I get a lot of spam. Sometimes it is difficult to determine weather an email message is from a legitimate sender or if it is actually a phishing scam or virus. I use the following method to safely read the content of any suspicious email I receive. This example uses Outlook Express, but I'm sure similar techniques are available for other email clients.

First you need to configure your email client so that it does not open and display the message automatically. In Outlook Express click "View" and then "Layout" and make sure the "Show Preview Pane" is not checked.

Next,  right click (not left) the message in question and click "Properties".

An info window will pop up. Click on Details. Now I can see that this message was not sent by PayPal but by somebody in France. "Received: from smtp2f.orange.fr (smtp2f.orange.fr [80.12.242.152])". I know PayPal is not based in France.

I can now read the message by clicking on "Message Source". They want me to click on a link directed to their website and update my info so they can steal it.

I hope this helps somebody.

Richard