This is a real email I received. Loaded with red flags that it’s not legit, if you are paying attention!
1) Grammatical error in subject line
2) When you expand the From email address (if you can), it’s obviously not an Apple email, in fact it’s from Italy!
3) If your email program is capable of displaying the additional information, the time zone and coordinates are definitely not California.
4) In my case, I know my Apple ID is already up to date, having just recently downloaded iOS8 onto an iPad.
5) Never, never, never click on a link in an email asking for your username and password, no matter how real it seems on the surface!
To:
Subject: Update of Your Account Informations !
From: Apple <appel.update.ail.com@www4.netanday.it>
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2014 16:04:46 +0200 (CEST)
X-Bayes-Prob: 0.3716 (Score 0, tokens from: @@RPTN)
X-CanIt-Geo: ip=84.247.224.21; country=IT; latitude=42.8333; longitude=12.8333; maps.google.com/maps?q=42.8333,12.8333&z=6
(Apple logo prominently displayed)
Dear customer,
You’ve placed your Apple ID under the risk of termination by not keeping your information up to date. To complete the process, we just need to verify your information. Simply click the link below and sign in using your Apple ID and password to start the process.
(link removed)
Wondering why you got this email?
When you don’t regularly update your Apple ID information, Apple will require you to sign in by following the link in a verification email and update your information. This is to help protect your identity and keep your account secure.
For more information, see our (link removed) frequently asked questions.
Thanks,
Apple Customer Support
TM and copyright 2013 Apple Inc. <>1 Infinite Loop, MS 96-DM, Cupertino, CA 95014.
(more links removed)
spam spam spam spam
Good advice. There are so many daily attempt to get people to fall for real-looking offers and notices.
Just today I got a notice to track my order… which was good because I had ordered something, but not from this place. If I hadn’t been paying attention I may have clicked, but the date of the order was wrong, as was the total amount. Closer inspection led to other obvious clues that it was a coincidence I got this type of scam email just after ordering something online. It’s probably part of the odds the scammer is counting on. Someone must have ordered something online recently, right?
Lately I get lots of “Your policy has been cancelled” spams. Also get lots of offers for Genie Bras, Safe Bathtubs, Flexible Hoses, Heart Attack Fighters, gift cards to various stores, New Windows,and messages warning that milk is worse than smoking. Just clear here, ahem, of course…
world's stupidest spammers
I keep getting spams from alleged credit unions I don’t even have accounts at. I don’t bank on-line so I have no idea what triggered the spam, much less why they think I would fall for this.
no more inheritances
One thing I’m not getting as much of anymore is the spam with large offers of cash left to me by some foreign royalty.
I must have been cut out of their wills or something.