Beware of Email Warnings Too! Worse than a Hoax.
 

Due to the recent thread about being blamed for spam you didn't send, here is a thread about a false warning that threatens you about sending malicious code and tells you to open an attachment to see the logs.

The attachment OF COURSE is a trojan which is malicious code that can damage your computer. In this case it can steal sensitive or confidential information.

NEVER OPEN AN ATTACHMENT FROM SOMEONE YOU DO NOT KNOW NO MATTER HOW IMPORTANT IT SAYS IT IS, DON'T OPEN IT!:eek: (EVEN IF YOU KNOW THEM, IF YOU CAN SCAN IT FIRST YOU SHOULD - YOU HAVE SEEN HOW PEOPLE CAN SEND STUFF LIKE THIS AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT)


http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...complaint.html

Re: Beware of Email Warnings Too! Worse than a Hoax.
 

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the warning.

I see garbage in my inbox every day trying to tell me that my bank account has been used fraudulently and to immediately log in to fix the problem.."just enter your account # and password here"...ha ha yeah right, what a joke. You know what bothers me though is the fact that these criminals are making money because people fall for this crap.

Just the other day I got a message from what I thought was Pay Pal. The message came up exactly how PayPal does...same template and everything...saying there was a problem with my account and my incoming funds were going to be reduced. I followed the link in the email to "resolve the problem" and it took me to a website called payPAIL and asked me to log in with my PayPAL email and password. Almost had me...

It's good to be very careful with things like that. If the email seems out of the ordinary, don't even click on it.

Best,
Matt

Re: Beware of Email Warnings Too! Worse than a Hoax.
 

Matt - you should NEVER click a link like that - I would run anti-spyware now (there are free trials) and your anti-virus. I would also run a registry cleaner to be safe as well. (ccleaner.com)

If you get a message like that from ANYWHERE - DO NOT use the link provided.

Shut down your browser and restart it and then go on your own to whatever site it is and log in to see if there is an issue.

At least with Paypail errrmmm Paypal, the major clue is it doesn't talk to you by name. It will say 'Paypal member' or something like that.

If anyone is actually trying to reach you they would use your name. HOWEVER EVEN IF THEY DO, follow the advice above.

This is known as PHISHING.

What can happen here with these links in emails AND/OR the sites that the links go to, they can install spyware and record your keystrokes - so when you actually go to an account, it knows the link you typed and then it knows your username and password.

The crooks can then use the info to log in and transfer your money to themselves. :eek:

Don't call me paranoid, it happens everyday. Don't let it happen to you.;)

Re: Beware of Email Warnings Too! Worse than a Hoax.
 

Hi Pat,

Thank you for sharing, you are absolutely right, this is a blight on the industry and must be taken seriously by everyone because no banks do business by open emails the same as PayPal wouldn't contact you by this method. I put them all in the same category as lottery wins and inheritance windfall scams etc etc, we have all had them, they get deleted without opening.

No respectable organisation does business this way, if PayPal or my bank wanted to confirm my account details then a message would be waiting on their website when I log in and no other way. Sadly the scammers know that there are stlll many people who fall for it and all we can do is warn each other every time we get the chance so posts like this keep it fresh in out minds,

thanks again,

Mal.

Re: Beware of Email Warnings Too! Worse than a Hoax.
 

Most of the time when you hold your courser over the URL you can see the address. PayPal fakes are easy to spot that way. I just delete stuff I don't know where it's from or if I don't know why I'm getting it.

Re: Beware of Email Warnings Too! Worse than a Hoax.
 

Another good tactic is never click on links - always enter sites like paypal - or your bank (or any other sensitive site) by either one of your own bookmarks or by typing in the address yourself. If there is an issue you will find out when you log on.

And in a related not I have been getting a lot of e-mails lately with a subject of "I have recieved a message from your bank" the body then says

That one is quite scary for the less technically inclined who may not ask where theis mystery person got thier e-mail address from. You may want to warn your friends.

Re: Beware of Email Warnings Too! Worse than a Hoax.
 

If I don't know them I just delete. Thanks for the info Pat.

Belinda