The new scam?

[Ed62]

Twice in the last few days, I was on different websites that asked for my e-mail address and my password. I've never seen this before. If I gave it to them, how do I know they won't copy my e-mails and take the fortune I always win? Seriously, why would anyone give them their password?

Ed

[crokett]

I don't think they want the password to your email account. I think a lot of websites use your email address as a userid and you can choose a different password for that website. Actually you should use a different password for every website you have an account on.

[Ed62]

Nope. They wanted my password for the e-mail account. But they said they wouldn't give it out.

Ed

[DaveS]

Some of the social websites (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) do this so they can scrape the contacts out of your email account - to try to help you find your friends.

It always seems a little fishy to me, but it isn't necessarily an outright scam.

[Ed62]

Some of the social websites (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) do this so they can scrape the contacts out of your email account - to try to help you find your friends.

It always seems a little fishy to me, but it isn't necessarily an outright scam.

Actually, one of the sites was Facebook. My cousin sent an e-mail telling me she had put a lot of family pictures on there, and if I joined, I could view them. The problem is that she's my age, and neither one of us is great at things like Facebook, so I haven't seen them yet. She'll let me know when her daughter gets things fixed up for viewing.

Ed

[jackellis]

Ed, for many web sites you use your e-mail address as your userid, but you should use a different password to control access to your account on that site. If your e-mail address is ed@abc.com and the password for accessing your e-mail is defg, then use a different password like poiu for your Facebook account.

[sparkeyjames]

Secret to email security is to not use Webmail accounts. Use a local client and POP mail make sure all mail gets deleted from the server on receipt and NEVER EVER give out the password. Also don't open attachments that are not .jpg or .mpeg files. If you must view PDF files sent via email disable the running of javascript in adobe reader. If possible don't display HTML email. Though this is becoming a lot tougher to do. Disable javascript and java in email if you must view HTML email. Use Thunderbird for email not the virus magnet Outlook/Outlook express. Trust your spam filter but verify (sometimes good email gets flagged). Don't click on links in email no matter how hard your mouse tries to convince you that it will be OK unless you KNOW it's OK. That guy in Nigeria is not who he claims to be.

[Wood_workur]

Or don't open any attachments that you don't who they are from. If I wanted to I could post a picture that when you look at it will give me the ability to see everything you are doing on your computer (but I have the honor not to do that)

[Ed62]

Ed, for many web sites you use your e-mail address as your userid, but you should use a different password to control access to your account on that site. If your e-mail address is ed@abc.com and the password for accessing your e-mail is defg, then use a different password like poiu for your Facebook account.

I'm well aware of all that. I just had a hard time believing they were asking me for my e-mail password. And I probably delete as many unopened e-mails as the ones I actually read.

Ed