Imagine opening your inbox and seeing an urgent email from ‘WordPress Security Team.’ It warns you that your site has a serious vulnerability and urges you to act fast.
You panic. Losing your website could mean losing customers, revenue, or years of hard work. But here’s the catch—this email isn’t real.
It’s a scam designed to trick you into clicking on a dangerous link.
Unfortunately, fake security emails are becoming more common. We have heard from many users who have fallen for the scam and accidentally damaged their websites.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to tell if a WordPress security email is real or fake.
You’ll learn how these scams work, the red flags to watch for, and what to do if you receive a suspicious email. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to keep your website safe.
How These Fake WordPress Security Emails Work
Scammers are getting smarter. They know website owners worry about security, so they create emails that look official.
WordPress is the most popular website builder, and it is also very secure. Malicious hackers have a hard time finding vulnerabilities in WordPress code, so they have to resort to scamming site owners with fake emails.
These emails might claim to be from the WordPress Security Team, your hosting provider, or a well-known security company.
The message usually includes:
- A warning about a vulnerability on your site.
- A reference to a security flaw with a name like “CVE-2025-45124.”
- An urgent request to take action by clicking a link or downloading a security patch.
But here’s the trick: the link doesn’t go to WordPress.org. Instead, it leads to a phishing site that looks real but is designed to steal your login credentials. Some emails also ask you to install a plugin that contains malware.
Once the scammers gain access to your site, they can add backdoors, redirect visitors to harmful sites, or even lock you out completely. That’s why it’s important to recognize these fake emails before it’s too late.
Red Flags 🚩🚩: How to Spot a Fake WordPress Security Email Before It’s Too Late
Spotting a fake WordPress security email isn’t always easy. Some scammers use logos, professional formatting, and technical terms to make their messages look legitimate.
However, there are certain easily identifiable red flags that give these scams away. Here are the most common ones:
- Suspicious Email Address: Look at the sender’s domain. Genuine WordPress emails come from
@wordpress.orgor@wordpress.net. If you see anything else, then it’s a fake. - Urgent Language: Phrases like “Act now!” or “Immediate action required!” are designed to create panic.
- Poor Grammar and Formatting: Many scam emails have typos, awkward phrasing, or inconsistent branding. You can compare it with past emails from WordPress for clarity and tone.
- Links That Don’t Match the Destination: Hover over any link in the email (Do Not Click!) to see where it leads. If it doesn’t point to
wordpress.org, don’t click it. - Unexpected Attachments: WordPress never sends attachments in security emails. If there’s a file attached, then it’s a scam.
- Requests for Passwords: WordPress will never ask for your password or login credentials via email.
Over the years, we’ve seen all of these tricks in action. One user we worked with even clicked a link from a fake email and unknowingly gave away their login details.
Their site was compromised within hours, redirecting visitors to a phishing page. Stories like this remind us how important it is to stay cautious and verify every detail in these emails.
Once you start recognizing these red flags, you’ll feel more confident about handling suspicious emails.
Remember, taking a few seconds to verify an email can save you from days—or even weeks—of cleaning up your site.
Think a WordPress Security Email is Real? Here’s How to Know for Sure
Sometimes, even the most cautious website owners hesitate when they see a well-crafted security email.
Scammers are getting better at making their messages look real. However, there’s always a way to verify authenticity before taking action.
Here’s how we approach it whenever we receive a security-related email:
1. Check the Official WordPress Sources
WordPress publishes security notices on WordPress.org. If an email claims there’s a critical vulnerability, then check the official site first.
2. Check Email Sender and Signed Information
Official WordPress emails will always be sent from the WordPress.org domain name. In some cases, they may also come from WordPress.net.
3. Evaluate Against Previous WordPress Communications
If you’ve previously gotten authentic WordPress security alerts, assess the new email for disparities in style, organization, and branding.
Phony emails frequently exhibitstilted language, varying typefaces, or faulty alignment. Genuine WordPress emails maintain professional writing and layout.
4. Check Your Hosting Provider’s Security Notifications
Well-known WordPress hosting services such as Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger typically publish validated security bulletins on their sites. If your host lacks any mention, the email is suspect.
5. Preview Links Before Activation
Always preview a link’s destination before clicking. Should the URL deviate from wordpress.org or your hosting company’s official web address, exercise caution.
Cybercriminals sometimes employ misleading domain names resembling wordpress.org, but they aren’t authentic.
As an example, the domain security-wordpress[.]org isn’t a legitimate WordPress domain, a subtlety some might miss quickly.
6. Implement a WordPress Security Enhancement
WordPress security plugins, such as Wordfence and Sucuri, monitor vulnerabilities and issue actual security alerts. An absence of mention by your plugin suggests a potential hoax.
One time, a user sent us a security email that looked real. It mentioned a plugin vulnerability, included a CVE number, and even had the WordPress logo.
But when we checked WordPress.org, there was no mention of it. A quick look at the email header showed it came from a suspicious domain, confirming it was a phishing attempt.
