Scam Alert: Emails From Airlines, Medicare, Microsoft & More

Welcome to the world of suspect emails.

I’ve been swamped so far this year with phony emails supposedly from American Airlines, Medicare and other health insurance providers, alerts that I’ve won a free seat cushion or tool set, another collection from a sender that’s not really FedEx, that my payment for something or other did not go through, and several warning me – helpfully – that there’s a virus on my computer,.

Surely, that virus will appear magically if I click the link in the email.

What all these emails have in common is a telltale string of numbers or letters after the company name, a dot somewhere in the middle of the company name, or just the sheer stupidity of expecting me to respond to an offer of a free seat cushion.

Another thing they have in common is using an actual real image or offer from the brand, so the phony email looks legit. Don’t fall for it.

Maybe you received some of these recently, too –

Phony Delta wants me to know about their new benefits badly enough to send me two emails within one hour.

RE: Exclusive Benefits for Delta Airlines Customers #ekej0#m8xuj

This one invited me to take a survey, and get paid $100. Really?
Another similar offer was via an email from @tntmvp.lifewaterco.com. Of course, Delta always emails me from @tntmvp.lifewaterco.com.

And then there are the forwarded phony emails. Seriously – how phony is that.

Fw: Exclusive Rewards Await – Participate in the American Airlines Satisfaction Survey**PAU**

This one came with an urgent appeal that time is running out.
Since when does an airline email you that time is running out to respond to a survey?

FW: Time’s running out! Claim your exclusive rewardYour reward has arrived! #7nffi#jktjq

Medicare really wants me to have this free Medicare medical kit from CVS.
Or maybe CVS really wants me to have this free medical kit from Medicare.

FW: Alert: Virus Detected on Your Device #a7yyw#u0lsk.

This one came with a PDF allegedly from McAfee, and the advisory that my subscription to BitDefender, which I never heard of, is expiring soon. But I’m glad to know BitDefender offers “Award-Winning, Industry Leading Threat Protection”.
For sure if I open the PDF it will contain a virus that BitDefender or McAfee could protect me from, except my computer already would be infected, and removing a virus isn’t easy.
I received no less than THREE of these emails in one day. Obviously, the sender is really worried about a virus detected on my device.

FW: What are your thoughts about Harbor Freight Share Now! #10agv#0kc76

Let them know and win a Stanley Tool Set.

Klaudena Seat Cushion #dgibj#l7reh

Oh, yes, I’m dropping everything to reply immediately, since I’ve always wanted a Klaudena Seat Cushion.
It was on the very top of my list for Santa, but I must have been naughty, so I’m forever grateful for winning this special prize.

Limited Edition Starbucks Cup Special Promotion #x24qx

Thank you so much, Starbucks, for sending me this incredible offer, via netorg7711873.onmicrosoft.com.

FW: Your Package has Shipped! #jcemo#iq52h

F.edEx #jcemo#0ujc6 via netorg7711873.onmicrosoft.com
Whoever heard of F.edEx?
F.edEx obviously thinks this is crucial information, since I received three of these emails in one day.

And I’m so grateful to a sender @reehb.escalpade.be letting me know from Belgium that my Microsoft subscription is renewed – the one I renewed several months ago directly with Microsoft.

Re: Your Office365® Subscription is Successfully Renewed INV-[AM9EZV]

I’m so grateful to a sender @reehb.escalpade.be for letting me know from Belgium that my Microsoft subscription is renewed – the one I renewed several months ago directly with Microsoft right here in the USA.
And also so grateful to the Accounts Management Team @aemariofonseca.pt in Portugal also letting me know that my renewal was successful, and inviting me to verify my successful purchase.
C’mon Microsoft 365 – aren’t you smart enough to recognize this phishing malware garbage spam for what it is – phishing malware garbage spam, which should be deleted before it gets to me.

Obviously, those creeps don’t share my email address with the creeps who emailed me four times – FOUR TIMES – in one day that my Office 365 Subscription was unsuccessful, and to click the link to re-pay. Yea, sure. Here’s two of the scam emails, also forwarded from an addresses at .tr, which is Turkey.

Of course, I always renew any important software with an address in Turkey. Don’t you?

Fw: URGENT Notification | Unsuccessful Payment for Office365® Subscription ALT-[17-UPKK2MZ]
Fw: URGENT Notification | Unsuccessful Payment for Office365® Subscription ALT-[82-4PDHO5D]

Ditto the various creeps who email me practically daily from @email.ms-microsoft.com that my Microsoft renewal has failed, and they are available 24/7 to assist me, just click the link. Yea, right.

C’mon American and Delta, Medicare and CVS, FedEx and Microsoft – what are you doing to stop this phishing, malware nonsense garbage.

hand holding cellphone_EvelynKanter — Photo: AARP

Never Click on a Link from a Questionable Sender

Check the subject line and the sender’s email address carefully before responding.

NEVER respond to a “congratulations, you won something”. Never.

ALWAYS delete without responding.

My email server allows me to mark such emails as PHISHING-MALWARE – so that sender is blocked permanently.

If your email program has a similar prompt, use it. Otherwise just mark it as SPAM.

Contact me if you’re received such fraudulent emails, or got suckered in to responding to one of them.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.