posted on March 13, 2008 07:08:00 AM new
DON'T click on it if you get one of these.
Hallmark is one of several greeting card companies being targeted via fraudulent e-mails that are flooding the Internet. These e-mails claim to have a link to an E-Card from a family member, friend or neighbor. Clicking on the link downloads a virus onto your computer that compromises personal data.
Please read below to find out:
What you can do
What Hallmark is doing
How to tell if a Hallmark E-Card notification is real
E-mail Safety Tips
What you can do:
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Delete the e-mail without opening it.
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If you have opened it and want to forward it to us, send it to [email protected]. Due to the large amount of e-mail we receive at that address we will not be able to reply to your e-mail, but we will investigate. Then delete the e-mail from both your inbox and your sent folder. If you click on the link in the bogus e-mail, you will launch a variant of the Zapchast Trojan virus. Zapchast installs an Internet Relay (IRC) chat client and causes the infected computer to connect to an IRC channel. Attackers then use that connection to remotely command your machine.
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If you use Windows XP and Internet Explorer you should visit update.microsoft.com to update your browser and operating system. Then you will be less likely to be affected by the virus.
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Report suspicious e-mail to your e-mail service provider so they can take action.
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File a complaint at http://www.ic3.gov/.
If you are unsure if you’ve received a legitimate Hallmark E-Card, don't click on a link in the e-mail. Instead use our E-Card pickup.
What Hallmark is doing:
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Contacting the Internet providers identified as the source of the spam requesting that they shut down the imposters.
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Working with Microsoft to include the virus code in their phishing filter to protect consumers who use their web browser and e-mail client software.
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Working with anti-virus software corporations to get the virus code added to virus definition updates.
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Reviewing Hallmark’s E-Card notification and pickup procedures.
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Educating consumers about how to avoid E-Card abuse.
How to tell if a Hallmark E-Card notification is real:
1. A legitimate Hallmark e-mail notification will come from the sender’s e-mail address, not Hallmark.com.
2. The sender's first name and last name will appear in the subject line. If you do not recognize the name of the person sending the E-Card, do not click on any links in the e-mail. Delete the e-mail.
3.
The notification will include a link to the E-Card on Hallmark.com as well as a URL that can be pasted into a browser.
4.
The URL will begin with http://hallmark.com/ followed by characters that identify the individual E-Card. Hover your mouse over the words "click here" in your e-mail. If you do not see the URL above, it is not a legitimate Hallmark E-Card.
5.
Hallmark E-Cards are not downloaded and they are not .exe files.
6.
In addition, Hallmark.com will never require an E-Card recipient to enter a user name or password nor any other personal information to retrieve an E-Card.
E-mail Safety Tips
* Don’t open e-mails you know are spam. A code embedded in spam advertises that you opened the e-mail and confirms your address is valid, which in turn can generate more spam.
* Don't open e-mails from unknown senders.
* Don’t open attachments in e-mails unless you are expecting to receive one. If you receive an attachment that you are not expecting, even if it’s from someone you know, first read the e-mail and make sure the attachment is legitimate. If you’re still not sure, call or e-mail the sender to confirm, but do not reply to the original e-mail.
* Don't click on links in e-mails that appear to be from financial companies (PayPal, banks, credit card companies, etc.) that direct you to verify or confirm account details. Instead, call the company if you are concerned about your account.
posted on March 13, 2008 07:11:51 AM new
I stopped opening supposed ecards years ago. They used to be so fun too. I am back to spending $5 for a stupid real card (which half the time I forget to send anyway).
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posted on March 13, 2008 09:22:26 AM new
I'm oldfashioned enough to still enjoy getting real cards--real mail in my real mail box. I find those e-mailed cards (all from younger relatives, of course) annoying and in some cases not funny/attractive/thoughtful. And sometimes they seem like the lazy way out.
I still send real cards. I wonder if this is a generational thing, or whether I'm just behind the eight ball.
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posted on March 13, 2008 09:32:33 AM new
This one is real easy for me to automatically delete. I have only a few living relatives, only one ever sents an E-Card at Christmas. My friends don't use them at all.
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