Warning: Beware of Phishing Scams and Fraudulent E-mails
Spoofed ecard e-mails
Some of our readers have informed us that they received fraudulent ecard e-mails that appear to come from Buzzle.com, and include a deceptive URL address linking to a scam website that attempts to download a virus on user's computer.
We have noticed that there is a spam campaign going on that is posing as a Buzzle.com electronic card, but is really an attempt to lure the unwary into being infected by a computer virus. These spoof ecard e-mails are using a Buzzle.com address and name in the "From" field; but that does NOT mean that the email was sent by Buzzle.com. The "From" field can be easily altered and the mail can be forged by a spammer to make the email appear as a legitamite email.
The bad part of the fraudulent e-mails is that they have "masked" link, as shown in picture below:
The URL looks like going to a Buzzle.com page, but is actually linked to a virus installer address (notice different URL in yellow box). Users who follow the web link are taken to a potentially dangerous downloadable executable (.exe) file. Anti-virus products detect the file as a virus attempting to infect computers.
We want to warn computer users to watch out for such spoofed emails, and try to understand that Buzzle.com is not sending the emails, but rather spammers are sending them from somewhere else.
We also request computer users to assist and stand by us in our fight against this fraudulent e-mail scam.
Please note:
If you receive a fraudulent e-mail claiming to be from Buzzle.com, please let us know.
What are Phishing scams and E-mail frauds?
Phishing or Online Fraud is a type of deception designed to cause harm to your computer and/or steal your sensitive personal information. A Phishing/Spoof/Fraudulent e-mail is one that pretends to be from a legitimate company you trust, and which attempts to infect your system with virus/adware/malware and/or ask you to enter your personal information.
Scam artists might send millions of phishing e-mail messages that appear to come from websites you trust. While some e-mails are easily identified as fraudulent, others may appear to come from a legitimate source and a trusted website. Never rely on the address or name in the "From" field; the "From" field can be easily altered and misused.
Such spoof e-mail messages usually include a deceptive URL address linking to a scam website. Such a deceptive link appears to go to the legitimate website, but it actually may do one of:
Identity Theft Prevention and Protection Tips
Beware of masked URL addresses in e-mails
The links that you are urged to click in fraudulent e-mails are usually "masked," meaning that the link you see does not take you to that address but somewhere different, usually a phony website or virus installer address. Always, hover links in emails. The link may appear as pointing to the official site, but resting the mouse pointer on the link reveals the real Web address in the box with the yellow background, as shown in the picture above.
If you have received any fraud e-mail with masked link similar to as shown above, attempting to pose as Buzzle.com official e-mail, please inform us.
Some of our readers have informed us that they received fraudulent ecard e-mails that appear to come from Buzzle.com, and include a deceptive URL address linking to a scam website that attempts to download a virus on user's computer.
We have noticed that there is a spam campaign going on that is posing as a Buzzle.com electronic card, but is really an attempt to lure the unwary into being infected by a computer virus. These spoof ecard e-mails are using a Buzzle.com address and name in the "From" field; but that does NOT mean that the email was sent by Buzzle.com. The "From" field can be easily altered and the mail can be forged by a spammer to make the email appear as a legitamite email.
The bad part of the fraudulent e-mails is that they have "masked" link, as shown in picture below:
The URL looks like going to a Buzzle.com page, but is actually linked to a virus installer address (notice different URL in yellow box). Users who follow the web link are taken to a potentially dangerous downloadable executable (.exe) file. Anti-virus products detect the file as a virus attempting to infect computers.
We want to warn computer users to watch out for such spoofed emails, and try to understand that Buzzle.com is not sending the emails, but rather spammers are sending them from somewhere else.
We also request computer users to assist and stand by us in our fight against this fraudulent e-mail scam.
Please note:
- Buzzle.com, Inc. is NOT liable for any loss arising from your falling prey to phishing scams or fraudulent e-mails that misuse the identity of Buzzle.com.
- Before clicking an e-mail link that appears to go to a Buzzle.com page, please make sure the URL address is indeed pointing to a Buzzle.com page and not to any other website address.
- Buzzle.com does not share your information in any form with any other website. Hence please do not part with your sensitive information to other websites even if you are asked.
If you receive a fraudulent e-mail claiming to be from Buzzle.com, please let us know.
What are Phishing scams and E-mail frauds?
Phishing or Online Fraud is a type of deception designed to cause harm to your computer and/or steal your sensitive personal information. A Phishing/Spoof/Fraudulent e-mail is one that pretends to be from a legitimate company you trust, and which attempts to infect your system with virus/adware/malware and/or ask you to enter your personal information.
Scam artists might send millions of phishing e-mail messages that appear to come from websites you trust. While some e-mails are easily identified as fraudulent, others may appear to come from a legitimate source and a trusted website. Never rely on the address or name in the "From" field; the "From" field can be easily altered and misused.
Such spoof e-mail messages usually include a deceptive URL address linking to a scam website. Such a deceptive link appears to go to the legitimate website, but it actually may do one of:
- attempt to infect your computer system with a virus/malware/adware
- take you to a phony scam site
- open a pop-up window that looks exactly like the official site
Identity Theft Prevention and Protection Tips
Beware of masked URL addresses in e-mails
The links that you are urged to click in fraudulent e-mails are usually "masked," meaning that the link you see does not take you to that address but somewhere different, usually a phony website or virus installer address. Always, hover links in emails. The link may appear as pointing to the official site, but resting the mouse pointer on the link reveals the real Web address in the box with the yellow background, as shown in the picture above.
If you have received any fraud e-mail with masked link similar to as shown above, attempting to pose as Buzzle.com official e-mail, please inform us.