Just for reference, this is called "phishing", in internet slang. It's quite common with major sites like ebay and paypal, and most major banks have had it done to them. I probably get one or two of these a week, and the first thing I do is forward the message to the company in question. Ebay and Paypal have dedicated email addresses to send this stuff to, and I'm sure others do also. If you get one, check the real company's site for the proper place to forward these messages. Forwarding them the emails helps them track down those doing the phishing, so it's definitely worth the hassle. Also, virtually all legitimate sites will NEVER ask for personal information in an email, or via clicking a link in an email. Any commercial site that asks for this kind of info in an email is immediately suspect, legitimate or not, and they'll soon find themselves without MY business. Nancy -- On Dec 8, 2005, at 5:07 PM, Karen Mitchell wrote: > FYI > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Taylor Hayes" > > hi all, > > i just watched a report on cnbc & thought i should pass on to you. > if you > already know about it sorry for the repeat....many of you know i > have been a > victim of identity theft (not from this type of thieve but > nevertheless!), & > i'm hyper sensitive to it but this still scared me. > > internet identity thieves are sending out emails that look exactely > like > your bank or stores that you frequent & who have your email address > to send > you offers etc. (some may be ones you have a relationship w/ > already, some > may be offers for a new store or bank, all are common & recognizable). > > the emails offer you a deal or info on a deal & ask you to click on > the link > & go to their website & when there you are asked to give personal > info. the > website you are taken to is exactly like the one you know & think > you are > going to but you are not. you are going to a site set up exactly > like it > but it's set up to steal your acct. info, passwords etc. > > the reporter on cnbc had done it herself thinking it was her own > bank! you > would think you can tell the difference but apparently these are very > sophisticated & the two companies that the reporter mentioned were > ebay & > bank of america. the fraudulent sites even have the proper > disclaimers on > the bottom of the site....& they look the same. > > SO, the expert they had on suggests when you get this type of offer to > delete the email & type in the website yourself, go to it & ck if > there is > an offer that is real & than you can take advantage of it/do your > banking, > shop etc. in safety. > > microsoft is coming out w/a new version soon that will have some help > towards this (when you click on a link sent to you, a message will > pop up > that you are not on the actual site you thought you were going to) > but it > will not catch them all & the thieves will eventually figure out a way > around this as well. > > SO, again, always best to delete the offer email & go to your favorite > websites by typing in your address yourself & only giving your > personal info > after having done that, rather than following a link in an email. > > hope this was helpful & safe internetting to you all! > > taylor > > > > "I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D. Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?" --Barry Goldwater