The Top Five E-Mail Scams (5)
The Come-On
This scam usually comes in the form of an e-mail warning you that you need to update your bank (or PayPal) account for security purposes.
The Scam
The link in the e-mail takes you to what looks like your bank's real Web site, but is actually a rogue site designed to capture your login information. Once the criminals have this information, they can go and log into your actual account and begin siphoning money, information, and even try to use the same log-in information for your other accounts, as most people use the same password across various sites.
What You Can Do
Carol says: "Crooks have come up with some pretty ingenious ways of disguising themselves as a trusted institution or company in order to get consumers' personal information. The key to avoiding ID theft via being phished is to
remember that YOU are in control of your personal data. Keep it secure, and don't give it to someone who prompts you to unless you're confident that they need it for legitimate purposes."
Related Links:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
MoeFugger @ Apr 26th 2007 6:13AM
I have seen all of those and more. You would have to be really dumb or a little kid to fall for any of those. Only a moron would click the links.
Every single legit site will post that they never, never email about your password or other personal info but some people just type it in anyway then cry that they got hosed, Duhhhh.
Hey survival of the fittest I guess.
heidi @ Apr 26th 2007 6:24AM
my husband gets these all the time asking for paypal or bank information. he always calls the bank and paypal to confirm that it is bogus. and it is always bogus. but you should still call to confirm because one time we called and someone across the other side of the USA was using our credit card information. also paypal has an email address you can send the bogus ones to. they are trying to cut these people out.
j @ Apr 26th 2007 6:44AM
Don't forget the fake URL email scam where someone will ask you to click on a url to see if it is the same item you are selling on Ebay. That messes up your account and phishes for additional info. Avoin most URls in emails.
M Meyer @ Apr 26th 2007 7:17AM
How about the e mails re Craig's List when you have a rental and they write you claiming they are from Europe and need your name for the check, the address and your phone number................without even asking to see the property, filling out an application or signing a lease ...........would anybody believe they would send you a check just like that?
Mike @ Apr 26th 2007 7:21AM
Amazing,
I get a hundred such phishing attempts every week, and yes, most are very authentic looking, so any time you get anything from what appears to be your bank, close it and never click on link. If you put your pointer over this link, it will usually not have any reference to bank other than an obscure reference with many other url letters and numbers which no bank would ever use. Also, no https, forget it, surely a scam.
www.Iraqi-Investments.com
griff @ Apr 26th 2007 7:32AM
Remember folks, "Ain't nuttin' in life for free". If someone walks up to you and puts a wadd of cash in your hands and say "its yours", still, be very skeptical. There is ALWAYS a CATCH.
Also, on some of THOSE E-MAILS, if you try to REPLY to them, and I don't mean clicking on any links, but to send a reply, you normally will get a return email telling you that SENDER IS UNKNOWN or that the email cannot be delivered, or something like that.
Don't Let Your GREED get the best of You.
Hank C. @ Apr 26th 2007 7:34AM
You should give solutions - names of the US Gov't fraud #'s etc.
gen @ Apr 26th 2007 7:57AM
just wanted to say that i am currently involved in a on line scam. the oddity of this one is that not once have they yet asked me for a bank account number or any other vital personal information. they have even went so far as to send me a check for 25,669.72 on a real check. the company the check is written on is real, the account is real the only thing not real is the fact that the company is not the ones that sent me the check.a good note is that i called the co. and was able to alert them that someone out there is sending check out to people with their name and signature on it. : ) be ware of anything free. like the old saying goes if its too good to be true then it probably is : )
skone @ Apr 26th 2007 7:57AM
I keep getting these things saying "I won a free I_pod if I fill out this survey". I will start answering the survey (example.. are you a smoker? Would you be interested in a coupon? ) Then it askes me for my name, address and birthday. I fill it in. Then there are some more survey questions. Then my information comes up but it is now asking for my social security #. At this point I say "forget it!) and click out of the screen.....What is all that about? Should I even be giving my name?
Den @ Apr 26th 2007 8:09AM
I've gotten some that appear exactly like my banks real emails. They are very sneaky and at first I almost fell for it. Instead of clicking the link they provided, I went directly to my banks web site and logged in. Once in, there was no notice or message telling me I had to update any info, like the email was suggesting.
Barbara @ Apr 26th 2007 8:14AM
You didn't mention the scam of winning the Lottery in the United Kingdom. I've had several of these.
