I got an email that looks like spam.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

I'm pretty sure it is spam, but the contents scared me.

Here's what it said:

Hello XXX.XXX,
This is to inform you that your request on: 05/21/2019 2:07:11 p.m. to remove your account from verizon server has been approved and will initiate in one hour from the exact time you open this message. Regards.

ignore this message to continue with email removal or

If this deactivation was not requested by you

Please reply us.

Regards,
verizon

I was in Paris last week, and this email arrived on one of the days I was there. I did not respond, since I didn't see it. My email has worked continuously and without any problems.

I guess what I want is some reassurance that this is indeed spam!

[mr_lebowski]

1. Mark as spam, remove it permanently from your email and ignore contents

It is 100% spam/phishing.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Thank you so much! Will do. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. It's likely a phishing scam.

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/verizon-phishing-scam,news-29799.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Good god. Thanks so much for the link! n/t

[2naSalit]

3. Also, check with Verizon customer service.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Good thought and thanks!

The only problem is that Verizon no longer takes care of email; now AOL handles it.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. Yes, do what they said. Verizon would not do this or spell it was a lower case 'v'

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Quite right! That's what made me doubt it was real. But I wanted to be sure.

[lettucebe]

9. Those emails are laughable

Never let yourself do anything but laugh when you read things like that. For starters, no company is going to suddenly cancel your account out-of-the-blue unless maybe you haven't been paying for instance, but this? Just say no.

Everyone needs to be skeptical, in fact, overly skeptical. I shudder thinking of all the people, new users, older gullible users, young gullible users, being duped every day.

Rules for email:

1. If you didn't ask for it, it's not on order. ignore and mark as spam any "confirmations" for things you did not order
2. If the message threatens in any way (going to cancel, etc.) ignore and mark as spam. Legit companies do not operate in that fashion
3. Use your spam filters -- occasionally look to see if they accidentally caught a legit email but keep the bulk out of your inbox
4. Use throw-away email addresses to register for things you don't need to interact with. Sites that simply require an email to download something for instance. You can also create additional gmail accounts for this purpose and just infrequently log-in, if at all

Others can think of more rules but that's a start.

Be skeptical! If you're ever in doubt, just delete

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Thanks! I appreciate your advice and support.

[procon]

11. It's so obviously spam.

Look at the bad grammar and punctuation, that's always a dead giveaway for spam.

This is a phishing scam. Verizon doesn't pay employees to time stamp ("exact time"?) and individually track your mails.

Don't respond. Verizon has a way for you to report these bogus emails.

[Ernesto]

15. been there, done that..... n-t

[eppur_se_muova]

12. The "act now or your account will be closed" scam seems to be making the rounds.

I got a notice from "Microsoft", and a version of the same notice in French. Guess that comes from signing up for a mailing list that originates in France, since I've done nothing else that required a login at a French site.

[yonder]

13. Another sign: "Please reply us."

Weird syntax there. Even "Please reply to us" would've sounded odd to my ear.

Good job on avoiding a problem, CP.

[shraby]

14. It could also be a virus waiting to get into your machine.

[HubertHeaver]

16. I got a phone call to that effect. Contact now! or your email will be removed.

I don't have Verizon email. I ignored it as harassment. Everything still works.