Watch Out for E-card Scams, Warns North Carolina Attorney General

Consumers should be on the look out for electronic greeting cards sent by e-mail that may include viruses or spyware that can infect computers and lead to identity theft, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper warned.

"Think twice before you open up an e-card that claims to come from a friend or neighbor," said Cooper, who along with members of his staff has recently received e-mails that may be e-card scams. "Scammers are using what looks like a friendly greeting card to attack your computer and steal your good name."

The e-mail appears to be an electronic greeting card sent by a friend or family members, but once you click on the link you may be prompted to download a program in order to read the card. Depending on the scam, the program could actually be a virus or other harmful program like adware or spyware.

The goal of a virus is to wreak havoc on your computer and in many cases destroy your hard drive. Adware typically bombards your computer with pop-up ads and can even get into your address book and send spam and other e-mails out in your name. Spyware is a program that scans your computer for personal and financial information that can be used to steal your identity. In some cases, spyware can include key-logging software that records your keystrokes at a secure Web site, such as at your bank, and sends that information to thieves who can use the information to steal your money.

Cooper offers the following tips to make sure others don't fall victim to these not-so friendly greeting card scams.

• Be suspicious if the e-mail claims the card is from someone generic like friend, relative, or neighbor. Most legitimate e-cards require the sender to insert their name in the "from" line.
• If the e-card comes from a name or e-mail you don't recognize, don't open it. Delete it from your inbox.
• Be cautious when opening attachments, clicking on links or downloading software. Only open attachments, downloads and links when you know the sender.
• Set up a spam filter in your e-mail to reduce the number of unwanted and potentially dangerous e-mails.
• Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computer and update it frequently.
• Read the fine print before accepting the terms of agreement when you download any software or programs.
• If you think you may have opened one of these fraudulent e-cards, run virus and spyware scans on your computer. Also, alert your friends not to open something that appears to be an e-card sent by you.