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Watch For Scams Newsletter. Amazon Scam
September 19, 2010
Hello

Amazon Scam

Watch For Scams is dedicated to helping you avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

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Amazon Scam

A variety of emails may arrive in your inbox which appears to come from Amazon.com.

The email message may advise you that you need to 'Verify Your New Email Address' or 'Confirm Cancellation of an Order' or check a 'Shipping Notification'.

The email contains the Amazon logo and has a 'confirmation' link for you to click on.

The emails are a phishing email that are designed to trick you into giving your Amazon ID and password to scammers, by entering them into a fake Amazon web site. Once they have your Amazon ID and password, the scammers go on a spending spree as many users store their credit card details online with Amazon to save entering them each time they make a purchase.

The scammers also try to change your email address once they have logged into your account, so that you won't receive the confirmation of purchase email that Amazon sends out.

Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud:

•Do not respond to unsolicited [spam] e-mail

•Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail

•Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Virus scan the attachments if possible

•Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information

•Always compare the link in the e-mail to the link you are actually directed to and determine if they actually match and will lead you to a legitimate site

•Log on directly to the official Web site for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of "linking" to it from an unsolicited e-mail. If the e-mail appears to be from your bank, credit card issuer, or other company you deal with frequently, your statements or official correspondence from the business will provide the proper contact information

•Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if the e-mail is genuine

If you have been a victim of this type of scam or any other Cyber crime, you can report it to the IC3 website at: www.IC3.gov. The IC3 complaint database links complaints for potential referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration. Complaint information is also used to identity emerging trends and patterns.

Remember - always watch for scams!

Steve

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