A fraudulent email (also called “spoof”) pretends to come from a respected company with the goal of acquiring your personal information. The ultimate goal is to obtain debit and credit card numbers and account login information in order to commit identity theft.

These appeals often appear to be legitimate – containing the same look and feel of the company’s website. However, there are several indicators you can look for to guard yourself against this threat.

1. A fake sender's address. A fraudulent email may include a forged email address in the "From" field. This field is easily altered.

2. A strict time requirement. Many spoof emails try to deceive you with the threat that your account is in jeopardy if you don't update it ASAP. They may also state that an unauthorized transaction has recently occurred on your account, or claim Paltalk is updating its accounts and needs information fast.

3. Fake links. Always check where a link is going before you click. Move your mouse over it and look at the URL in your browser or email status bar. A fraudulent link is dangerous. If you click on one, it could:

• Direct you to a spoof website that tries to collect your personal data.
• Install spyware on your system. Spyware is an application that can enable a hacker to monitor your actions and steal any passwords or credit card numbers you type online.
• Cause you to download a virus that could disable your computer.

4. Deceptive URLs. Only enter your Paltalk password on Paltalk pages.

• If you see an @ sign in the middle of a URL, there's a good chance this is a spoof. Legitimate companies use a domain name (e.g. https://www.company.com).
• Even if a URL contains the word "Paltalk," it may not be a Paltalk site. Examples of deceptive URLs include: www.paltalksecure.com, www.paltalk1.com and www.secure-paltalk.com.

5. Misspellings and bad grammar. Fraudulent emails often contain misspellings, incorrect grammar, missing words, and gaps in logic.

6. Unsafe sites. The term "https" should always precede any website address where you enter personal information. The "s" stands for secure. If you don't see "https," you're not in a secure web session, and you should NEVER enter data.

7. Attachments. Like fake links, attachments are frequently used in spoof emails and are dangerous. NEVER click on an attachment. It could cause you to download spyware or a virus. Paltalk will never email you an attachment or a software update to install on your computer.