Snopes computer virus here you have it

Origins: This Microsoft impersonation scam has been around since at least and has been run on computer users in numerous countries, including the U.

The usual setup is for the scammers to call you and identify themselves as technicians from Microsoft or some Microsoft-related company , then tell you that your Windows-based computer has a virus or other problem that is causing it to generate all sorts of error messages on the Internet and many bad. And the handy techs who just called you are ready to step in and solve your problem — for a fee, of course. The ultimate goal of the fraud varies depending upon which con artists are running it.

Some crossroaders set up the confused householders to buy overpriced and worthless anti-virus protection. Yet others look to take remote control of the computers belonging to those they dupe. The last of these appears to be the most common form of the scam; in that iteration, con artists direct their intended victims to access a particular website and download a program from it.

Subject: snopes you have an E-Card from Barbara. Barbara has sent you an E-Card — a virtual postcard from FriendGreetings. You can pickup your E-Card at the FriendGreetings.

Message: ———————————————————————— snopes, I sent you a greeting card. Please pick it up. The USPS posted a warning about this version on its web site:. Some postal customers are receiving bogus e-mails about a package delivery. The e-mails contain a link that, when opened, installs a malicious virus that can steal personal information from your PC. The e-mails claim to be from the U.

Postal Service and contain fraudulent information about an attempted or intercepted package delivery. You are instructed to click on a link to find out when you can expect your delivery.

But Postal Inspectors warn: Do not click on the link! Like most viruses sent by e-mail, clicking on the link will activate a virus that can steal information — such as your user name, password, and financial account information. What to do? Simply delete the message without taking any further action. The Postal Inspection Service is working hard to resolve the issue and shut down the malicious program.

As of March , Canada Post was also warning of similar virus mailings:. Please be advised that if you received an email suggesting that Canada Post has shipped a package to you with the tracking number RTHK, the email is fraudulent, likely contains a virus, and the package does not exist. Christmas tree app. Sobig W Lirva W Opening a greeting card from FriendGreetings.

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