Sorry, but I get so disgusted at the potential identity theft out there that
it makes me want to scream. I think of folks like my mom. Here she is just
learning how to use email and what if she got one of these bogus emails that
told her she had to click some link to update her account. Yes, I've told
her over and over not to click those links, but you'll remember I also told
her never to reply to porno email and request to be removed! She didn't listen
and did that...so we had to get her a new email address because once she
clicked that link to say "never send this stuff again", her name
was sold to every porno site on the web and was then inundated with tons
of porno spam!
Now I think, what if she didn't listen and clicked some bogus banking link
and entered in her user name or account and PIN number. Scumbags would
have her info and could swipe all her money before she knew what hit her!
And these bogus emails are getting more and more professional looking.
Please, please, please...tell EVERYONE you know and care about that they should
NEVER, EVER, EVER click any link that arrives via email telling them to update
their account information. I don't care HOW professional or legit it looks...NEVER,
EVER, EVER do it!
There is not one legit company on this planet that does not know about this
problem these days who would send you an email telling you to click some
direct link to update your user account by typing in your account information
or ANY personal information into a web site! If you should find one stupid
enough...then immediately take your money to some more reputable bank or
credit card company!
And now these slimy ripoff low lives are even making the email sound like
threats! Saying that you must update your information or your account will
be cancelled! I just cringe thinking of the poor, innocent souls who will
be taken in by these S.O.B.s and it just makes me crazy!
Below are many samples of bogus emails I've received in the last few weeks
that I've been saving to add to this article in the hopes that it will make
you wiser so you won't be taken by this....GRRRRRRR...I can't even come up
with a good word for them in mixed company that accurately displays my rage!
Another thing Greg and I discovered tonight is that when he got a recent Citibank
bogus threat email saying he must update his account, he was using Outlook
XP and wasn't able to see the TRUE link in the email. However, I was using
Outlook 2003, which has been enhanced with many additional security and scam
fighting features, so I could easily see that the link was not the same one
in the email as soon as I moved my mouse over the link, as you can see in
the image below.
The above image is from an email we just received. Note the mandatory threats
to suspend your account if you do not supply your private banking information!
Citibank would NEVER, EVER do this! If anything, they would contact you via
US mail, call you, or have a notice waiting for you the next time you go
to their web page through your regular route.
When we cut the URL down and go to the main site, you'll notice that they
say we are forbidden to enter this way. Humm, they obviously have something
to hide. I HOPE some authority agency investigates this site and busts the
SOBs behind this scam!
When we dig a little deeper, you'll notice they have a page that appears to
look like Citibank.
If you were to enter your information in this page, it would be harvested
by thieves. It's like standing on the street and handing out your private
banking access information to everyone that passes by. DON'T EVER BELIEVE
THIS!
Worse, by clicking the URL within the email, it takes you to their page to
harvest your information, but displays a bogus image of the true Citibank
web site! This in an effort to further fool you into believing that it's
legit!
But Citibank customers aren't the only ones getting nailed. I've also received
similar bogus emails attempting to hit PayPal or eBay users and convince
them to update their information through these fake portals used to harvest
your account information. These look legit, too. But every one of them goes
to some hidden URL that does not match the URL they provide in the email
and ALL ARE BOGUS! They are all attempting to rip you off!
This one says it's their way of safeguarding you! They play on the TV commercials
you see about identity theft and hope to find someone out there who isn't
paying attention. Someone who will just click and follow the rules without
further investigation! Don't be that person. Pay attention, don't trust these
emails! Warn your friends and family!
These poor idiots didn't even take the time to make this email look legit.
Sadly, I'll bet they still managed to steal a lot of money with their copycat
attempt.
BankOne customers aren't left out either. I'm not a BankOne customer, but
if I was and got this email, it sure looks legit to me! But I know never
to trust these...I hope you will now, too, and that it's not too late!
And for those of you who might still not believe that your emails are bought
and sold by scammers, here's another email I received listing the prices
for thousands of email addresses to use for spamming. Where do they get all
these email addresses? Well, most of them come off emails that you forward
from friends to more friends. Most folks don't know enough to hide email
addresses in the Blind Copy field of the email. Rather they just click
Forward. This leaves all those addresses exposed and they eventually end
up in the hands of those who harvest these names and use them for scams or
spam.
For more information about hiding email addresses, read my article on that
subject: HERE.
Sorry for the raging, but it breaks my heart to think of innocent folks being
taken by these scumbags! I hope this article helps inform you. And to help
you pass the word, I am lifting all copyrights from this one article. You
may freely use it without requesting further permission from me to republish
anywhere you think it might help. On your web pages, your company newsletter,
your community center! I would appreciate it if you'd leave my name on it,
but no further permission is needed for this one article if you care to
use it to inform others.
Remember, email is easy for scammers to send out anywhere and they're just
hoping to hit a hot target. Someone who isn't paying attention. Just like
the bogus emails from Microsoft that are floating around with update links
that really cause you to download a virus to your computer. Or all those
pleas from Nigeria and such asking you to help them make a large cash deposit.
Or those emails that say you've won the lottery or some wonderful prize.
If it's too good to be true...or if it asks for ANY personal information...DON'T
TRUST IT!
If in doubt, contact your bank or financial institution and ask them for verification.
But trust me, they know all about these and I'm sure they're just as mad
as hell!
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