[LM_NET] How to recognize fraud "spoof" emails

[Jacqueline Henry <jhenry@GANANDA.ORG>]

I was cleaning out the inbox of my home email account and it occurred to
me that some of you might be having the same problem we have.  We
purchase books frequently via Amazon and we buy and sell via ebay.  As a
result, we get a lot of fraud emails with subjects such as the ones I
just deleted today:  eBay Unpaid Item Strike Received: #7013724376 and
Fraud alert. Mostly we simply delete them - but I thought you might like
to know how you can tell for sure if they are fraudulent.

These emails often look like the real thing.  They mimic the email
format used by the company.  However - if you click on the link you are
taken to a website that looks like Amazon or looks like Ebay - but it is
a sham and if you enter any information, they will then be able to use
your information fraudulently.  You could be out lots of money -
especially if you enter bank account information.

So....  Here is what I do.  If I am not sure if the email is legitimate
- I right click on any of the hyperlinks in the email and choose "copy
shortcut".  This will copy the address of the website the link is
directing you to.  I then paste the address into notebook or a word
document.  Here is what I found today.

An eBay email which directed me to this address:
http://www.theanimalhouse.us/.sign/eBay etc. etc.

The fraudulent Amazon email was a little trickier.  It hyperlinked to:
 http://68.151.158.241:81/www.amazon.com/
A real amazon address would not look like that.  It would start with
www.amazon.com

Yet another fraudulent eBay email wanted me to visit
http://nailclubthailand.com/

Bottom line - I delete ALL emails that I get from ebay, amazon etc.  If
there really is a problem, they have my phone number and will call me
directly.

Hope some of you will find this information useful.

Jacquie

"The Librarian, whose job is to heal ignorance, to keep life safe for
poetry and to put knowledge smack dab in the middle of the American
way."

From The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9-20-03
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jacquie Henry, MLS
Ruben A. Cirillo High School (GHS)
Gananda Central School District
3195 Wiedrick Road
P.O. Box 609
Macedon, NY  14502
315-986-3521 x 3144
jhenry@gananda.org
Library Page: http://www.gananda.org/library/mshslibrary/indexgcl.htm
Blog: http://nlcommunities.com/communities/wanderings/default.aspx

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