Suspicious Shopify Email? How to Track Down the Sender (and Stay Safe!)

Is That Shopify Email Legit? Spotting Scams and Protecting Your Store

Running a Shopify store is exciting, but it also means staying vigilant against potential scams. I recently saw a thread in the Shopify Community that highlights a concern many store owners share: how to identify and deal with suspicious emails claiming to be from Shopify.

The original poster, @mianmufer, asked about locating the company behind a specific email address: store+89896124761@t.shopifyemail.com. This is a common concern, and it's important to know how to approach these situations.

The Red Flags: How to Identify a Phishing Email

The first and most crucial step is to determine if the email is actually from Shopify. Here's what to look for, based on the community's advice:

• The Sender's Email Address: As Moeed pointed out in the thread, genuine Shopify emails will always come from the shopify.com domain. Anything else is a major red flag.
• Generic Greetings: Be wary of emails that start with "Dear Customer" or similar generic greetings. Shopify usually personalizes their emails.
• Urgent Requests for Information: Phishing emails often try to create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to click links or provide sensitive information immediately.
• Suspicious Links: Hover over links before clicking to see where they lead. If the URL doesn't look like a legitimate Shopify address, don't click it.
• Poor Grammar and Spelling: While not always the case, many phishing emails contain grammatical errors and typos.

Can You Really Track Down the Sender? The Reality of Email Tracking

The question of locating the company behind an email address like store+89896124761@t.shopifyemail.com is tricky. While it seems like you should be able to easily trace it, that's often not the case.

Email headers contain information about the sender's IP address and the email's path, but this information can be spoofed or masked. Services that offer email tracking can sometimes provide more details, but even they have limitations, especially when dealing with sophisticated scammers.

In this specific case, the t.shopifyemail.com domain is used by Shopify for transactional emails, but the "store+" prefix suggests it *might* be related to a specific Shopify store using email marketing. However, that doesn't automatically mean the email is legitimate. Scammers can still try to mimic legitimate email addresses.

What To Do If You Suspect a Phishing Email

If you receive a suspicious email, here's a step-by-step approach:

1. Don't Click Anything: This is the most important rule. Avoid clicking any links or downloading any attachments.
2. Report it to Shopify: Forward the email to safety@shopify.com. This helps Shopify track and combat phishing attempts.
3. Change Your Password: If you think you might have accidentally clicked a link or entered your information, immediately change your Shopify password and any other passwords that might be compromised.
4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security to your Shopify account by enabling two-factor authentication. This requires a code from your phone or another device in addition to your password.
5. Educate Yourself and Your Team: Make sure you and your team are aware of the latest phishing tactics. Regularly review Shopify's security resources and best practices.

The Bottom Line: Err on the Side of Caution

When it comes to suspicious emails, it's always best to err on the side of caution. Don't hesitate to report anything that seems fishy to Shopify. Staying informed and taking proactive steps to protect your account can save you a lot of headaches in the long run. The Shopify Community is a great resource for staying up-to-date on the latest threats and sharing experiences with other store owners. By working together, we can all create a safer environment for doing business online.