for an employee with their skills and experience. The victim is invited to click on a link to apply for the job. Clicking the link takes the victim to a job description specifically written for the skills and experience on the victim's resume, and provides a very high salary, and invites them to "click here" to apply for the job. If the victim clicks on that "apply" link, they are taken to an "application" form that asks for the normal job application information, PLUS the victim's social security number, date of birth, the name of the bank and account number where they will want their paycheck to be deposited to, a "relative" reference, etc. With this information, the scammer can open up a bank account in any on-line bank and utilize the victim's credit to buy items online and ship them to associates who are in on the scam. PayPal scam: Fraudulent emails claiming the victim has been issued a payment to the his/her account, however processing will be complete once the victim has sent the item he/she is selling to the individuals address. This scam is mostly common in selling items to individuals abroad. Avoiding email fraud Due to the widespread use of web bugs in email, simply opening an email can potentially alert the sender that the address to which the email is sent is a valid address. This can also happen when the mail is 'reported' as spam, in some cases: if the email is forwarded for inspection, and opened, the sender will be notified in the same way as if the addressee opened it. Email fraud may be avoided by: Not responding to suspicious emails. Keeping one's email address as secret as possible. Using a spam filter. Noticing the several spelling errors in the body of the "official looking" email. Ignoring unsolicited emails of all types and deleting them. Not clicking on links. Ignoring offers from unknown sources. The contents of an email are not a formal or binding agreement. Many frauds go unreported to authorities, due to feelings of shame, guilt, or embarrassment. See also Mail and wire fraud Confidence trick Get-rich-quick schemes Internet fraud Email tracking Spy pixel References Confidence tricks Internet fraud Spamming Types of cyberattacks