Here is an email that you know is a scam right off the bat – it asks for your username, password and DOB, something Google would never do over an email communication.
Due to congestion in our database system, We have come to realize that your account information on our database system are out of date, as a result of that we require you to verify your Information. Failure to verify your information will result in account suspension. If you are still interested in using our email service, Please click the reply button and fill the below spaces as requested.
User:
Password:
D O B:
Country:
Note: This email is only for Gmail users.
Thank you for using Gmail!
The Gmail Team
GMAIL
Your Intellectual Property Rights
Google does not claim any ownership in any of the content, including any text, data, information, images, photographs, music, sound, video, or other material, that you upload, transmit or store in your Gmail account. We will not use any of your content for any purpose except to provide you with the Service. The provision of the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync functionality to you does not grant, and you do not receive, any rights under any Microsoft intellectual property with respect to any device or software that you use to access such Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync functionality.
©2010 Google
Is it true that responding something like “nice try!” or “get a life” makes your computer vulnerable to this particular hacker? – I understand the proper reaction should be ignoring the email, but sometimes, when you get it just as you’re having a bad day, you want to release the pressure on the hacker, not on your family…
I received one of these fake emails today, the reply address was accessreply.servicemail@gmail.com and if you read it, you’ll notice the English is off.