Phishing filters for email programs are getting better at detecting different schemes to steal your private information. At least one phisher is going old school to avoid the filters.
Instead of asking you to click a link, the phishing email simply asks you to reply to the email and fill in two blanks – your email username and password. It warns that if you fail to provide the requested information, your email account will “expire”.
1. As long as you pay your bills and follow the rules, no legitimate company is going to “expire” your email account.
2. If the message were legitimately from your email provider, they already have your username and password. You gave it to them when you set up the account.
3. If you think an email like this might be legit, type the URL for your email provider directly into your browser bar and log in manually. From there, contact support and ask if the warning is legitimate.
Here’s the text of the email I got this morning…
Subject: Your Email Account Will Expire!
The Helpdesk Program that periodically checks the size of your e-mail space is sending you this information. The program runs weekly to ensure your inbox does not grow too large, thus preventing you from receiving or sending new e-mail. As this message is being sent, you have 18 megabytes (MB) or more stored in your inbox. To help us reset your space in our database, please enter your current user name
(_________________) and password (_______________).
You will receive a periodic alert if your inbox size is between 18 and 20 MB. If your inbox size is 20 MB, a program on your Webmail will move your oldest e-mails to a folder in your home directory to ensure you can continue receiving incoming e-mail. You will be notified this has taken place.
If your inbox grows to 25 MB, you will be unable to receive new e-mail and it will be returned to sender. All this is programmed to ensure your e-mail continues to function well.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Help Desk
Remember, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get you…
As the old TV show used to say, “Be careful out there.”
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