Is this a scam? VERY SCARY!

Gzim · 15-October-06, 03:13 PM

I got a very simple looking email today:

Subject: I thought you'd love this

I just found out that Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are contributing their technology to a new website called GoodTree that gives money to charity when you use it.
It's invitation only. I thought you'd love it

With a link to goodtree.com

It looked rather googlish, but then I saw this....

(Can't find the page anymore, but it was a page with my email already entered, and box selecting from 4 email providers: MSN, yahoo, gmail...something else, and a box asking for my password...) which sounds like a scammer is organising his password list well....

Anyone heard of this?

ranger1033 · 15-October-06, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gzim


	I got a very simple looking email today: Subject: I thought you'd love this I just found out that Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are contributing their technology to a new website called GoodTree that gives money to charity when you use it. It's invitation only. I thought you'd love it With a link to goodtree.com It looked rather googlish, but then I saw this.... (Can't find the page anymore, but it was a page with my email already entered, and box selecting from 4 email providers: MSN, yahoo, gmail...something else, and a box asking for my password...) which sounds like a scammer is organising his password list well.... Anyone heard of this?

I have not seen it and like you said it sounds very scary and anything that ask for passwords has to be some sort of scam to hack into your personal life, i would definitely stay clear of those kind of e-mails.

Sn0wMan · 15-October-06, 03:40 PM

I have recieved emails like that before. I just brushed them off as scams. The way they see it is most peopls use the same password for everything, so if they can get your "master" password, then they can steal your accounts.

Marc · 15-October-06, 03:50 PM

I have heard of a search engine that donates to charity. Dont remember what it was though.
But this, asking for your password, scam.

Nerdz · 15-October-06, 04:31 PM

Microsoft donates to charity anyway.

Google Charity:
The Google Charity

I really doubt they would all team up when they are all against each other...

Gzim · 15-October-06, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerdz


	Microsoft donates to charity anyway. Google Charity: The Google Charity I really doubt they would all team up when they are all against each other...

The thing is, the sites looks really good, rather googlish...I emailed gmail fraud thou, i'll see if they respond.

HemiCuda1970 · 15-October-06, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sn0wMan


	I have recieved emails like that before. I just brushed them off as scams. The way they see it is most peopls use the same password for everything, so if they can get your "master" password, then they can steal your accounts.

Its gota be a scam... I don't use the same password for everything........I do know people that do....

Iateronmly · 15-October-06, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiCuda1970


	Its gota be a scam... I don't use the same password for everything........I do know people that do....

I know lots of folks that tell me their passwords without prompting while fixing problems on their computer. Social engineering - there is no patch for human stupidity.

slickcam · 15-October-06, 07:09 PM

I got an e-mail recently regarding a Pay-pal acount.

It looked very official and nice, paypal logo's, paypal certified logos etc. and it said that there was suspicious activity on my pay-pal acount...

I don't have a pay-pal acount...
I followed the link to the site, where its first question was for my e-mail and acount password.
I stopped there.

Anyone ever have anything like this?

Gzim · 15-October-06, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickcam


	I got an e-mail recently regarding a Pay-pal acount. It looked very official and nice, paypal logo's, paypal certified logos etc. and it said that there was suspicious activity on my pay-pal acount... I don't have a pay-pal acount... I followed the link to the site, where its first question was for my e-mail and acount password. I stopped there. Anyone ever have anything like this?

Oh yeah, paypal ones are pretty common. What surprised me about this one was that the site looked original...

Nerdz · 15-October-06, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickcam


	I got an e-mail recently regarding a Pay-pal acount. It looked very official and nice, paypal logo's, paypal certified logos etc. and it said that there was suspicious activity on my pay-pal acount... I don't have a pay-pal acount... I followed the link to the site, where its first question was for my e-mail and acount password. I stopped there. Anyone ever have anything like this?

Yes! All the time! I even got ones from Ebay saying I have an unpaid dispute. I dont have a ebay account, but I do have a paypal account. But, I havent activated it with a credit card or anything so really how could I buy things? Lol. Ive also warned family members about these types of emails, and that they may look offical, but they arent.

Ha, I remember getting one of those from chase bank. Problem is, I dont have a bank account at chase! And out of curiosity, I clicked the link and all I got was a 404 Error.

raptor87 · 15-October-06, 09:54 PM

well out of curiosity i went and checked out GoodTree - The homepage that supports charities after searching for it on google. It appears to just be a search engine and didnt ask for my email or password. It did have links to common places Yahoo mail, Hotmail, myspace, ect. but they all appear to be valid external links

href="http://www.hotmail.com" class="bookmark1">Hotmail
href="http://mail.yahoo.com" class="bookmark2">Yahoo! Mail

directly from the page source

Gzim · 15-October-06, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptor87


	well out of curiosity i went and checked out GoodTree - The homepage that supports charities after searching for it on google. It appears to just be a search engine and didnt ask for my email or password. It did have links to common places Yahoo mail, Hotmail, myspace, ect. but they all appear to be valid external links href="http://www.hotmail.com" class="bookmark1">Hotmail href="http://mail.yahoo.com" class="bookmark2">Yahoo! Mail directly from the page source

No big deal, very easy to fake...

raptor87 · 15-October-06, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gzim


	No big deal, very easy to fake...

just saying sounds like the email you got was a scam but the site looks legit

BigAkita · 15-October-06, 10:48 PM

Any email from anybody asking for usernames or passwords is a scam. An email from anybody asking for personal information is a scam.

