This time of year it is especially important to be wary of unsolicited emails, as hackers often try to prey on the good will that people feel during the holidays.

There have recently been many reports in the news of an internet scam presented as an email greeting from "eGreetings.com Inc." with an opening line similar to the one below:

"Hi , a friend has sent you a greeting card just now!"

People within the Tufts community have received this scam and some have unwittingly infected their computers by clicking the provided links to view the "greeting."  If you receive a message similar to this one, delete it right away.  Never click on any of the links included in the email.  If you are concerned that it may be a legitimate email from a friend or relative, compose a message to that person (do not forward the eGreeting in question) and ask if they sent it to you. 

This scam has been successful because many of us routinely send and receive online greetings.   It is important to remember that legitimate greetings will always be addressed to you directly and will be from someone you know.

To learn more about email greeting scams, view PC World Magazine's August 2007 article:  "Greetings! Someone Has Sent You an E-Card Virus."

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136039/article.html