Beware (or am I paranoid?)... Free $100 coupon from "Expediamail.com"!?
May 18th, 2005, 07:15 PM
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Beware (or am I paranoid?)... Free $100 coupon from "Expediamail.com"!?
Just received this as an e-mail, 19 minutes ago.
Looks very, very, very slick and professional- - but I spell a phish/spoof. What is expediamail? - - and why would Microsoft need something like this close-sounding website name - - with no website there?
Use caution and your own judgment.
Best wishes,
Rex
Looks very, very, very slick and professional- - but I spell a phish/spoof. What is expediamail? - - and why would Microsoft need something like this close-sounding website name - - with no website there?
Use caution and your own judgment.
Best wishes,
Rex
May 18th, 2005, 08:50 PM
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I had something similar I posted about a few weeks ago. It was a completely different domain (although it sounded very similar to expedia.ca ) and had a registration in France. Very suspicious looking once you got past the logos.
When I wrote to the link on the Expedia.ca site, though, I got an email back that this was valid. I'm still uncertain though - it's really irritating when they use unrelated domains just as the phishers do.
However - in this case, I got the same email you did, and when I clicked on the link to go to the package deals, it does redirect to an actual expedia.com page. It could still be malevolent, I suppose, but that's slightly reassuring.
If you want to use this coupon, I'd suggest not clicking the link in the email, but simply going to the Expedia.com site on your own, and using the coupon code "SAVE100".
When I wrote to the link on the Expedia.ca site, though, I got an email back that this was valid. I'm still uncertain though - it's really irritating when they use unrelated domains just as the phishers do.
However - in this case, I got the same email you did, and when I clicked on the link to go to the package deals, it does redirect to an actual expedia.com page. It could still be malevolent, I suppose, but that's slightly reassuring.
If you want to use this coupon, I'd suggest not clicking the link in the email, but simply going to the Expedia.com site on your own, and using the coupon code "SAVE100".
May 18th, 2005, 08:57 PM
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Thanks. It might be worrying to excess. There is an 800 number for "Expedia cruises" on this e-mail promotion; I called it, and it sure seems like the real Expedia service. the rep said that there really is a SAVE100 promotion, and acknowledged that expediamail is not a real website.
Curiously, the 800 number (for Expedia cruises) is not the same as the 888 number listed on the real Expedia website, And I never could get it to move me past robot-answering/on hold.
By the way, I trust that my typo above is not too confusing..
I s<b>m</b>ell a phish/spoof - - not "spell"...
Curiously, the 800 number (for Expedia cruises) is not the same as the 888 number listed on the real Expedia website, And I never could get it to move me past robot-answering/on hold.
By the way, I trust that my typo above is not too confusing..
I s<b>m</b>ell a phish/spoof - - not "spell"...
May 18th, 2005, 09:09 PM
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My favorite routes update was (partially there) - - doesn't entirely rule out that the real Expedia could be hacked (now I am really getting paranoid)...
... and besides, if they really hacked Expedia - - wouldn't they go straight to identity theft, credit card use, etc - - why bother with a spoof? (unless it is to humble Microsoft)
Still, it's bothersome that every single link points to the same static expediamail.com URL
And on the real Expedia site, SAVE100 is an American Airlines promotion - - no such mention in/on the promotional e-mail.
As is mentioned above - - no reason to respond through this e-mail. Go to authentic Expedia.com for more info on the SAVE100 promo.
... and besides, if they really hacked Expedia - - wouldn't they go straight to identity theft, credit card use, etc - - why bother with a spoof? (unless it is to humble Microsoft)
Still, it's bothersome that every single link points to the same static expediamail.com URL
And on the real Expedia site, SAVE100 is an American Airlines promotion - - no such mention in/on the promotional e-mail.
As is mentioned above - - no reason to respond through this e-mail. Go to authentic Expedia.com for more info on the SAVE100 promo.
