Warning!
This warning applies to all instant messenger programs (Yahoo messenger, MSN Messenger and any other communication program) and mail programs.
There is people out there that will try to pass themselves off as a staff member of the messenger program and attempt to get you to download a program or give them your personal information. They will IM you and tell you there was a problem with your account or some other line to get you to do what they want. There is too many ways that they try to trick people and not able to list all of them here.
Here is how you can protect yourself from it.
- Ignore the email or instant message. (If you think the email or instant message is legitimate, contact the company that the email or message is from via telephone. Do not use the phone number that is listed in the message but look up the number in the phone directory. This way you know you are talking to the actual company. That way you will find out if it is legitimate.)
- If you are getting an email from a specific person, you can block that address.
- DO NOT RESPOND TO THE EMAIL OR INSTANT MESSAGE. The email or Instant message address is spoofed (not real) or goes to a site that allows the sender know they got a valid email address. Once they realize they have a valid email address they will increase the mail or messages to you.
- If you are getting email with these, you can create a rule to delete them before you see them. Click here for instructions how to do that if your using Outlook.