STEVE @ Apr 26th 2007 8:17AM
It may take time, but every one of these people or groups of people should be hunted down and SHOOT!!! what's wrong with this country that they let all this happen. there should be a more accountability when you are using the internet. Anybody can do or say anything. It's all a big accident looking for a place to happen.
Mark @ Apr 26th 2007 8:31AM
I had a message from paypal about updating account & it acutally asked me for my ATM PIN number. Yeah right.
cheryl @ Apr 26th 2007 8:37AM
I just received the one about my paypal account, I just deleted it. It was sent to an email address I never used for paypal. I also have received ones from banks I don't have accounts with claiming I have to update my info. Those I forwarded to the real banks and they sent me a thank you email.
jusnikki @ Apr 26th 2007 8:41AM
I get dozens of letters a month from foreigners wanting me to teach music lessons to their "precious gifted child" who will be visiting the USA. Here is an example that came just today: Hello,I am Mrs. SANDRA BINTA. I saw you description and i read throuh it and was impressed about what i read. I have a child who is 16 yrs old which i want
to have a lesson with you. He will be coming to have an holiday in your country. I want him to attend your class for two hours which is from 12 noon to 2 pm. I would like to know the cost of an hour and i want you to calculate the cost of two months he will be staying and email it back to me.
I would be paying with a check. If this mode of payment will be accepted i want you to get back to me with your full contact detials where the check
will be mailed to. I would be happy to read from you soon.REGARDSMRs. SANDRA
I know it's bogus, but I'm still not clear on HOW they work this scam. Anyone else get these?
Kat @ Jul 16th 2008 9:12AM
Yep, they'll mail you extra and ask that you send them the difference. They never catch these people. I had an international money order sent to me last year. The amt due was $1000, they sent me $3000 and wanted me to wire them $2000. Of course I verified the money order first and found out it was a complete fraud, then notified the FBI.
Wells @ Apr 26th 2007 8:50AM
I acutaly was getting the phishing e-mail for the paypall one.. But.. the funny thing about mine, was that whoever wrote the e-mail out, needs to go back to html school.. He left a few brakes and closes out from his codeing so ALLL of the html code was visable *chuckles* includeing his bogus link html string.
i sent pay-pal a e-mail about it.. they sent a thankyou back but said there wasnt mutch they could do about blocking it.. so after getting 2 more in.. i did my own digging.
To make a long story short (2 months worth of story) i wound up finding not only the guy that was running the phishing scam's Bogus web-sites domain name. but his own personal E-mail he had set up with that domain. Now weither their a scammer, or a real normal person.. the domain name is handled by someone else (the @xxxxx.xxx part of it.) So i sent the domain names abuse e-mail a letter about what i found, the guys e-mail that was registerd with their account under for the bogus websites address and a copy of the e-mail + a link to the fraud allert website describeing the bogus letter. Its now been 3 weeks and i havent gotten that phishing e-mail again =)
Bob E @ Apr 26th 2007 8:54AM
Have you noticed that the e-mails are always addressed to "Paypal customer" or Valued Bank of America Customer" and never your exact name. That is a big tip off. If I ever would respond, I would open a new browser window and navigate to the company myself. (Never click on the link in the e-mail) I would expect to see an alert at the website giving me the same notification as the e-mail. That has never ever happened. I continue to use paypal, and my bank's online website long after I was warned in the bogus e-mails, that my account would be frozen if I didn't re-enter my personal information.
BTW - there is a new phone scam going around where you are called by "your bank" or "your credit card company" and they already know your credit card number and your name and address. All they need from you is that 3 digit number on the back. DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM. Sometimes, online ordering with vendors asks for the 3 digit number - if you are sure you are on the right website, it is OK to do that. But why would the issuer of the card ask you for the 3 digit number when you are not ordering anything? They should already know it!
OneFnB @ Apr 26th 2007 8:57AM
I, too, have received the bogus PayPal e-mail requesting ATM pin number and the works. I've also received bogus e-mails requesting payment for an e-Bay item I never bid on. But the best one has to be the e-mail regarding updating my Sears credit card account - I haven't had a Sears card in over 20 years !
Mike @ Apr 26th 2007 8:58AM
I'm getting emails from a Foster Jackson telling me I'm the receiver on 9.7Million pounds in some inheritance. They want my information so they can prepare the paperwork. Is this another popular scheme?