彭蒙惠英语：E-mail Users, Beware!（在线收听）

E-mail Users, Beware!

By Richard Ensman

Learn how to recognize some of today’s common Internet scams

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You probably receive tantalizing e-mail messages offering all sorts of great benefits, such as pre-approved loans and no-risk product purchases. You probably also receive your share of alarming, but convincing, messages about potential Internet security breaches or credit card fraud. Don’t be fooled: The typical objective of many, if not most, of these notorious messages is simple: to get you to part with your cash, or confidential credit or banking information.

Here’s a summary of six rampant e-mail hoaxes—and the steps you can take to protect yourself from them. If any of these sound familiar, beware.

1. The Bogus Credit Crunch. It may begin with an “urgent message” from the bank that issued your credit card: “For security reasons, your credit card will expire in 10 days. To reauthorize your card, click here . . .” When you click, you’re asked to input your credit card numbers in a “secure” form which might even contain a bank logo. You’re probably dealing with a mass e-mailer sending tens of thousands of these messages to unsuspecting consumers. Protection: Never give out your credit card number online unless you’re certain of the recipient’s identity, and then, only if you initiate the transaction.

2. The Foreign Financier. “Please let me take a moment to introduce myself,” the carefully composed e-mail message might begin. “I am a barrister representing the deposed royal family of the kingdom of Apanoo.” The message goes on to explain that, through some peculiar legal calamity—the royal family has a ton of money available. The rep lets you know that you can have a piece of it—if only you’ll send along some remittance required by the kingdom. Don’t laugh: Hundreds of folks have fallen for this one. Protection: Delete, or file under “scams.”

Vocabulary Focus

tantalizing (adj) [5tAntElaiziN] describes something that causes desire and excitement, but is unlikely to provide a way of satisfying that desire

notorious (adj) [nEu5tC:riEs] famous for something bad

rampant (adj) [5rAmpEnt] getting worse quickly and in an uncontrolled way

recipient (n) [ri5sipiEnt] a person who receives something

Specialized Terms

security breach (n phr) 安全缺口 a breakdown or opening in the protection of something

credit crunch (n phr) 信用危机 a period of economic difficulty when it is difficult to borrow money from banks

barrister (n) （英国、澳洲有资格出庭辩护的）律师 a type of lawyer in Britain, Australia and some other countries who is qualified to give specialist legal advice and can argue a case in both higher and lower law courts

deposed (adj) 遭罢黜的 removed from a powerful position

remittance (n) 汇款 a sum of money one sends to someone

电子邮件使用者，当心！

学习辨认当今普遍的互联网诈骗术

张梵 译

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你或许收到过令人心动的电子邮件，提供给你各种好处，像是核准的贷款及无风险购物等。你或许也收到过说服力十足的警告邮件，提出互联网安全破口或信用卡欺诈等警告。千万别上当。这些臭名昭著的电子邮件，其中就算不是大多数，也有许多典型的目的很单纯：骗取你的金钱或机密的银行或信用卡资料。

以下归纳了6种猖獗的电子邮件诈骗术，以及如何自我防范的方法。若任何一种伎俩看似熟悉，请小心为上。

1. 伪造信用卡危机。电子邮件可能是来自信用卡发卡银行的“紧急通知”：“基于安全理由，你的信用卡将于10日内失效。为重新授权使用信用卡，请点选此处……”你点选后会要求你在一“安全表格”内输入信用卡号码，此表格甚至有银行标志。你可能面对的是大量电子邮件的寄送者，动辄送出数十万封邮件给不怀疑他的客户。防范方法：切勿在网上提供信用卡号码，除非你已确认收件者身份，或者是你主动进行交易。

2. 国外金融家。这封精心撰写的电子邮件可能如此开场：“请容我花些时间自我介绍。我是一名律师，代表阿帕鲁王国遭罢黜的王室。”邮件接着说明，由于某些奇特的司法祸害，王室拥有惊人财富。这位代表人透露，只要按王国的要求汇上一些款项，便可分享部分财富。请别笑：已有数百人因此被骗。防范方法：将邮件删除，或归类于“诈骗”。