What is spoofing? - Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

What is spoofing?

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ATLANTA -

Spoofing is a hoax designed to get your private password information for an account, or to send you some sort of malware. Many times, it comes in an email that looks like it might be from someone you know, or some business you already work with -- like your credit card company.

The FOX 5 news director, Mike McClain, received one and sent it to the I-Team. It was an email, and it looked like it came from American Express. It appeared genuine -- the address was from American Express, and it was spelled correctly. And the links at the bottom of the email looked normal – except one.

The link stated "click here to update your records."  This is how the bad guys pull you into their trap. McClain says he put the cursor over it and this is what he saw -- http://american.1x.net/access/.

The Internet address for the link didn't look like a real American Express address.  He was right. By clicking the link you will go to a third-party web site that can download viruses to your computer.

What do you do if you receive a similar email? Don't click on any links, and forward the email to American Express. After doing so, delete it from your inbox and from your trash.

Never access your accounts from an email. Get out of the email, then type in the web address and check on your account that way.

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