Spoof is e-mail with a forged
return e-mail address, so you may think it’s from someone you know.
Sometimes you can see the real sender’s address by looking at the full
header on your e-mail.
Fraudulent companies phish
for your private information by sending forged e-mails that appear to
be legitimate correspondence. They try to fool you into giving
information they can use for identity theft or credit card fraud. For
example, an e-mail could direct you to a phony Web site to confirm your
identity under the guise that someone is using your social security
number. The real Social Security Administration would never ask for
credit-card information or a PIN.
The deceptive e-mails can look exactly like authentic
material, with logos and formatting exactly like the company they’re
mimicking. Instead of clicking on the link they provide, go to your
Internet browser and start your own session with the company
identified.
A hoax is an e-mail
with false warnings or reports. It may promise a deal that sounds too
good to be true. Virus hoaxes are common, and frighten people into
taking action that is actually harmful to their computers. Check with
your Internet Service Provider to see if the warning is legitimate
before you follow any e-mailed instructions for removing viruses.
Usually advertising, spam
arrives in your inbox without you requesting it. Internet Service
Providers usually provide tools for reducing the amount of spam that
can reach your inbox.
Additional Information
The Montana Department of Justice provides additional information about
protecting yourself from fraudulent e-mail and where to file a complaint. Click here to go to their Internet Security
link.
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