These quick verification steps can help you avoid falling for scams. If you’re ever in doubt, wait and verify—real security alerts won’t disappear in a few hours.
What to Do If You Receive a Fake Security Email
So, you’ve spotted a fake security email. Now what?
The worst thing you can do is panic and click on anything inside the email. Instead, take these steps to protect your website and report the scam.
🫸 Do Not Click Any Links
Even if the email looks legitimate, never click on links or download attachments. If you have already clicked, then change your WordPress password immediately.
🕵️ Check Your Website for Suspicious Activity
Log in to your WordPress dashboard and look for any unfamiliar admin users, recently installed plugins, or settings changes.
📨 Report the Email to Your Hosting Provider
Most web hosting companies have dedicated security teams that handle phishing scams. Contact your host’s support team and provide details about the suspicious email.
🚩 Mark It as Spam
Flagging the email as spam in your inbox helps email providers filter similar messages in the future.
Spam filters at big email companies like Gmail and Outlook are incredibly smart and get data from several other spam filtering companies. When you mark an email spam, you teach their algorithms to identify similar emails in the future and block them.
🔍 Run a Security Scan
Use a WordPress security plugin like Wordfence and Sucuri to scan for malware, just to be safe. For information on how to do this, just see our guide on how to scan your WordPress site for potentially malicious code.
One website owner we worked with ignored a fake security email but later found that their WordPress login page had been attacked.
Fortunately, they had Cloudflare (free) set up on their website, which blocked malicious login attempts on their website.
What Happens If You Fall for the Scam?
Clicked on a link in a fake email? Installed a suspicious plugin? Don’t worry—you’re not alone.
We’ve seen site owners panic after realizing they’ve been tricked, but acting quickly can minimize the damage.
Here’s what you need to do right away:
1. Change Your Passwords: If you entered your WordPress login details, change your password immediately. Also, you will need to update your hosting, FTP, and database passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
2. Revoke Unknown Admin Users: Log in to your WordPress dashboard and check Users » All Users. If you see an unfamiliar administrator account, you need to delete it.
3. Scan Your Website for Malware: Use a security scanner plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri to check for malicious files, backdoors, or unauthorized changes.
4. Restore a Clean Backup: If your site has been compromised, you should restore a backup from before you clicked the fake email.
Ideally, you should have your own backups from a WordPress backup plugin like Duplicator. We recommend Duplicator because it is secure, reliable, and makes it very easy to restore your website when something bad happens. Read our full Duplicator review to learn more.
However, if you don’t have a backup, you can try reaching out to your hosting provider. Most good WordPress hosting companies keep backups and can help you restore your website from a clean backup.
5. Check Your Website’s File Manager
Access your hosting control panel or FTP and look for recently modified files. If you find unfamiliar PHP scripts, they could be part of a backdoor.
Hackers often use deceptive names like wp-system.php, admin-logs.php, or config-checker.php to blend in with core WordPress files. Some may even use random strings like abc123.php or create hidden directories in /wp-content/uploads/.
6. Update WordPress and All Plugins
If an attacker has exploited a vulnerability, then updating your site ensures they can’t use the same method again. Outdated themes, plugins, or WordPress core files may contain security flaws that hackers exploit.
Go to Dashboard » Updates and install the latest versions. You can see our guide on how to safely update WordPress for more details.
We once helped a small business owner whose site had been compromised after they installed a fake security patch.
The hacker injected malicious scripts that redirected visitors to a phishing site. Luckily, they had a recent backup, and restoring it along with resetting passwords saved their website.
If your site has been hacked, you can follow our step-by-step guide to clean up your WordPress website: How to Fix a Hacked WordPress Site (Beginner’s Guide).
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How to Protect Your Website From Future Scams
Preventing fake security emails is just as important as spotting them. While scammers will always try new tricks, taking a few precautions can keep your site safe.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding 2FA to your WordPress login prevents unauthorized access, even if your password gets stolen.
- Use WordPress Firewall & Security Plugins: Use a WordPress firewall like Cloudflare and then strengthen it with a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri.
- Update WordPress, Plugins, and Themes: Keeping everything updated prevents hackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities.
- Verify Emails Before Acting: Always check WordPress.org and your hosting provider’s website before acting on security emails.
- Educate Your Team:If your site has multiple contributors, educate them on recognizing and reporting phishing attempts.
Following the outlined steps significantly reduces the likelihood of being scammed and enhances your WordPress site’s security.
Proactive measures are key to maintaining a secure website.
While fake WordPress security alerts can be alarming, you are now equipped to identify them before they pose a threat.
Scammers thrive on creating panic; however, maintaining a calm and rational approach gives you the upper hand 😎.
Upon receiving a questionable email, pause, take a moment to assess, and meticulously review the information. You have the power to control the situation.
Verifying email origins, consistently updating your WordPress installation, and implementing appropriate security measures will collectively make your website a less appealing target for scammers.
To further enhance your website’s defenses, explore our comprehensive WordPress security guide, offering detailed, actionable advice. You might also be interested in our expert recommendations for WordPress security scanners that effectively detect malware and potential intrusions.
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