Hacked Database Leads to New E-mail Scam Warnings

HOUSTON - Over the weekend, the list of companies affected by a hacker’s handy work grew to include Kroger, Best Buy, Chase Bank, Disney, and Citibank. Those are just a few of the dozens of companies involved.

The companies are warning consumers about possibility of scam e-mails.

According to Epsilon, a third-party e-mail marketing company used by about 2,500 companies, a hacker gained accessed to two percent of its database.

The only information obtained by the suspected hacker was limited to email addresses and customers’ names, according to the Dallas-area company.

In a statement from Epsilon, the company assured no other information associated with those names has been compromised. This means your credit card, password, bank account information, and so-on are safe.

== The Danger to You ==

Unfortunately, there’s no master list of the companies involved, which is roughly 50. It’s best just to assume you might be affected.

It is possible, if you’ve given your email address and name to any of the affected companies, you will receive spam messages in the future. Those messages may include scams or phishing attempts.

These are fake e-mails made to look like they are from your bank or another major retailer. Because the hacker knows your name and e-mail address, it makes it easier to send you these fake e-mails.

== What to Watch Out For ==

Many phishing/e-mail scams are hard to detect because they look so real.

The bottom line is this: if you receive an e-mail from any company that says “click here,” you should question it. Remember, most companies will never ask customers for personal information like credit card info or your Social Security number.

If you receive an e-mail from what appears to be your bank, you can always go directly to the bank’s website in your web browser. So, instead of clicking the link, go straight to Citibank.com on your own and log in to the account to see if you received any messages there.

Also: remember that no government agency will ever send you an e-mail asking for personal information. Completely ignore those types of messages.

== Now That You’ve Read This Warning… ==

… Share it with your friends and family - especially the elderly. Many people still aren’t aware that phishing scams exist, and those that do are easily confused by what they are. Help your friends and family by not letting them miss out on this warning!

Source: myfoxhouston.com