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How do I know if this is a valid request or a phishing attempt?
vanity | 3/14/14 | me, EVA

Posted on 03/14/2014 3:29:18 PM PDT by Eva

I received this email today and immediately called American Express. They said that my account was in good standing and that they did not see any problem. They did not say whether they sent the email, but the woman said that she didn't see any problem with the account.

This is the email:

Dear American Express Member

Because of unusual number of invalid login attempts on you account, we had to believe that, there might be some security problems on you account.

So we have decided to put an extra verification process to ensure your identity and your account security.

Please download the attached file and continue to the verification process and ensure your account security.

If we do not receive the appropriate account verification within 48 hours, then we will assume this American Express account is fraudulent and will be suspended.

The purpose of this verification is to ensure that your American Express account has not been fraudulently used, and to combat the fraud from our community.

We appreciate your support and understanding and thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

American Express Customer Service

When you click on the verification symbol, you get a page that asks for all the personal information for the account. I started to fill it out and then I realized that it is probably a fraud. What do you think?


TOPICS: Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: americanexpress; amex; fraud; phishing; scam
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To: Eva

Call American Express, they need to know.

Also, did you shop at any of the stores or hotels that were hacked?


21 posted on 03/14/2014 3:41:30 PM PDT by Bulwinkle (Alec, a.k.a. Daffy Duck)
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To: Eva

Never EVER download files from emails like that.


22 posted on 03/14/2014 3:42:26 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
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To: Eva

Absolutely it is phishing. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER click on any link in such an e-mail. Always go to the actual site to make inquiries.

I had one come to me one time and it was very, very good but I took a second look at it and realized what it was. That was a long time ago and anytime I get something that looks suspicious I just delete it. You should do the same.


23 posted on 03/14/2014 3:42:43 PM PDT by RichardW
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To: Eva

It’s obviously fake. The poor sentence structure is your first clue.


24 posted on 03/14/2014 3:43:09 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Go HAWKS!!!)
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To: Eva

I keep getting eviction notices. My wife tells me I have to stay.

Really, anyone that asks you to download something to click on a link is trying to screw you.

If you are unsure, you are correct in calling the company. Or just ignoring it.

Trust me...if AMEX is mad at you, they will let you know. This comes from personal experience a long time ago.


25 posted on 03/14/2014 3:44:52 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (If you want to keep your dignity, you can keep it. Period........ Just kidding, you can't keep it.)
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To: Eva

I get these all the time. IGNORE


26 posted on 03/14/2014 3:44:54 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: Eva

I can help you...I have a MS in computer science and worked for the NSA/FBI/CIA as an expert witness in their fraud division.

To get started, please email me your account number and pin.

I’m currently in Nigeria visiting my uncle (he’s a prince over there) but I’ll get back to you ASAP.

For you only...I’m selling carbon credits. Today only. 1/2 off. No checks. Cash only.


27 posted on 03/14/2014 3:45:18 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Eva
If we do not receive the appropriate account verification within 48 hours, then we will assume this American Express account is fraudulent and will be suspended.

That smells.

Call the number on the back of the card (800-528-4800) and speak to a person.

28 posted on 03/14/2014 3:46:04 PM PDT by cynwoody
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To: Eva

Amex doesn’t send e-mails like that-I’ve had a card for 30 years, and believe me-you’ve been phished. But do call Amex and let them know so your card isn’t devastated...


29 posted on 03/14/2014 3:47:07 PM PDT by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
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To: Eva

When you clicked on the “verification symbol,” you may have infected your computer with malware. In fact, IMHO, it is likely you are now infected.

Go to your anti-virus application and do a “full scan,” or whatever is its maximum search option.


30 posted on 03/14/2014 3:47:18 PM PDT by Steely Tom (How do you feel about robbing Peter's robot?)
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To: Nifster

Good advise. Call the number on the back of your credit card. I’ve gotten one of these only it was supposedly from a bank with which I’ve never had an account or credit card. It looked very official and I did look at the bank’s web page. The scam email had all the bells and whistles of the real thing.


31 posted on 03/14/2014 3:48:05 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: Eva

Absolutely is scam/phishing.

I receive them daily


32 posted on 03/14/2014 3:50:25 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: Eva

SCAM - always call the number on your card.


33 posted on 03/14/2014 3:50:49 PM PDT by SkyDancer (I Believe In The Law Until It Intereferes With Justice.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
The email is legit.
~ Prince Niger of Nigeria"
those were the days..
only now, pResident 0'Muslim et. al.
(scam artist), is now running our country.

34 posted on 03/14/2014 3:51:38 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun..0'Caligula / 0'Reid / 0'Pelosi)
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To: Eva

Always ignore, but go to the site via your bookmark to see if anything is going on.


35 posted on 03/14/2014 3:53:11 PM PDT by relentlessly
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To: Eva

Assume everything is a scam and delete, ignore, don’t worry about it. If it’s not, you’ll know.


36 posted on 03/14/2014 3:54:54 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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To: Eva

Eva, are you serious? You REALLY think that is real? You need to educate yourself about internet safety. Never, EVER download and open an attachment from an email you receive from an unknown person. I’m ultra suspicious of any attachments on mails from people I know because they get spoofed all the time, too.

The poor grammar in the first sentence should have bee your tip-off.

Look at the full header of the mail. You’ll find it did not come from American Express. Every mail program and webmail program allows you to inspect the email header. You have to inspect the domain carefully, though, as the crooks will have a domain that might look legit. You may find this mail came from am_ex.com or amerexp.com or amexx.com or americanexpres.com.

The best thing to do is forward suspicious mails to the company (AmEx in this case) and let them handle it. All financial services firms have security teams that will appreciate getting this so they can investigate. Look on their web site for the address.


37 posted on 03/14/2014 3:55:50 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Eva

It’s a fraudulent email. First of all, a credit card company isn’t going to send you an email about a security issue. Multiple invalid attempts to log-in to your account would result in your online access being locked. Never click on email links to access accounts. I only access my accounts from my trusted book-marked pages. Also, if a creditor requires an extra validation step, like picking an image, or requiring security questions, they usually do that during your log-in, not in an email. I’ve gotten phoney UPS and FedEx emails claiming they couldn’t deliver a package, and that I need to click on a link. If they can’t deliver a package, they’ll leave you a written ticket on your door. You have to question everything these days. Remember, not all criminals are behind bars.


38 posted on 03/14/2014 3:56:56 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Eva

Never, ever , click on a link in an email like this. If you have any questions call them at the number on your statements or go straight to the website you usually go to and login.


39 posted on 03/14/2014 4:00:28 PM PDT by bamagirl1944 (That's short for Alabama, not Obama)
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To: Eva
Did a search and found ...

How to read email headers

40 posted on 03/14/2014 4:00:36 PM PDT by First_Salute (May God save our democratic-republican government, from a government by judiciary.)
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