Tis the season to be scammed.... over the Internet!    Today's scam is an email pretending to be a Hallmark E-Card from a friend which is actually a virus.  Other nasty emails which have been circulating recently include emails that pretend to be from FedEx or UPS (about a failed delivery) and email from banks and government agencies like the FDIC.

Most of these emails are attempts to infect your computer or steal your personal information and your money.

Surfing to an unfamiliar web site, or getting an unknown attachment and then "opening" it ---  well, that's a really good way to get your computer infected or your personal information stolen.   

So keep this in mind:

1.  Don't follow links in SPAM emails just to see where they take you.  Bad idea!!!

2.  Don't open attachments if you don't know the sender or the contents of the attachment.  Bad idea!!!

3.  Be very skeptical of any email from a financial institution or a government entity (like the IRS) that asks you to click on a link to visit their web site.  Most of these emails are attempts to steal you personal information and your money.

4.  Don't view any E-Card's if you don't know who sent them and are sure they really are a greeting card.

5.  Remember, this holiday season the big scam is an email claiming to come from FedEx or UPS, regarding a failed delivery.  It's a fake and the attachment it comes with installs a virus on your computer, if opened. 

Your SPAM filters and anti-virus software don't make you immune from risk.  Be vigilant and don't take unnecessary chances.