subject line from an unknown sender is something to be avoided. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/43 "2025-05-14T10:22:31Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > I’m an IT guy. I came here to post just that. ANY e-mail that has the word “Kindly” in the first sentence is a scam, and a non-native English speaker. I was going to say anything the shouts “non-native” English speaker, and that does quite well. That one, in particular, shouts “From a country that uses English, just not my [US] country.” ETA: also, “amazing,” when it should be amazingly. “Hope you are doing amazing,” or “Hope this finds you amazing.” ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/44 "2025-05-14T10:40:11Z")
In a text or email? Toll ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/45 "2025-05-14T11:25:40Z")
Ifyouactrightnow Yes I’m cheating the one word. But listening on TV, the announcer breathlessly combines them too. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/46 "2025-05-14T11:29:04Z")
Or anything that mentions Unpaid. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/47 "2025-05-14T11:38:14Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Now. Anything that must happen now is suspect to me. Yes, two votes for, “NOW!” They want to panic people into making rash decisions without thinking. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/48 "2025-05-14T11:50:05Z")
“Trump” ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/49 "2025-05-14T11:57:47Z")
Guaranteed ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/50 "2025-05-14T13:05:20Z")
Genuine Legitimate ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/51 "2025-05-14T13:18:02Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Wellness. “Holistic” and “cleanse”. Also “superfood”, “revolutionary”, “overnight” and [“Gundry”](https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-plant-paradox-steven-gundrys-war-on-lectins/). If permitted to expand to two words, there’s “top doctor” and “root cause”. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/52 "2025-05-14T14:08:04Z")
My real name. I have a few “black hole” email addresses where spam is either kept for a few minutes or deleted immediately, depending on my needs. But anthing to my real firstname, instead of my “prefered” fake last-name, is spam. I weave a complex web. I probably did not weave it all that well, but people who care know my phone number. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/53 "2025-05-14T14:22:34Z")
For me, the ONE word is the domain name. Whether it’s supposedly from the US Post Office who knows my email address but not my physical address, or from Amazon, or the federal government, a domain name that sounds different from these large visible entities is the first sorting test. Especially if it’s a domain outside the US. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/54 "2025-05-14T14:31:20Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > An email with ‘Receipt’ in the subject line from an unknown sender is something to be avoided. Any email with RE or Re in the beginning of the subject line from someone I don’t know or the rest of a subject line I don’t recognize. Note that Re is short for ‘Reply’. One can’t _begin_ a conversation with a reply; therefore, if you’re starting a conversation with a reply I know it’s bullshit. Those first two letters tell me it’s rightful place is in the Junk folder. With the exception of emails from myself, that I mentioned in post #4 (from is first line), the first two letter of the subject line is pretty hard to beat in terms of how quickly one realizes it’s BS. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/55 "2025-05-14T14:32:57Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > For me, the ONE word is the domain name. - Government agencies, banks, etc. using Gmail/Hotmail/Outlook. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/56 "2025-05-14T15:08:49Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Note that Re is short for ‘Reply’. Somewhat confusingly, it’s also short for “regarding.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/57 "2025-05-14T15:15:10Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Somewhat confusingly, it’s also short for “regarding.” Or “response”. But specifically in email, “reply” is the official meaning. Such that for email systems, when you push the “reply” button to reply to an email message, the software automatically puts “Re:” in the front of the subject line. In other circumstances, say a printed memo or a physical letter, “re:” might have other meanings, but in email it always means “reply”. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/58 "2025-05-14T15:22:05Z")
“Weird trick” OK, it’s 2 words, but still… As mentioned above - use of gmail or yahoo or another bizarre email address from an “official” agency. And again, not one word, but when I get emails confirming my “purchase” for some outrageous amount, giving me a toll-free number to call if I didn’t place the order. Yeah, scam city. Especially when it names PayPal, since I don’t have an account. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/59 "2025-05-14T15:33:48Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > As mentioned above - use of gmail or yahoo or another bizarre email address from an “official” agency. Right now I just checked my email because such things are frequent enough that I thought I could find an example, and sure enough I actually just got one! 😆 From “iCloud” which uses an email address with the “first-church. org” domain address. Because Apple would totally use such an address, right? Here is the start of the email: > Hello **[XXXX@yahoo.com](mailto:XXXX@yahoo.com)**, > > We’ve detected a recent login attempt on your A​p⁠p l​e account (**[XXXX@yahoo.com](mailto:XXXX@yahoo.com)**). As a precaution, we request that you confirm your account activity. A few things… I love how they address me by my email address rather than my real name that Apple would know since it’s part of my account. Also, I do not have an iCloud account associated with Yahoo; my real account is an old [mac.com](http://mac.com) account (it’s very old of course). That space in the middle of the word “Apple” is interesting. You don’t see it in the message, but when I paste it in the post here it appears. I wonder if it’s an attempt to evade spam filtering systems by not having the real word “Apple” but using a character that doesn’t actually show up in an email. That’s a bit clever actually. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/60 "2025-05-14T15:37:17Z")
It’s two words but yeah “almost free” screams SCAM to me much more than just “free”. Back when I used to watch local evening news, there was a guy with a seamless vinyl siding company who offered to side the back of your house “almost for free” if you let them use the odd-sized leftovers. He threw so many qualifiers into the offer (nearly, almost, just like) that it was obvious that it would be nowhere close to free, and the back of your house would probably look like shit to boot! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343.md?page=4)