See, it is too easy to discern.

Gzim · 16-October-06, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAkita


	Any email from anybody asking for usernames or passwords is a scam. An email from anybody asking for personal information is a scam. See, it is too easy to discern.

The email looked rather legit, and the site, save for one page that I can't even find again looks very legit...just letting everyone else know, people are all too easily fooled, especially when it comes to charities...poopyhead

godfoot · 16-October-06, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iateronmly


	Social engineering - there is no patch for human stupidity.

Free Kevin!!!

Oh wait........

Gzim · 19-October-06, 05:39 PM

Just got a response from google...

Quote:


	Hello, Thanks for your report. The message you refer to did not originate from Gmail or Google. Instead, it appears to have been sent by someone who has faked the Gmail address so that it falsely appears to be from Gmail. 'Phishing' is a form of fraud in which a message sender pretends to be a representative of a legitimate organization in an attempt to trick the recipient into disclosing important personal information like passwords or bank account numbers. Google will never send unsolicited mass messages asking for passwords or personal information, or messages containing executable attachments. Keeping our users safe from fraud is something the Gmail Team takes very seriously. To help us stop phishing attacks, we ask that you report any suspicious messages to our Abuse Team. Here's how: 1. Log in to your Gmail account. 2. Open the phishing message. 3. Click 'More options,' and then click 'Report phishing.' 4. Click 'Report Phishing Message' in the pop-up window. If you feel that you may be a victim of identity theft, you may want to contact your local police department. For additional information regarding phishing attacks and how to protect yourself, please visit http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=29254&topic=8261&security=1 We appreciate your understanding. Sincerely, The Google Team

15-October-06, 03:13 PM		#1 (permalink)
Gzim Da' Jersey Kid	Is this a scam? VERY SCARY! I got a very simple looking email today: Subject: I thought you'd love this I just found out that Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are contributing their technology to a new website called GoodTree that gives money to charity when you use it. It's invitation only. I thought you'd love it With a link to goodtree.com It looked rather googlish, but then I saw this.... (Can't find the page anymore, but it was a page with my email already entered, and box selecting from 4 email providers: MSN, yahoo, gmail...something else, and a box asking for my password...) which sounds like a scammer is organising his password list well.... Anyone heard of this?

15-October-06, 03:40 PM		#3 (permalink)
Sn0wMan Apex Tech Demi-God	Re: Is this a scam? VERY SCARY! I have recieved emails like that before. I just brushed them off as scams. The way they see it is most peopls use the same password for everything, so if they can get your "master" password, then they can steal your accounts.

15-October-06, 03:50 PM		#4 (permalink)
Marc Apex Master Tech	Re: Is this a scam? VERY SCARY! I have heard of a search engine that donates to charity. Dont remember what it was though. But this, asking for your password, scam.

15-October-06, 04:31 PM		#5 (permalink)
Nerdz Sir Knight of Spamalot	Re: Is this a scam? VERY SCARY! Microsoft donates to charity anyway. Google Charity: The Google Charity I really doubt they would all team up when they are all against each other...

15-October-06, 07:09 PM		#9 (permalink)
slickcam Paintball C-Hoe-2	Re: Is this a scam? VERY SCARY! I got an e-mail recently regarding a Pay-pal acount. It looked very official and nice, paypal logo's, paypal certified logos etc. and it said that there was suspicious activity on my pay-pal acount... I don't have a pay-pal acount... I followed the link to the site, where its first question was for my e-mail and acount password. I stopped there. Anyone ever have anything like this?

15-October-06, 09:54 PM		#12 (permalink)
raptor87 Apex Advanced Techie	Re: Is this a scam? VERY SCARY! well out of curiosity i went and checked out GoodTree - The homepage that supports charities after searching for it on google. It appears to just be a search engine and didnt ask for my email or password. It did have links to common places Yahoo mail, Hotmail, myspace, ect. but they all appear to be valid external links href="http://www.hotmail.com" class="bookmark1">Hotmail href="http://mail.yahoo.com" class="bookmark2">Yahoo! Mail directly from the page source

15-October-06, 10:48 PM		#15 (permalink)
BigAkita n00b-ass reviewer	Re: Is this a scam? VERY SCARY! Any email from anybody asking for usernames or passwords is a scam. An email from anybody asking for personal information is a scam. See, it is too easy to discern.

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