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Avoid Facebook Phishing Emails

June 1st, 2010 by jules

About two months ago, I got my first Facebook phishing email. It asked me to click a link so that I can change my Facebook password. You know, for my ‘security’.

Well, this one was an immediate red flag to me for the following reasons:

1)   I’m not an active Facebook member at all and the email address that was used to send me the message was an account I was SURE I had not used for opening a Facebook account.

2)   The message style of the email was very unprofessional. It said this:

Dear user of facebook,

Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your password has been changed. You can find your new password in attached document.

Thanks,
Your Facebook.

First of all, “Dear user of facebook”? Come on.

Plus, the fact that the word facebook was not properly written (Facebook) was another red flag.

3)   Attachments are major red flags too. Even if it was only a link to change the password I would not immediately click it. So an attachment, something for me to download on my PC, is definitely a red flag.

It didn’t take long for my doubts to be proven true. Tons of articles online soon appeared stating that Facebook password reset confirmation emails were a fake. Good thing I didn’t download the attachment and have malicious software invade my PC!

If you get this email or other phishing messages, here are a few more of those ‘red flags’ you should be aware of.

• If you are asked to provide passwords, personal information, or credit card details, be weary.
• If you are addressed as “dear user” instead of “dear [your name]”. With the latter, it at least signifies that some time ago you may have signed up for their product or service (because they have your real name).
• If the email is poorly written with many grammar errors, it’s probably a phishing email. This is because professional organizations will almost always take the time to craft professional looking messages to their users / subscribers.

As a way to AVOID getting phishing emails, ensure that your antivirus software is always updated. Most of the time, these malicious emails will have a word or two in them that will trigger your antivirus program to issue a warning message about the email or move the message altogether to your Junk or SPAM folder.

Make sure your firewall is always turned on too!

Related posts:

1. Urgent! Rapidly Spreading New Email Virus Threatens Facebook Users
2. Twitter alerts its users to Phishing scam
3. Another Facebook Update
4. Facebook Chat is now available with all your IM clients!
5. Are you a business on Facebook well life just got easier

Tags: phishing

5 Responses to “Avoid Facebook Phishing Emails”

1. Anne says:

   June 8, 2010 at 6:07 pm

   I count on you guys alot.What you say is very interesting.Nice network support.
2. Idreesazad says:

   June 17, 2010 at 3:13 pm

   phishing is term having a lexical definition exactly,
   see this,
   duplication of a Web page that already exists in order to trick and entice users into giving private or financial particulars or their password.
   your article is really help full in this sense.
3. skamasle says:

   July 21, 2010 at 7:46 pm

   More Spam in facebook this never end !
4. MB says:

   July 29, 2010 at 4:13 pm

   The new version looks like this:

   facebook
   Hi Joe,
   Your account has been created — now it will be easier than ever to share and connect with your friends.
   Here are three ways for you to get the most out of it:

   Find Friends
   Find people you know on Facebook using our simple tools.

   Upload a Profile Photo
   Personalize your profile and help your friends recognize you.

   Edit Your Profile
   Describe personal interests, contact information, and affiliations.
   If you have any questions, reference our New User Guide.
   Thanks,
   The Facebook Team
   Sign in to Facebook and start connecting
   Get Started

   Didn’t sign up for Facebook? Please let us know. This message was intended for xxxxxxx@xxxxx.com. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click here to unsubscribe.
   Facebook, Inc. P.O. Box 10005, Palo Alto, CA 94303
5. Laptop and Computer Repair Services says:

   August 25, 2010 at 8:58 am

   I’ve delt with my fair share of Facebook emails trying to get me to change my password or requesting I click on a link. Don’t know if any of you remember when AOL phishing started. Users where giving out the information quickly due to not hearing of the term phishing. Everyone these days that use the internet should have enough common sense not to give out this information.