Is this a new scam?

R

rrlund

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

I asked on the Oliver forum if somebody had sent me some pictures,maybe it's legit,we'll see,but I had three odd emails last night. One was in spam,the other two in the inbox. There was no name and nothing in the subject line,but they all had attachments that I didn't dare open. It was the email address that was really strange. It was just a bunch of numbers @xyz. The one in the spam said something about having trouble with a new I phone and pictures of a restored 500. The two in the inbox just said pics of my 1550 and nov pics.
Do I phones use an email address like that? And did one of you send me those pictures,or are spammers really getting sneaky?

 

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Phil Scarborough

Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

I dont know if this is a scam, all I know is if I am not happy, I dont open it.If it is a legit e-mail, the sender will get in touch somehow, if it is a scam, I have lost nothing. Phil

 

glennster

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

if it were me randy, i would delete the email without opening it.

 

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TimV

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

Some phones use the phone number as the e-mail address--knowing this, is the phone number one you recognize? I'd still be leery of opening any unknown attachments, but it's not necessarily a scam.

 

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PJH

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

"Not worth the risk", sez my computer repairkid.

 

D

dgasper

Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

Sounds to me like some scumbag is trying to get you to open attachments so he can download malware to your computer.

 

3

37chief

Well-known Member

Location

California

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

Now days everyone needs to be very careful when receiving anything in an e mail. A while back my wife received an e mail from our bank, wanting to update her info. She gave all her info to a scammer. I mean everything. The sight looked very official just like it came from our bank. Since that happened I got lifelock on her, to kept her identity protected. So now every year, I pay 100.00 to Lifelock because of some bottom feeder. It's going to get worse folks. Stan

 

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oldtanker

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

They have written "bots" that infect someone's computer without them being aware of it. Then that computer can send out emails with the bot or a virus in it to anyone on the owners address book for their email. Some are very clever and will send out something in the subject line that makes the receiver believe the email is ligit. They get the subject by scanning the outbox to people who are on the address list.

So I'd be very careful and contact people who may have sent you something. They can either verify that the email is safe or know that they need to scan their computer for malware.

Rick

 

OP

OP

R

rrlund

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

That's what I did. If it was legit from somebody here,send it again with some better way of identifying yourself.

 

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CKain(MI)

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

rrlund, NO one here would use a email like you described. It is a scammer.

 

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NEBeef

Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

iPhones use email addresses that are just like others...

 

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Mike M

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

I can't help but wonder if in fact life lock is behind some of this as to make their company "needed" ????

 

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Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

Stan, I had that same thing with my brokerage. Phony emails asking me to go to a site and log in with my password. Even has correct phone numbers for brokerage in email. So it looks VERY legit. But it was not. I did not respond BUT...

Got to a point last year someone called the broker with my social security number and account number. Tried to close my account. Got my account frozen instead and left me sitting in a restaurant with a big check and no way to pay it. That's OK...at least they did not get my money. Call traced to Mexico.

 

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agonair

Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

Dump it. I get a lot of email and have learned that when in doubt throw it out. Don't open it. These scammers are just looking for live addresses and once you open it they have you.
Any time they ask you to log in to verify something, it is a scam. Remember, financial institutions, government, or any other legitamate agency will never contact you via email first. They will call and let you know an email is coming, particularly when sensitive information is needed.

 

OP

OP

R

rrlund

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

You have to admit,they sure know how to personalize it,claiming to be pictures of a 1550 and a restored 500.

 

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Nebraska Cowman

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

NEVER open attachments you did not ask for or were expecting. NOT EVEN if it "looks" like it is from a known friend. That friends email may very well be compromised.

 

J

Jiles

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

Be safe not sorry.
Related--some people think eMail is private---NO NO,
Many times, I can look at the advertising above my messages and have an idea of what is in the unopened mail.

 

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jr frye 88

New User

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

YES----YES ---- YES---YES My brother had the same
and he was looking for parts. GUESS WHAT $350.00
later he learned to look at all the of the E-MAIL first so he dose not have to pay pc tech to work on his pc.

PS; I NEVER OPEN ANY THING ON MY PC SENT TO ME
UNLESS I KNOW THE E-MAIL OR REMEMBER WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND IN THE SUBJ.tHAT WE CHOSE TO PUT IN THE SUB, SO I KNOW IT IS LAJET.
JR.FRYE SAID THAT. HAVE A GREAT DAY

 

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jimg.allentown

Well-known Member

• Jan 16, 2015

• #1

Also keep in mind that when you see a link at the bottom of an email telling you to "click here" to "unsubscribe," when you click, you just validated your email address as being a legit one, and they will FILL your email with tier spam.