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OneAndOneIs2

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Mon, Sep 08, 2008

[Icon][Icon]Spam scams are getting smarter

• Post categories: Omni, My Life

I just got this email:


Hello,

Our attempt to charge your credit card for your
outstanding Google AdWords account balance was declined.
Your account is still open. However, your ads have been suspended. Once
we are able to charge your card and receive payment for your account
balance, we will re-activate your ads.

Please update your billing information, even if you plan to use the
same credit card. This will trigger our billing system to try charging
your card again. You do not need to contact us to reactivate your
account.

To update your primary payment information, please follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account at http://adwords.google.com/select.
2. Enter your new or updated billing information.
6. Click 'Update' when you have finished.

In the future, you may wish to use a backup credit card in order to
help ensure continuous delivery of your ads. You can add a backup
credit card by visiting your Billing Preferences page or visit the
AdWords Help Centre for more details:
https://adwords.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=28857&hl=en_GB



Thank you for advertising with Google AdWords. We look forward to
providing you with the most effective advertising available.

Sincerely,

The Google AdWords Team

--------------------------------
This message was sent from a notification-only email address that does
not accept incoming email. Please do not reply to this message. If you
have any questions, please visit the Google AdWords Help Centre at
https://adwords.google.com/support/?hl=en_GB to find answers to
frequently asked questions and a 'contact us' link near the bottom of
the page.
---------------------------

Thunderbird spotted that it was a scam. And I kinda knew it was anyway, because I don't have an Adwords account.

But it's an unusually legit-looking email. I doubt the average user would look closely enough to immediately spot the tell-tale.

Can YOU see it? ;o)

5 comments

KTC
Comment from: KTC [Visitor] Email
I've been getting those for a while. Like you said, I knew it was a scam because I don't have an Adwords account. I think I would have spotted it anyway (not least because FF won't let one access the page), but like you said, it's very well done.
09/09/08 @ 01:50
Hari
Comment from: Hari [Member] · http://harishankar.org/blog/
The domain name is hidden excellently and the actual URL points to some Chinese website.

Is that the gotcha? :-)
09/09/08 @ 08:46
oneandoneis2
Comment from: oneandoneis2 [Member] · http://geekblog.oneandoneis2.org/
That's the one! :o)
10/09/08 @ 21:29
Andrew
Comment from: Andrew [Visitor] Email
Firefox has literally saved my life several times.
14/09/08 @ 02:08
Meekaay
Comment from: Meekaay [Visitor] Email
http://www.adwords.google.com.apokv.cn/select/Login

firefox caught this site :)
15/09/08 @ 11:57

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