Let’s start with this email I just received this morning: Yes, it is BOGUS and it is BADLY written. Bad grammar isn’t a crime [yet], but this poorly-worded Phishing Scam is just another attempt to get honest or nervous folk to send their hard-earned money to criminals.
Growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s, I was a bit of a latch-key kid. On my own most afternoons until my kid sister came along. Mom taught me some important lessons:
- Don’t open the door to a stranger.
- Don’t tell anyone that you are alone.
- Tell them Mom & Dad can’t come to the door/phone.
- Don’t answer chain-letters [Nigerian money scam]
- Don’t buy anything if they knock or call, get a company number
The same truths apply to the Internet:
- Don’t click on anything you don’t trust
- Don’t open emails from someone you don’t know
- Don’t tell anyone your password/SSN/CC#
- Don’t answer chain-emails [Nigerian money scam]
- If it sounds too-good-to-be-true, then it usually is!
- Don’t buy anything offered to you before some independent research
If you are not sure what to do, call your friendly neighborhood computer guy. If you don’t know one, find one; they are like dentists and honest police, you can seldom find one when you are in a pinch.