Spam, Phishing and other Email Pitfalls

Ever have one of those days, that everything just IRKS you? I'm in the midst of one. Nothing horrible or dramatic just - arghhhhhhhhhhh. First, I recieved not 1 but 4 phishing scams in my email. The first came from the "IRS" claiming they needed info to speed delivery of the stimulation check we're all to recieve. Something about it, just didn't seem right, so I contacted the IRS, they confirmed what I suspected - spoofed email addy. I was also told, that someone is making phone calls, claiming to be the IRS and gathering info in that way.
The second was supposedly from 'PayPal', saying that my account had been suspended because they had noticed some unusual spending . Again they too wanted all my banking info. The fake site looked almost identical to the real Paypal site - except the url read wrong. Unsure, I called Paypal - sure enough another spoof.
The other two were the usual, I've won some lottery ( one was supposedly Microsoft) that uses email addresses, and for my $70gadzillion dollars I just need to give them my banking info. Uh-huh. Ok, the intention of being ripped-off, seems obvious to me - but it must be working as they just don't stop. Are there still folks naive enough to just hand over their info? Worse, those poor souls, probably aren't 'greedy', but just that desperate for money.
Another email that just angers me, is the one with a sad story from some parent with a sick child and AOL, (or some other large company) will pay them 5 cents everytime it's forwarded. (There's one with a newborn's pic attatched, that I KNOW has been circulating since 2000 at least.) Obviously, no one is making money off this hoax - but what about the desperate parent, whose child IS dieing? Imagine the false hope they might feel, only to be informed by these corporations that they just don't do that. I don't know the statistics, but I'd wager tracking certain emails beinging forwarded could be pricey and time consuming. Face it, this kind of hoax is just plain mean.
There's several things we can all do to protect ourselves and eachother. First, stop forwarding emails that prey on emotions or ask you to 'send to all' so that Johnny can get his operation. Secondly, research any that are 'reporting' vicious viruses before forwarding.
Phishing scams should be duly reported. Most email services have a button you can click to report . If you believe it's from a spoofed address, call the company involved ( look the number up, don't use the one on the fake site if it's there) Most companies, like PayPal, will address you by your first and last name in their emails. It's no biggie if you're wrong, legitamit companies would rather you play it safe. Odds are if you recieved that email, a few hundred others did too. You just may be saving Great-Auntie Em's farm from foreclosure because some louse emptied her account. Once it has been confirmed it was indeed a 'spoofed' address - warn everyone you know.
Email can be alot of fun, it's a great way to share info, and laughs. Together we can also make it safer for all. Forward responsibly and help get rid of Spam and phishing.