GCU Forum - Update & Confirm Account Information

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Update & Confirm Account Information
Apr 13^th, 2010, 7:43am

I recieved an email from a site called BT.com that was also sent to someone at BigDates requesting I update my account information because they were unable to process my last payment. The email is pasted below so you can read it.
I did not know what BT was so I clicked the link and thought it was just a spam site. I went back to look at the mail and saw it was sent to someone at bigdates.com and really got confused. I emailed the person it was sent to at BigDates asking them to please confirm if this was legit or not but have not heard from them.
It is weighing rather heavy on my mind so I thought I would ask here. Can anyone explain this and tell me if it is valid request or not?
Thank you for your time.
MANolan
-----pasted email------

From: ebilling@bt.com
To: mike4@bigdates.com
Sent: 4/9/2010 3:03:06 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Update & Confirm Your Account Information.

Dear Customer,

This e-mail has been sent to you by BT to inform you that we were unable to process your last payment of bill.This might be due to either of the following reasons:

1. A recent change in your personal information. (eg: billing address, phone)
2. Submitting incorrect information during bill payment process.

Due to this, to ensure that your service is not interrupted, we request you to confirm and update your billing information today
by clicking here.

Regards,
BT Billing Department

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Tanya_135475

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Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #1 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 7:51am

Hi

Strange email, and BT never ask for account information by email, no big company should, odd that you got it someone mixed up somwhere........ Bt is British Telecom our main telephone people here in the uk, they would never ever ask for account and billing info like that.

Personally that would have ended up in my bin, but you could email bt they will at a guess say the same though that they would not ask you to go link clicking to confurm things. Or at least it would be extremely naughty of any large company to even send an email asking you to click on any link, its a nono.

I know it's not much help but it looks like a typical spoof, I could be wrong of course, I am known for it haha.

Good luck and I would not worry unless you are with bt then I'd phone only.

Hmmm actually bt never puts bt they are btinernet.com or btinternet.net usually never had a bt raw.

Hugs moonie

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Pamela_135500 Gold Member artist Posts: 1945	Re: Update & Confirm Account Information Reply #2 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 7:57am Hi Maryann, I do know that Mike at Bigdates is a valid person, but beyond that cannot help with the 'bt' part. I am sure you will get an answer a little later today from Mike when they get going out there in San Francisco. Curious to see what it's all about Pamela
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Tanya_135475

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Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #3 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 7:57am

I checked around the net seems like thats a popular scam here is a similar one.

Hi All

I just received an email from ebilling@bt.com with the following body (no attachments).

I believe it to be a scam but the scary thing is that when you go to that link, you will find that they are harvesting personal details and account details.

Anyone else getting these? and what should I do about this one? I went to bigpond web site but as expected but didn't find how can I report it.

Dear Customer,

This e-mail has been sent to you by BigPond to inform you that we were unable to process your most recent payment of bill. This might be due to either of the following reasons:

1. A recent change in your personal information. (eg: billing address, phone)
2. Submitting incorrect information during bill payment process.

Due to this, to ensure that your service is not interrupted, we request you to confirm and update your billing information today
by clicking here.

Regards,
BigPond Billing Department

They seem to change the Regards bit when and if needed

If you have already confirmed your billing information then please disregard this message as we are processing the changes you have made.

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Pamela_135500 Gold Member artist Posts: 1945	Re: Update & Confirm Account Information Reply #4 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 8:00am Ugh! Hate these things! Good sleuthing Tanya Pamela
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Carol_136775 Full Member artist Posts: 165	Re: Update & Confirm Account Information Reply #5 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 8:05am Ignore this - the message got posted twice
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Carol_136775

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Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #6 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 8:05am

Although GCU will have to tell you if this e-mail is legit, a warning is in order. Too many honest, trusting people go directly to false sites by "clicking here" in an e-mail. It is never safe to do that.

Also, unless you are absolutely, 100% positive about the identity of the sender, don't give personal information over the internet. It is far better to make a phone call or use a trusted address from your address book to contact the supposed sender.

Identity theft is so common and destroys so many lives, this warning needs to be put forth again and again. The criminal vultures who prey on trusting people are extremely skilled in playing on fears, concerns, and emotions (not to mention greed), and are even more skilled at creating sites that appear legit. Angry

Hope you get your GCU answer soon - just felt it necessary to keep this warning out there in the internet ether.

Carol

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Donna_138541

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Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #7 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 8:25am

Warning -

Yesterday I got an email from "Paypal" with the actual email address from: ebilling@bt.com warning me that my Paypal account was suspended and to sign on to correct and update my info.

This email DID NOT come from Paypal... my paypal account works just fine, especially since it's not in my own name or associated with my email address!! I get these a few times a year. It's a SCAM. Do not click onto the links and sign in with personal information. These are fake/mirrored sites to get personal information.

If ever in question about these types of emails - go to the real website, get the phone number and CALL BigDates, Paypal, your bank, cable company, etc.

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Kathy_131728

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Posts: 610

Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #8 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 8:28am

Hi Maryann,
Sorry you had this scare. I received a similar note yesterday from PayPal concerning my PayPal account. I knew it was a scam right away because I don't have a PayPal account so it was an easy delete. The note you got is very curious since it had a BigDates address too. I am sure someone will get back with you on this from GCU and I hope you get it all straightened out soon. You are wise to be cautious!
Kathy

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Doreen_137017

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Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #9 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 8:53am

It's always best to not open or respond to emails such as this without connecting the actual 'hosting site'. A couple of days ago I received two messages one from security@facebook and one from customerservice@facebook...you'd think those were legit, however...

They included a zip file and said that my password had been changed for security reasons and my new password could be found in the attachment. First thing I did was see if I could log into Facebook with my existing password and yes I could not to mention companies don't send zip files with passwords, maybe a link but not an attachment.

Scary world out there!

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Joan_135833

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Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #10 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 9:17am

Hi, everybody,

I'd like to make everyone aware of this site

http://www.millersmiles.co.uk/

which I've used for several years now. They have the most up-to-date and accurate listings of phishing and other types of internet scams, plus clear instructions on how to react. One thing they always stress is to try to avoid even opening a suspicious e-mail but instead to forward it directly to them so that they can analyze its content before it has been modified. I've always done this ever since I discovered the site. You can see that this business about PayPal is right at the top of the list, so obviously many people have been approached and responding.

Whenever I've had a doubt or a suspicion in this area, this website has always been reassuring, and I like the idea that we can all contribute to their investigations.

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« Last Edit: Apr 13^th, 2010, 11:08am by Joan_135833 »

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Patricia_132015 Senior Member artist Posts: 407	Re: Update & Confirm Account Information Reply #11 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 11:05am It's got to be SPAM! Delete it right away! It might have virus worms attached to it. Blurrr. Report it .
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Pamela_135500 Gold Member artist Posts: 1945	Re: Update & Confirm Account Information Reply #12 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 11:10am Great site Joan Thanks for sharing that one. Pamela
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Mindy GCU Administrator Community Manager Posts: 6567 Gender:	Re: Update & Confirm Account Information Reply #13 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 12:29pm Yep, we do have a Mike but that email is NOT from him nor GCU.
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Susan J._131799

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Re: Update & Confirm Account Information
Reply #14 - Apr 13^th, 2010, 1:25pm

I received an email supposedly from Pay Pal very similar to Bambina's.. I immediately checked my Pay Pal Account (where I found nothing the matter with my account). I then reported the suspicious emai Shocked

l to pay pal at their email: spoof@paypal.com. I haven't heard back yet.. but I hope to sooner than later.. Yeah, I agree this is "spooky".

Susan Shocked

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