The Most Dangerous Words in Scam Emails: “Money” Tops the List with High Infection Rates

A recent study by ZeroBounce has revealed the word “money” as the most dangerous term frequently used in scam emails, with a high infection/damage rate of 83.56%. The analysis, which used machine learning to assess large-scale email datasets, identified the top 10 most dangerous words, based on their appearance frequency, click-through rate (CTR), and infection rate.

Top 5 Most Dangerous Words in Scam Email

1. Money

“Money” appears 1,143 times in the dataset with a CTR of 4.56%, making it both popular and risky. Its infection rate of 83.56% puts it at the top of the list as the most dangerous word in scam emails.

 

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2. Investment

Although less frequent, with only 226 appearances, “investment” has the highest infection/damage rate at 89.64%. Its CTR of 4.59% shows that recipients find emails with this word engaging, making it a highly dangerous term.

3. Credit

Ranking third, “credit” shows up 726 times with a CTR of 4.22%. Its infection rate of 50.52% makes it less dangerous than “money” and “investment,” but still a significant risk.

 

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4. Billion

“Billion” appears just 107 times, but its CTR of 3.97% and infection rate of 71.93% demonstrate that it’s still a risky term. The large financial figure often grabs attention, despite its lower frequency.

5. Free

While “free” is the most frequently used word, appearing 2,266 times, it has the lowest CTR (0.56%). Although widely used, the word often triggers skepticism, leading to less engagement, but it still carries an infection rate of 54.78%.

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Key Insights

These findings underscore how scammers use language that taps into financial concerns and opportunities to engage potential victims. Terms like “money” and “investment” tend to create a sense of urgency or excitement, leading people to click without second thought. On the other hand, words like “free” may no longer be as effective due to increased consumer wariness, yet they remain a frequent tool in phishing campaigns.

 

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The study highlights how scammers use specific words to create urgency and deceive recipients. Liviu Tanase, CEO of ZeroBounce, notes that scammers frequently employ terms like “money” and “investment” to exploit financial anxieties, making it easier for people to fall victim to their schemes.

By being aware of these dangerous words, individuals can better protect themselves from phishing and other online scams, where malicious emails often lure recipients into clicking harmful links.