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