08/22/2007 Internet

Hackers are sending emails impersonating other companies. We often receive emails from our own email address "support@popupstop.com" that we have never sent. Telling us to read this immediately or to open the attached file or to run a program that is in the email or to send personal account information. Please never respond to these emails, they are after your personal information.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and your credit card information:

Never send your credit card information in an email. No matter what. If you have to clear up a transaction, then call the company you placed the order with.

Never run any program that comes in an email. Even if it says it's a security update from microsoft. Sometimes the program may look like a picture for you to open. Normally something like kenswedding.jpg.exe . You may see the "jpg" and think it is a picture. No matter who it comes from, do not open files in emails unless you have talked to the person and they confirmed they sent it to you.

PayPal Users - Do not give your information out to anyone over email or on a webpage unless you know you are connected to this link: https://www.paypal.com . There are emails going around that say they are from paypal, but they are not. Paypal will never ask for your information using email or tell you to visit some other site to enter this information. When you are in doubt, visit PayPal and look for a contact telephone number and then call them directly. Paypal has great customer support and they want to make your experience enjoyable.

Telephone credit card verification - Never give your credit card info to anyone that calls you. There are scams going on where they say they are from the credit card company and they are making sure you are not be scammed. They ask you to provide your credit card. This should raise a red flag to you and you should immediately hang up and call your credit card company back to validate the request.
Retail store shopping:

Be careful of someone standing next to you at the checkout counter. They may have a cell phone that has a camera and they maybe taking pictures of your credit card. This is the newest form of credit card theft out in stores.
Now that your a little more knowledgeable, go have fun with the internet!