You've probably gotten notices that look like they're from banks or other places, telling you to contact them for one reason or another about your account. Sometimes, you don't have an account there, so you know they're phony. But sometimes, at random, they hit you with a place where you do business. How can you tell whether they're scamming you so you'll reveal your password or other information that will allow them to steal from you? One way is to move your cursor over the link where they tell you to click. The screen should show the actual address associated with the link. If it doesn't, click on "copy shortcut" then paste what you've copied into a notepad or other blank file. You'll quickly see whether it's real or not. Here's an example. Say you get a notice that tells you to click here: _Bank of Switzerland Security _ (http://www.krf.icodat.com) asking you to verify your numbered account and password (everyone in our upscale 'hood surely has one by now). If this is real, it'll be a link to something like https://www.BankOfSwitzerland.sw/security. If it's some miles-long address (which may contain the right words buried in there somewhere), or something entirely different, it's fake. If you try clicking on the above link, you'll end up at my website (where you won't be asked any questions -- this is just for illustrative purposes). But if you do what I suggest, you'll see without going anywhere that the actual link is to _www.krf.icodat.com_ (http://www.krf.icodat.com) . Do the checking noted in boldface above before clicking. You don't even want your computer to go to the scammers' website, let alone answer any questions they ask there. Alan Krigman KRF Management 211 S 45th St, Phila PA 19104 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 website: _www.krf.icodat.com_ (http://www.krf.icodat.com/) online bulleting board: _www.krf.icodat.com/news_ (http://www.krf.icodat.com/news)
**************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565)