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Gmail Tip: Report Phishing 2005
Got a Gmail account?* Ever get those messages like "We here at Washinton Mutual/CitiBank/EBay/PayPal/etc have discovered a potential threat to your account security and need you to log in and reconfirm your information such as social security number"? And there's a link that looks perfectly legitimate, except if you view source on the HTML message you realize all the text in the message including the link is an image which actually links to some server in the Ukraine? And the message was addressed to your junk@mydomain account instead of to the washingtonmutual@mydomain you listed on your checking account application? Or maybe it's just as simple as the fact you don't even have an account with that company which tips you off that this is not a legitimate request for your personal information.
Take a moment to slap these scam artists. In Gmail, while viewing the message, click "Show options", then click "Report phishing", then click the "Report spam" button. The message is now out of your hair and Google's unblinking eye is turning towards the scumwads who deserve a little extra attention.
When they're assholes trying to rip people off, it's not snitching, it's just giving natural selection a helping hand. Spamming and phishing are not socially acceptable behavior.
*If not, and you want one, email metagrrrl@ and I'll send you an invite.
Posted on January 23, 2005 at 05:12 PM in privacy | Permalink
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