Claim: Scam traps the unwary into giving up their AOL information by telling them roses have been ordered through 1-800-Flowers.
Status: True.
Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2003]
Dear AOL Member, There has been a purchase added to your AOL account on Product - Love's Embrace Roses 32 dozen long stem red roses |
Origins: Yet again the unwary are being duped by con artists into giving up their personal information via a ruse. In this case, the targeted are jolted by an
But of course there never was such a charge — that part was pure lie, with the name
According to a statement provided by AOL in response to a query about the scam:
The e-mail you have received was not an Official AOL Mail. It is a scam disguised as an The hyperlink [contained in the e-mail message] leads to a Web page that asks you to either enter your If you should have any additional questions regarding online security and want to learn more about features AOL offers to help you have a secure online experience, please go to Keyword: AOL Neighborhood Watch. Please remember that no e-mail from AOL will ask you for your password or billing information or contain links that take you to sites requesting that information
You should always remember, for a mail to be official, all three attributes - the blue envelope icon, the blue border, and the AOL seal - must be present. And as always, AOL staff will never ask for your password
or billing information.
screen name and password, or download files to your computer. If you enter information, it is sent to the scammer, who can then sign on to your AOL account, read your
from these Web sites contain computer viruses or Trojan Horse programs that have been designed to steal your AOL password.
Last updated: 6 January 2008