Where can I report an e-mail scam?

[Betty]

I just got an e-mail claiming to be from Smith Barney saying they needed to update my info because of a software upgrade. I don't even have an account with them, but they used the logo and it looks official, but I know this must be one of those scams where they get all your account numbers and then clean you out.

Anyone know the best place I can forward this to±?

[gmoney]

1. FTC

https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

[e-mail]

[clydefrand]

2. Report it to the authorities in your area.

I would send/take it to the sheriff's/police department and to some federal agency. Not sure who there. Also maybe the Attorney General of your state.

[flyingfysh]

3. these are very common

This type of email spam is called "phishing". They purport to be from all different kinds of financial institutions, and the spammers often use tricks to hide the actual URLs and links to make the emails look real.

If someone is dumb enough to answer one of these, they are likely to find their bank account drained of money.

[Wilber_Stool]

4. Forward it to

Smith Barney. They really want to know about this kind of thing. I get them all the time for Pay Pal, Earthlink, and eBay.

[lpbk2713]

5. Most ISP's have the same address to report this bogus E-Mail.

Usually it will be """security@(your ISP).com""" or sometimes it might be """abuse@(your ISP).com""". Cut and paste the header info and attach it to the copy you send to your ISP. They will usually take action with the sender's ISP, unless it's an ISP that caters to these types of slimeball clients (usually an ISP outside the USA). At any rate, do NOT respond to this sort of E-Mail. Do not even respond by telling them what you think of them. That will just open up the flood gates for much more of the same. And similarly, don't ever respond to a Spam E-Mail with the little check box that says "take me off your mailing list" for the same reason. It just tells them "we've got a live one".

[sugarcookie]

6. I got one last week

from a place where I actually do have an account. Like yours, it had official logos but the wording just didn't sound right. I went to copy it and found some hidden text that didn't show up til I highlighted it.

[franmarz]

7. An E-mail Scam ???

Every so often, when I log on, a very official YAHOO comes on and asks me to verify my pass word. For a while and a few times I did so, I got heaps of crap from mortgagers to viagra, etc. Now when it pops up, I just click on HOME, and it goes away, not to return. So I dont know if it is legit or not,but I dont fall for that anymore.