“Money” is the most dangerous word, topping the chart with a high infection/damage rate (83.56%)and having the second-highest appearance frequency and CTR.
The word “free” appears most frequently (2,266 times)but has the lowest CTR (0.56%), indicating it is often seen but rarely clicked.
The keyword “income” has the highest CTR at 4.68% despite a moderate appearance frequency (267). This suggests users find “income” highly relevant or interesting.
A recent study by ZeroBounce analyzed email datasets for spam detection to detect the top most dangerous and recurring words used in scam emails. The list was compiled by feeding the large-scale email datasets into machine learning models to identify patterns and trends. A weighted score was calculated considering the appearance frequency of the word, the click-through rate (CTR), and the infection/damage rate.
“Money” ranks first on the list of the most dangerous words frequently appearing in emails, with a CTR of 4.56%. It has the second-highest infection/damage (83.56%), suggesting it is both popular and risky.
The second on the list is “Investment,” with a relatively low rate of appearances (226) and a high CTR of 4.59%. Interestingly, it has the highest infection/damage rate at 89.64%, making it the most dangerous term on the list.
“Credit” holds the third position, appearing 726 times, which is a relatively high frequency. Its CTR is slightly lower at 4.22%, with a moderate infection/damage rate of 50.52%.
In fourth place, “billion” appears 107 times with a CTR of 3.97%. It has an infection/damage rate of 71.93%, which is the third highest among the terms. Compared to “investment” and “credit,” “billion” is less frequently seen but has a similar level of risk, suggesting a potential cautionary interest from users.
“Free” is ranked fifth and stands out with the highest appearance frequency (2,266) but the lowest CTR (0.56%). Unlike “money” and “investment,” which have high engagement, “free” seems to be widely ignored, likely due to user scepticism.
“Loan,” in sixth place, appears 176 times and has a CTR of 4.31%. Compared to “free,” “loan” has a higher CTR and more moderate risk, indicating it is more trusted or relevant to users.
“Debt” is in seventh place, with 194 appearances, a CTR of 3.73%, and an infection/damage rate of 60.61%. This suggests that while “debt” has moderate risk and engagement, it doesn’t attract as much user attention as higher-ranking terms.
“Cash” ranks eighth with 321 appearances, a CTR of 3.93%, and an infection/damage rate of 52.66%, placing “cash” in a relatively safer category.
“Cost” is ninth, with the second-lowest infection/damage rate of 43.33%. Compared to terms like “investment” and “money,” “cost” is relatively safe and moderately engaging, indicating that users find it less risky.
“Income” is at the bottom of the list, ranked tenth, but it has the highest CTR at 4.68% and the lowest infection/damage rate at 32.26%.
CEO of ZeroBounce, Liviu Tanase, comments on the study: “Every day, scammers are becoming more sophisticated in the increasingly digital world. They often use words like ‘money’ or ‘important’ to grab your attention and create a false sense of urgency or opportunity, making it easier for people to let their guard down. It’s important to identify these red flags and not take things at face value to avoid these dangerous schemes.”
