Sample FRAUDULENT "phishing" email

The first step to identity theft often begins with "phishing" for new victims by sending out thousands of fraudulent emails that contain a link for you to click on to go to a website to resolve some "problem" or "issue."

The email's designers are extremely clever and go to great measures to look authentic, but more importantly, scare you into thinking something's wrong with your credit card or other kind of account somewhere that you may have.

A recent article in the Washington Post described one such hacker whose computer would deliver and process his fradulent emails overnight, and collect 10-15 new victims each morning to add to his growing lists of victims, known as his "botnet."

Pornography and other advertisers then pay him to send their ads through to the unwitting members of his botnet, who begin experiencing those all-too-common pop-up ads on their PCs.

Today I want to share one of these emails that I received yesterday, to help you recognize one if you get one similar to this one. If you do, just delete it. Do NOT click on ANY link in it.

Here's the fraudulent "phishing" email:

Dear VISA card holder,

As part of our security measures, we regularly check the transactios made form ATMs worldwide .We recently noticed the following issue on your account:
A recent review of your transaction history determined that your card was used at an ATM located in Hungary, but for security reasons the requested transaction was refused.

ATM location: Budai Ut 13.Martonvasar H-2462 at BUDAPESTBANK MARTONVASARI KIRENDELTSEG

In order keep you and your account secure we advice you to change your card pin by clicking the link below:

(fraudulent link was here)

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect you and your account.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely, VISA Account Review Department