Identity Theft … online email account vulnerability
Filed Under Thought for the Day
A friend of mine has used Hotmail email for a long time and yesterday her identity was stolen and an email was sent to everyone in her address book asking each person to send $700 via Western Union to an address in Reading, PA (see complete message below). The message included her email signature and looked legitimate.
My friend had to close her Hotmail account, losing a lot of information she had stored there, AND they got hold of account information for Amazon.com and Ebay, wreaking even more havoc. She had to alert the State Police and Attorney General.
Lesson Learned: Do not save account information and passwords in an online email account!
**************** EMAIL MESSAGE *****************
SUBJECT: Urgent Need!!!
Hi…how’re you doing, please I need an urgent help from you, I’m at the moment in need of a loan which I will pay back on Monday when I get back in town. I am presently in Reading. I need you to help send $700 through Western Union Money Transfer to Name, Full Address (in Reading, PA). As soon as you’ve done that get back to me with the following information:
1. MTCN NUMBER
2. TOTAL AMOUNT SENT
3. SENDER’S FULL NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER.
4. SECRETE QUESTION AND ANSWER (IF NECESSARY).I want you to note that I need this done as soon as you get this mail, and I promise to pay you back as soon as am back by Monday.
Thanks.
Friend’s Name
Friend’s Address
Friend’s Home Phone and Cell**************** END EMAIL MESSAGE *************