This is totally off course, but you probably will thank me if you don’t know about it. And if you do know about it, then maybe you can pass it on to your other friends who might not know.
We are all aware of phishing scams, ways to part you and your money. The latest which has been on the news involves a complicated key stroke virus that records your passwords, and breaks into your email contact list, then sending out requests to everyone while posing as you.
I know from experience because I received two of them recently, one so convincing I had to reread it to be sure it really wasn’t from Google.
Asking for my passwords, date of birth, and much more personal info, declaring that selected email accounts were to be purged. The only way I could stop mine from being deleted would be to pass the info on to them.
Right, I’ll be sure to do that, as soon as my purchase of some rock solid swampland in Florida goes through.
The other, and I do think that they are connected somehow, was supposedly from a friend of mine, who found herself in a unfortunate situation abroad and required money wired to her immediately. Of course it read that the person would pay me back. Ah ha.
Not going to happen to me, you say? You won’t fall for it? Well quite a few people around here have. Let’s not give them any more reason to continue on with this.
So if you get one of these emails be fully aware, and let anyone else that you think might be susceptible to falling for them know about it. Who knows, these nasty people’s phishing trip might just end up getting skunked.
Thanks for the warning Jen. Hope you have a great weekned.
ReplyDeleteI've been getting emails from Hotmail, or so it says. Asking for more information that I gave when setting up the email, so as not to have my email account deleted...Bull Hockey!
ReplyDeleteI've spent two days staring at my own witch hazel photos, so I had to laugh when I was greeted by yours. They look so ... so ... familiar. I wandered out to a nursery looking for spring a couple of days ago and shot that exact same color. And boy is it tough to photograph. Nice job. And thanks for the unintended morning chuckle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. The amazing thing is that there are people -- many actually -- that get taken in with this stuff. Sad.
ReplyDeleteHi Mildred, thanks, and I will. I actually have a Saturday off.
ReplyDeleteDarla, these kinds of emails are being reported in the news, and the newspapers. Sad, but some people are still falling victim to them.
Suzanne, yes it is true, so that is why I thought I would say something.
Kelly, I hear you, funny how a photo looks so familiar to us sometimes, so much that we double check our own archives. I guess I will have to be more creative with the angles next time. These were from last year I think.
Jen
You know that I teach computers to seniors. I cover this topic over and over again but as I posted recently one of my students fell prey to a scam over the phone and sent money to his grandson who was not his grandson. Luckily the police were called and they managed to stop the money wire in time.
ReplyDeleteOne of these attacked one of our blogging colleagues back in the summer, and a host of us collectively freaked out and started trying to find out if she really was stranded somewhere, just in case. I'm always appalled at these sorts of scams, and keep my information well protected, but yes, some do fall prey to them. I just figure karma will get the phishers eventually.
ReplyDeleteGlad you posted this today and your witch hazel is beautiful.
ReplyDeletePatsy
I get them too.
ReplyDeleteAnything asking for passwords, a/c details etc... gets binned.
Unfortunately you're right, they get more and more convincing. I'm wary of the web sometimes.
Rob
Thanks for the heads up, Jen (your witch hazels are beauties )!
ReplyDeleteGreat post...though must be perfectly honest, had to read it twice to comprehend what you were saying. Those dang photos of yours are distracting...in the most lovely of ways of course! Kim
ReplyDeleteI'm extremely paranoid when it comes to our personal information. Our bank called us once and we asked the people at the branch office what the deal was, if it was a phishing scam and of course it wasn't! It's better to be paranoid about this kind of stuff than to lose control of your identity!
ReplyDeletei recently have had some of these same emails. i usually don't open any emails unless i recognize the place it comes from but it can be confusing.
ReplyDeletethanks for making us aware of what is happening.
your witchhazel photos are spectacular. i really need to grow this.
Thanks for the pointers...but on to more important things....those photos are spectacular.
ReplyDeleteI hate these phishers!
ReplyDeleteI love your photos! Just gorgeous.