We understand it can be worrying to receive unexpected emails about your account. Here's how to spot the real ones from the fakes.
Simple checks anyone can do
Red flags - signs it's probably a scam
Poor English
- Spelling mistakes or odd grammar
- Strange punctuation like "12 Augus,t 2025"
- Clunky phrases that don't sound quite right
Threats and urgency
- "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours!"
- "FINAL WARNING"
- "Act now or lose access"
We never threaten you like this
Generic greetings
- "Dear Customer"
- "Dear User"
- "Attention Email User"
We always use your actual name
Asking for passwords
We will NEVER ask for your password by email. Ever. For any reason.
QR codes
We NEVER use QR codes. If you see one, it's a scam
Strange sender addresses
- Look for random letters/numbers like
usaerio96@irrestal.com - Even if the name says "mail.coop support", check the actual email address
Good signs - it's probably genuine
Your name
"Dear Shaun" or your actual name, Not generic greetings
Specific details
- Your exact email address
- Your renewal date
- Specific amounts (like "£24 per year")
Reasonable timeframes
Our renewals give you weeks of notice - there's no panic or rush.
Tone
We try to make our emails polite and clear, with no threats or urgency and with proper spelling and grammar
Our real email addresses
billing@mail.coophello@mail.coopnoreply@mail.mail.coopyourcoopemailsupport@midcounties.coop
Golden rule: When in doubt, don't click
If you're unsure:
- Don't click any links
- Go to mail.coop yourself by typing it in your browser
- Or forward the email to hello@mail.coop asking "Is this real?"
- Or call us on 01608 434 000
Remember: Real emails from us don't expire in hours. You have time to check.
More detailed guidance (for those who want it)
If you'd like to understand more about how you can check whether an email is really from us, you may find the below useful.
Understanding different types of genuine emails
Renewal reminders We send these from billing@mail.coop several weeks before your renewal date. They include a link to https://mail.coop/renew/... which you can see before clicking. The link takes you to our website (you'll see our logo) and doesn't ask for your password. You can always renew by visiting mail.coop directly instead.
Quarantine notices These come from noreply@mail.mail.coop and list specific emails being held as potential spam. They have "Release to inbox" and "Delete" buttons. These are tricky because scammers fake them often. Check the sender carefully and hover over the buttons to see they go to https://mail.mail.coop/...
System updates Occasional emails from hello@mail.coop about changes or improvements. These might have links to FAQs but never require urgent action. Anything important can always be done by going to mail.mail.coop directly.
Technical checks you can do
Check the actual sender
- Click on or hover over the sender's name
- Look at the real email address, not just the display name
- Check the part after @ matches our domains exactly
Check where links go
- Hover over links without clicking
- Look at the bottom of your screen to see the destination
- Should start with
https://mail.coop/orhttps://mail.mail.coop/
Our security measures We use email authentication (DMARC) which makes it hard for scammers to fake our exact addresses. But they can still use similar-looking addresses or put our name in the display field.
What we NEVER do
- Send urgent threats
- Threaten account deletion without prior notice
- Ask for passwords by email
- Use QR codes
- Use hidden links you can't preview
What to do if you spot a scam
- Don't panic or click anything
- Forward it to
hello@mail.coopmarked "Suspicious email" - Delete it from your inbox
- If you accidentally clicked a link, change your password at mail.mail.coop immediately
Remember: As a cooperative, we're here to help, not threaten. When in doubt, just ask us.
Contact us: hello@mail.coop or 01608 434 000
Last updated: 16 September 2025