By now you should have heard about the “Google Docs” virus. This type of email can be very deceiving since the email sender is one of your friends. The email asks to open an attached file. In these types of emails, usually, a virus is installed when you open the file and can potentially damage files in your computer. Fortunately with this scam, as far as it has been found, the “virus” only accesses your google contacts and forwards the email to them. Below is a picture of what the email looks like. A good rule when dealing with emails and websites is if you sense that there is something wrong, there is something wrong! Trust your insticts and confirm with the sender (if you know him/her) before opening any files.
Also, the email address hhhh…@mailinator.com in the To: section is not a normal email address, this should make you suspicious of the email.
As a general rule:
- If you don’t recognize the sender, don’t open or click on the link.
- If the email is from someone that you know but the email looks suspicious or too good to be true, don’t open it; confirm with your friend that he/she intended to send you the email by call or text; don’t reply to the email.
- Ignore and delete any emails that ask for your bank account information, SSN, driver’s license number, Passport number, etc.
- Don’t open any attachments from unsolicited emails, they usually contain a virus.