Scam Email: Fake Craigslist Alert Email

This email is just like fake LinkedIn email alerts, or fake PayPal alert emails, or fake account alerts supposedly from your online banking. It is fake and the goal of the scammer is to get you to click on the link in the email, which looks like it goes to one place but actually goes to their own malicious web page. Sometimes on that fake web page, they collect information, including your passwords or they download spyware software on your computer and you won't even know it. That spyware software will monitor your keystrokes and seek out account passwords. Ultimate goal? To get at your bank account, either through paypal or through your online banking. Failing that, they'll use your account to send out more scam emails so they look like they come from you instead of them.

In the below email I just got, the words "simple click" are hotlinked and actually goes to http://craigslistuser.yolasite.com/ but DO NOT TRY OR CLICK ON THIS LINK!

From: winndowwmall@telenet.be
Subject: Craigslist Account Alert!‏‏
Date: Sun 1/20/13 9:40 PM
Return-Path: Return-Path: peterdegraef@telenet.be

Dear Craigslist User,

We require you to verify your Account with one, simple click ,to confirm the validity of your account.

Thanks again for choosing our Service

Sincerely,
Craigslist Team