MST
Yangon, 17 October

Gmail user accounts which are used by most email users are being stolen through an email which is disguised as an account alert message with the subject "Verify your free Gmail account now !!!".

The message written as if it was from Gmail team said the user has to verify the account details by entering user ID, password, date of birth, country and security image. The owners of the email will be effectively handing over their accounts if they follow the instructions.

"The most important thing is not to fill out the details asked in the email. If you send your details because you are afraid that you might lose your email, your account will certainly be taken over," a computer expert who received the bogus message said.

The fake email also warns the users that they will have to surrender their email account if they do not reply the message within two weeks.

Gmail users who are concerned about access to their account should visit the Gmail website to find out whether the warning is a valid one and should email the Gmail team to ask for more information, he said. The origin of the fake email is still unknown.

Source : Internet Journal, 25 October 2007