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#Post#: 461--------------------------------------------------
A visit from a Trojan
By: Arks Date: February 27, 2024, 1:13 pm
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Today I received an email, looking like it's a reply to the
"Your reservation is almost here" e-mail I send out a few days
before each reservation. I'll paste the top part of the mail
below.
I was suspicious because it had a ZIP file attached, and I know
not to open those, as zip and PDF files can install viruses,
trojans, etc on your computer.
So I looked up the reservation confirmation number listed in the
reply email. It was a person who stayed with me in 2019! I'd
guess that the guest's email account got hacked and they found
the 2019 email from me and replied as if it was the guest
sending it. We must be ever-vigilant, my friends!
===========================================================
Good day,
Just wishing to verify if you've looked at the file I shared
yesterday.
________________________________________
Reservation Confirmation Number:5956148
Your 4-digit door entry code is: 2468
Dear Gary,
Your reservation is almost here! Unless you earlier arranged for
a different arrival or departure time, your 4-digit entry code
2468 will be activated beginning at 4 p.m. (16:00) on your
arrival day and it will be deactivated at 11 a.m. (11:00) on
your day of departure. You can come and go as you wish during
that period of time.
#Post#: 462--------------------------------------------------
Re: A visit from a Trojan
By: gillumhouse Date: February 27, 2024, 1:52 pm
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I have been inundated with e-mails purportedly from my server
host - for each of my e-mail names tied to the one account -
telling me they will be deactivated unless I verify them - of
course by clicking the link below. Also saying my domain names
and hosting will be gone unless I "verify". Do they think we all
just fell off the turnip truck?
This is one reason I try to look at e-mails in the server before
they get to my computer. IF still in server, I can hover on the
FROM to see the actual e-mail info. My delete key has been
threatening to go on strike from over use.
#Post#: 463--------------------------------------------------
Re: A visit from a Trojan
By: Arks Date: February 27, 2024, 4:29 pm
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[quote author=gillumhouse link=topic=73.msg462#msg462
date=1709063553]
Do they think we all just fell off the turnip truck?
[/quote]
Folks of our age need to start being extra cautious, because
research confirms that, as people age, they often lose the
ability to be skeptical. Older people tend to take things at
face value, without questioning. Not because they are from a
different generation, but because there have been changes in
their brain with aging.
That's why, when we hear of someone being scammed by a traveling
driveway sealing company, it's a "company" that actually only
sprays water on the driveway and charges $15,000. It's almost
always someone over age 80 who pays it. They are people who
would never have fallen for it when they were younger.
Old folks just slowly lose it, unfortunately, and that's who the
scam emails are preying on.
I remember the time I told my otherwise perfectly lucid mother,
who was 94 at the time, that I saw a car pulled over on the side
of the road that had obviously just been in a minor wreck. Her
response: what color was the car?
What? That's when I first realized that mamma was getting old!
#Post#: 464--------------------------------------------------
Re: A visit from a Trojan
By: JimBoone Date: February 28, 2024, 4:45 am
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You figure it's just age or that with age we are more likely to
have saved a little and make ourselves a target? Now I'd
probably ask what kind/color car as well to know if I should
worry about friends or family with that type/color vehicle.
Like Gillum, I tend to check my email on the web, most days
there are several such bs emails to annoy me. I attempt to use
email filters to move certain repeat offenders to a different
folder from the usual inbox.
#Post#: 465--------------------------------------------------
Re: A visit from a Trojan
By: gillumhouse Date: February 28, 2024, 9:50 am
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It is sad, but Arks is correct - they ARE aiming at the older
folks - especially at older women who are from a time when Hubby
"took care of things". THAT is an era that is almost gone.
However, when the "bad boys" send something with a logo like the
real deal AND the company name - I have received e-mails from
support[member=2]gillumhouse[/member]..... which I know is false
because that is not one of my many e-mail addresses. I had 2
this morning supposedly from my e-mail host - when I did the
hover, one ended in .de and the other in .jp. Both died on the
server. Those are the ones that suck in even the smart people.
#Post#: 466--------------------------------------------------
Re: A visit from a Trojan
By: Arks Date: February 28, 2024, 1:55 pm
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And I suspect artificial intelligence is going to make it even
harder for us to separate the legitimate emails from the scams.
Just hoping the larger email providers can develop even better
artificial intelligence to combat it!
#Post#: 467--------------------------------------------------
Re: A visit from a Trojan
By: JimBoone Date: February 29, 2024, 7:35 am
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[quote author=gillumhouse link=topic=73.msg465#msg465
date=1709135429]
I had 2 this morning supposedly from my e-mail host - when I
did the hover, one ended in .de and the other in .jp. Both died
on the server.
[/quote]
One of my email server "rules" puts emails these odd Domain
names in a special folder, makes it easier to check, well to me
anyway. I don't recall any of these odd domains being used by
legitimate guests.
Another special rule/folder catches emails with certain words:
bitcoin, Seo, website, list, with most of the "junk" in a
different folder it is easier to me to see important emails.
The difficult one to separate are the ones from Gmail addresses
wanting help with a reservation. If we reply and attempt to help
the request is sent in some sort of attachment that must be
opened/clicked on, so they get deleted but haven't yet found a
way to automate their deletion.
#Post#: 468--------------------------------------------------
Re: A visit from a Trojan
By: gillumhouse Date: February 29, 2024, 1:11 pm
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the .de = Germany I think the .jp is Japan but not sure .uk =
United Kingdom .fi - Finland
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