In a world of technology and masking… anyone can appear to be something they aren’t because heck, we can just copy, clone or duplicate things that are already out there. For example, the Facebook profile cloning that people panic that someone has hacked their Facebook account which just isn’t true. Now, there isn’t a problem with changing your password, but I could duplicate your Facebook profile right this second if I wanted to.. and friend request all of your friends. It happens, people fall for it.. but I think more and more folks are seeing and hearing it and taking those extra precautions before accepting the requests. This blog, isn’t about that, but you can read more on that Facebook Clone/Hacker blog here. đ
This blog is more on the email scam crap we all get and it’s along the same lines. Folks are out there cloning our email addresses or rather attaching code to our emails so when we open the email or download that link that emails get sent to our friends. It wasn’t that someone actually hacked into MY email account (though it is possible) but that they placed code into something that was opened or downloaded or stupid stuff like that. Think Trojan Horse.
You already know what junk mail looks like
Now, I know you know what junk email looks like.. you know the dating ones, the ones trying to enlarge your….. ummmm mind, the ones saying that you inherited millions of dollars and etc. Sure, you don’t fall for those, I know you are too smart and you likely don’t go clicking around in them. But it’s the ones that actually LOOK like they could be legit.
Let’s talk about the ‘legit looking’ scams
If it looks like a duck it must be a duck, right? Wrong! Have you gotten emails that are similar to this:
- emails from the “Email Administrator” telling you that your mailbox is almost full?
- emails from friends who send you a link that “you might appreciate”?
- emails from “your bank” saying that your account has irregular activity?
- emails from “your credit card company” asking you to reset your password, update your security, or verify a charge?
Agghhhhh, it’s so confusing and so frustrating. That IS the bank that I bank with and I do have that type of credit card and my email account is with Yahoo. How did they know? Â The title of this email eludes to “Phishing”. Well, what is that?
What is Phishing?
Phishing, via Wikipedia is the attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and, indirectly, money), often for malicious reasons, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
BOOOOOM!
3 Tips on what to do that does NOT compromise your security
- Hover over the email address or the link (DO NOT CLICK IT!) and see where you are being redirected to or who sent the email as it isn’t always who it says it is
- Take note of who sent it (credit card company, email provider or bank) and login into your account from your browser (NOT from within the email) and check your messages/notifications there and for that friend, create your own email and ask them if they sent you something to check out.
- Use common sense. Know how your bank, credit card, friends communicate with you. Are there tons of typos and crappy fonts? Does it make sense? When in doubt – go to #2.
Here are some Phishing / Scam examples
Thought I would share a few samples (these are real, as these were sent to me) so you can see a little about what I mean, but seriously, you know you’ve seen this stuff before and can pick it out… just trying to help some of the non-tech savvy folks out there.
Email from friends who send you a link that “you might appreciate”
This one you are likely more used to. The Phishing part is more from a trusted source and trying to get you to click through to a link. This type is pretty typical and I don’t even bother emailing my friend because notice the email address in the From line.. not even from Jackie!
Email from “your bank” saying that your account has irregular activity
This one is a little more tricky because you may be banking with this company and it LOOKS a lot like the logo and the look of a legit email. Going back to my 3 tips, hover over the “Get Started” link and then notice the email address. Again, it’s not from Bank of America. Note the verbiage about the Get Started button – it says “Click on the Get start icon”. That whole sentence sounds weird, improper grammar and well, the link wasn’t to Bank of America. So, what I did was opened up a new browser window and to BofA directly. Nope, nothing!
Email from “your credit card company” to verify something
You should be getting the hang of this one now. The verbiage is super weird. While yes, I am esteemed, but my bank has never said that. And if you read the rest of it.. pffff, who says that? Likely someone who is trying to speak like a native English speaker and doesn’t.  Last Notice? How about first notice and check out that From and To line? Doesn’t that reek of  BS’ness? lol
Email from the “Email Administrator” telling you that your mailbox is almost full
This one was a little harder to tell as all links (that I didn’t click on but hovered over) were more like a funnel or email system but 2 things… 1 – my AVB email is through a hosting that is not Google, so the verbiage at the bottom (below the Thanks part) was more for a gmail account holder and 2 – I logged into my email hosting company and didn’t have this issue. BOOM!
So, a few words to the wise… when in doubt, delete and don’t click. Go DIRECTLY to the source and just use some good old common sense.
Hopefully this has been helpful to you. If it has, please share this with your friends and family so they won’t be fooled next time. Should you have any additional tips to help us all, please share in the comments below.
~Kristen
It’s amazing how often I get pretty much all of these, Kristen. Daily, at least! Delete, delete, delete. Lol.
OH yes Susan… often. I don’t get them daily as my spam filters pick up a lot. You also might try blocking them so if they are coming from the same source… you won’t keep getting them.
I’ve seen most if not all of these in my hotmail account. I have learned to check the email address from the sender like you suggest. Can you please make it all go away? đ
True.. Teresa, free emails are more subject to them. I WISH I could@
Kristen,
I see the phishing and scamming coming to an all time high and what is scary the bank looks exactly how the statement are sent. Keeping ourselves safe is getting a little difficult. Most banking is online or you have to pay a fee. Yes, please make it go away.
I wish I could Lori
Thank you for these tips, Kristen. As you know, I’m one of those non-tech-savvy folks and I have been the victim of email scams before. Getting wiser in my old age – or at least more cautious. Hovering over the address is such a good tip
I know Tami and I am glad to help you, as you know.
Cloning from Facebook is something I’ve only learned of recently. My the scammers keep us busy having to protect ourselves.
Thanks for helping to stay alert and out of trouble Kristen.
You have been lucky thus far then Joyce. I try
I get too many of these phishing scams or spams too, Kristen! I have learned the hard way what to look for and how to alert the companies they are purporting to be representing. I make it a point to forward the emails to the appropriate company, in hopes it helps them to ‘catch’ or halt the scammers from continuing. It seems this is part of the new online world, too many people are trying to scam others!
Sadly you can’t really catch them… they just get shut down and restart under another IP or name. Thanks Bev
Several friends of mine have fallen for these scams, and it’s really terrible. The result isn’t just stress and a loss of money. You also feel betrayed, scared, and uncertain whether you can trust yourself! Nice of you to clarify and try to help everyone with such a detailed, straightforward post. I’ve found Gmail to be much better at filtering the junk out (versus Microsoft Outlook). We all have to be so skeptical and careful these days!
You got that right Meghan, we ALL have to be careful. Fortunately my emails start at web hosting and then filtered again in outlook.. so double and yet.. they still get through. URGH lol
This information is so important Kristen. I am fairly good at catching them, but occasionally I click too quickly. I think the emails that are so clearly fake make it more difficult to catch the ones that look real. Going directly to the site and signing in is the best bet. Love the fish photo!
Thanks about the photo Candess and you are right.. it’s the ones that take the extra time to deceive us and aren’t as blatant that are harder to detect.
Good article! I got a real scary one from Bluehost this week and luckily I sent it to my web developers, they called Bluehost and came back and told me it was a phishing scam.
Err on the side of caution!
Go to the source Cathy and be skerd no more! đ
Yes, phishing is indeed a nuisance. Sometimes it is difficult to understand. Though, nowadays I generally am very careful. Some good advice here. đ
That is awesome Kata!