Spam scams and phishing
Or how to avoid trouble
Viruses
One of the dangers of spam is that they could contain a computer virus. Usually you are safe if you just delete the spam, without opening any pictures or other links. The use of an anti-virus program, like AVG, set to detect e-mail viruses will ensure that you safely delete the spam.
Unsolicited offers
Spam tends to fall into a limited number of categories:
- Medications, usually intended to enlarge body parts.
- Offers of a Bank loan, or an introductory offer at an online casino.
- Shopping voucher for one of the larger chain stores
- Offers of a credit card
- Offers of a car, HDTV, mobile phone and so on.
- Offers of travel or admission to attractions.
- Offers of injury compensation
- Open this picture of a well-known naked film star!
Phishing
The term phishing refers to attempts to get hold of your bank details.
- Due to some upset, ****** Bank has lost your details. Please click on this link and fill in your details so that we can update our files (and rob you blind).
- I am a Nigerian, who has laid my hands on/inherited/or am working on the behalf of some billionaire who has to get funds out of my country and into yours. Please send me your bank details so that I can transfer funds through your account. I'll give you 30% of these millions. I've since been told that this is not phishing, but a straightforward scam to extract money
Alternatively
Or, instead of a virus, the sender could be trying to get a spyware program onto your computer. Spyware is a type of program that reports back to its sender details about the data on your computer and what you are doing on it. Do not click on links in an email unless you know who it's from.
Such links can redirect your surfing via a premium telephone link.
Or; the spyware program is intended to let its operator use your computer to send out yet more spam.
Click here to see the text of two actual email scams received 5/1/2009.
