Scam emails we got this week – Don’t fall for this junk!
Eight billion. That’s how many spam emails go out in the U.S. every single day. Komando staff (me included!) have received some real winners recently. Here’s a look at actual spam emails circulating right now. I want to keep you safe from junk like this, so read carefully!
Geeking out
Did someone call the Geek Squad? Content Queen Allie didn’t, but she keeps getting email receipts for subscriptions she never signed up for.
🚩 Why? They want your money, honey.
By sending a real-looking (but bogus) invoice, they want you to think you forgot to pay for something. Emails like this usually include a request for your credit card or bank information.
If you don’t fall for that trick, they often include a phone number for you to call to inquire about the invoice. When you call, crooks play customer service, try to make you pay over the phone or scam you some other way.
Dirty money
Remember how I told you sextortion scams are getting kicked up a notch? Well, our IT genius, John, is the latest target. John received a shady email with a PDF attached. It included his full name, work address, phone number and the signature “I ain’t playing games” threat.
The sender claims to have footage of John doing “embarrassing things” (aka surfing porn websites). They say in just a few clicks, they could send the footage to every one of John’s contacts.
And, just like we’ve reported, the scammer wrapped up things with a picture of John’s location (one of the entrances to our broadcast headquarters).
Gotta love the shade about camera covering tips. Feels a little too personal!
🚩 What’s the deal? These creeps want money, too — in this case, a $1,950 bitcoin deposit sent to an address they included.
Their goal is to get you worked up and scared enough to pay. After all, who would want their grandma to see them doing something naughty?
Of course, they don’t really have footage of you, and many other victims have reported getting this very same message. Don’t take the bait.
Direct your attention
I’ve gotten a few of these emails from Allie asking to switch her direct deposit information … except it wasn’t really Allie.
🚩 Double dipping: This crook wants money and business information. If I had fallen for this one, I might’ve handed a hacker company bank account numbers or other protected information.
The tipoff? Allie would absolutely go to the accounting team with a question like this, not me. And if I click where her name is listed as the sender, it reveals an email address that’s definitely not hers.
🛟 We almost got taken by a $40,000 fake invoice scam. Here are the details. Folks, this crap gets through no matter how strict your email filters are. Your best filter is that noggin! Be smart, read thoroughly and stay vigilant.
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