WARNING YOUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN LIMITED!!

This is the message I have received numerous times in the past few weeks.  It always appears to come from Comcast, which is my internet provider and email provider.  The email address says it comes from Comcast and they even include a Comcast logo in the email.  They always ask me to follow a link to reconcile my account or confirm my registration or something similar that sounds very official.  They include a link that when you mouse over it, there is the word comcast somewhere in the url, but it isn't the official Comcast website.  The email has been sent to either no name (blank) or it simply says Customer Comcast.  They always try to scare me by stating that I need to follow the link or my email will not be available in the near future.

There are a number of things wrong with this warning.

1. I have two email addresses and every other family member has one email account with Comcast but only my business email which is listed on Craigslist receives this notice.
2. As listed above, it isn't addressed to me personally but to either no one or to "Customer".  Sometimes they forget to hide the email addresses and it looks like it is addressed to somebody else.
3. Also listed above, the url they send you to isn't a Comcast website.
4. I have trained my outlook to send these emails to my spam folder which I only check about once a week but I am still able to send and receive my emails even though they say my account will be locked by then.
5. The addition of the company logo is a nice touch but anyone can use google image search to find, download and insert a logo into an email.

One email was so bold they requested I fill out an online form attached to the email that included the following:

Comcast ID
Password 
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name 
Address 
City
State
Zip Code
Country
Phone Number 
Mother's Maiden Name 
Social Security Number 
Date of Birth  (Month/Day/Year)
Month Day Year 
Card Type Specify your card type-----------------VISAMasterCardAmerican ExpressDiscoverOthers 


Card Number 
Expiry (Month/Year) 
Card Holder's Name 
CVV 
Name of Issuing Bank/Financial institution 
Associated Bank Account Number 
I/We hereby confirm that the above account information is correct. 

The next line in the email was a button that said continue, apparently that wasn't enough information for them.  I didn't click the button so I don't know what else they wanted.

Obviously this email was a scam and hopefully nobody would be foolish enough to give out any of that information in an email.  But the other emails that simply ask you to follow a link could get all of this information without your knowledge by placing spyware on your computer and tracking every keystroke that you make.  This is usually what these emails are for.  They scare you into following a link and for some reason it apparently is broken because it doesn't seem to go anywhere, or maybe it goes to a page that says thank you for updating you account.  But the real purpose is to plant the spyware.

As with any email that you receive requesting information or asking you to follow a link, if you did not initiate the email, DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINK.  Contact the company using a form of communication that you know will reach that company.  Go to their official website or find a phone number on your monthly statement and ask them about the email that you received.    

If you have followed a link, run some kind of anti-spyware program before doing your online banking or even ordering a pizza.  Search online for a free removal program.  

If you need help with these contact me for help. www.Duanesreliablecomputerservices.com