I normally spot the scams a mile off but I clicked on a link in an email! It is a gmail phishing scam. The reply to my "not available" email was:
Hello again!
Thank you for your prompt replay. I love the property and I want to proceed with the booking asap!!!
We are truly interested in renting this property just that we have a small problem ( issue ).
My wife found the same property on different rental websites at a cheaper rate and other owners deatils.
I need to be sure that you are the owner at the link below
Here is the web address with the website that shows the cheaper rates of your property. http://www.homeaway.com/p623462436?utm_ ... 5724574578
but the link wasn't as it appeared.
I know it makes no sense after I'd told them that it's not available, but... I looked at the email before I looked at the previous conversation and was intrigued. It's a clever hook.
Always hover your mouse over a link and see what it really is. The visible text is simply text and can be anything.
I assume you've just posted the visible text here but it would be useful to show people what the real link was so they know how to spot it. You can remove some parts to make it invalid and safe.
kevsboredagain wrote:Always hover your mouse over a link and see what it really is. The visible text is simply text and can be anything.
Yes, I usually do!
kevsboredagain wrote:
I assume you've just posted the visible text here but it would be useful to show people what the real link was so they know how to spot it. You can remove some parts to make it invalid and safe.
Yes I should have saved the link, but in Gmail I reported it as phishing and that makes the whole conversation no longer accessible.
Cheers, Ben
www . scotland-cottage.com www . scottish-cottage.com
Ben McNevis wrote:
Yes I should have saved the link, but in Gmail I reported it as phishing and that makes the whole conversation no longer accessible.
If you clicked on it then it would still be in your browser history, unless you've deleted that recently.
I really appreciate the posts here. It was such an intelligent scam (unlike so many) and so easy to fall for. Thanks, Kevin, for the reminder to get into the habit of simply hovering your mouse over a link.
It just shows how smart some of these criminals have become at getting into the minds and thoughts of their intended victims.
Everybody be aware when opening suspicious inquiries with your smartphones, no hover possibilities there and you are often distracted. The conclusion is, if you're unsure don't do anything with the phone and wait until you can take a better and not distracted look from your computer.
villagg wrote:Everybody be aware when opening suspicious inquiries with your smartphones, no hover possibilities there and you are often distracted. The conclusion is, if you're unsure don't do anything with the phone and wait until you can take a better and not distracted look from your computer.
Hello Kev, I tend to read most emails on my IPad, and the hovering mouse does not work (ie if I try and hold my finger over the link). Do you haves any suggestions as to how to identify fake links from a tablet / IPad?
Thanks.