Yesterday received another suspicious looking email apparently from "Plusnet" with the heading "Keeping your Plusnet account secure". I always look at dodgy looking emails by using Ctrl+U rather than opening them. The message part of this one is as follows:
Plusnet
Advice on how to avoid phishing scams.
If you can=E2=80=99t see this email, click here http://comm.plus.net/q/17He=
NJwIspuHHi25zTfEzI/wv
Plusnet
http://comm.plus.net/c/1OByKjRUEPk6fp7oRHpNKUpkH
Hello,
At Plusnet we take the security of our customers very seriously and we want=
to make sure you are aware of how to protect yourself from potential 'phis=
hing' scams.
What is phishing?
Phishing is a technique used by cyber criminals to coerce customers into di=
sclosing sensitive information such as passwords. Phishing is an email or w=
ebsite that poses as a company or brand you recognise. Phishing emails are =
becoming more and more convincing, so you need to be wary every time you op=
en an email with links, attachments or requests for personal information. T=
hese are some of the tell-tale signs to look out for:
Asking for personal information - sending a link and asking for you to inpu=
t your full password.
Asking you to click on a link - emails that require you to click on a link =
should be approached with caution. Hover over the hyperlink to reveal the U=
RL to ensure that it is legitimate. If in doubt, contact the company or sen=
der direct.
Prizes and offers - if it=E2=80=99s too good to be true, it probably is. Ph=
ishing emails promise everything from free mobile phones and expensive gadg=
ets to large cash sums.
Spelling mistakes - spelling or grammatical errors should ring alarm bells =
straight away. But remember that some of the more sophisticated scams won=
=E2=80=99t have these oversights.
Deadlines - some scams work by creating a sense of urgency, threatening the=
closure of an account or suspension of membership.
Unusual attachments - if there is an attachment that you didn't expect, it =
could be a sign that it=E2=80=99s a phishing email. Do not open any attachm=
ents unless you know the sender and are expecting to see one.
What should I do?
By checking the sender's email address, you should be able to tell whether =
it is real. If you are still unsure, do not open or click on anything. If y=
ou are worried that you have clicked on a phishing link, the best advice is=
to change your Plusnet password. You can do this by visiting the Plusnet w=
ebsite and following these steps:
Click on the 'my account' tab at the top of the Plusnet home page and choos=
e the Broadband option
Login in to Member Centre using your username
Click on the 'Manage Account' option at the top
Click on 'Account Details'
Choose the 'change password' option to reset your password
If you would like any more information, we have a helpful guide to staying =
safe online on the help and support section on the Plusnet website.
Best Wishes,
The Plusnet Team
Click here http://comm.plus.net/q/17HeNJwIspuHHi25zTfEzI/wv to view this em=
ail in a new window
This email has been sent because it contains important information about yo=
ur service from Plusnet. Please don=E2=80=99t reply to this email as it is =
from an unmonitored address.
Email ref: PHEM01
Plusnet plc
Registered Office Address: The Balance, 2 Pinfold Street, Sheffield, S1 2GU
Registered in England, No: 3279013=
I have seen previous posts asking for suspect emails to be forwarded to abuse at plus.net and spam at spamtraining.plus.com but always as an attachment and mention of including the header. Sorry if I'm being slow here but can someone explain in simple terms exactly how to do these two things?
And is the email above phishing or am I being paranoid about my main/default email address finally being hooked in by the phishers after over a decade and a half with PlusNet?
All advice gratefully received.
Regards
EmpireCad
Seems to me, in my innocence, something PN end is boxed and coxed
