When someone makes an offer to sell you something that turns out not to be legitimate, you have to wonder what that person is going to do with your personal and financial information. Beware of scams involving phishing, spoofing, or spam emails.

Phishing and spoofing

Phishing is the illegal practice of tricking consumers into providing personal information that can then be used for identity theft and other illegal activities. Spoofing, or sending fake emails, is a common tactic in phishing scams — and it is not always easy to spot. The email claims to be from a reputable company with whom you may do business, and it will direct you to a website where you will be asked to provide personal information, such as name, address, account numbers, and so on. Any information you enter may be captured and used by criminals.

How to avoid phishing scams

Any time you receive an unprompted email asking you to confirm personal information online, call the company to check the validity of the request.
Never rely on the phone number in the email to verify the source of the email. Use the numbers you have in your personal records, or check the phone book.
While some emails are easy to identify as fraudulent, others may appear to be from a legitimate address and trusted online source. You should not rely on the name or address in the From field, as this is easily altered.
Never provide personal information based on the request of an unsolicited email, even if the site it links you to looks authentic.

How to spot spoof emails

Spoof emails often contain a more generic greeting than you would expect from a company that already has your personal information.
Spoof emails claim that your information has been compromised, that your account has been frozen, or that you need to confirm the authenticity of your transactions.
Spoof emails may direct you to counterfeit websites that are carefully designed to look real but that actually collect personal information for illegal use.

In addition to links to counterfeit websites, some fake emails include links to legitimate websites. Phishers do this in an attempt to make a fake email appear real. Even so, never provide personal information based on the request of an unsolicited email. No legitimate business would take this approach today.
Be assured that Adobe will never send email containing attachments or require customers to send personal information to us through email or pop-up windows. Any unsolicited request for Adobe account information you receive through emails, websites, or pop-up windows should be considered fraudulent. Please notify Adobe of any suspicious activity.

Learn more about how to avoid phishing ›

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Spam email

Have you ever noticed how much spam email you get every day? Have you ever taken the time to look at what that spam is trying to persuade you to do? You might be surprised to find out just how many of those spam emails are offering what appears to be authentic software — at incredibly low prices. Prices that are, indeed, too good to be true.

The risks of spam

Responding to spam can be extremely risky. Between unscrupulous online retailers who abuse your credit card details, phishers who trick you into providing personal information, and software pirates who sell incomplete or virus-laden software, there are plenty of criminals out there looking to take advantage of you. That's why Adobe recommends you avoid the headache by never responding to spam emails offering to sell you software.

Caution

Beware of software shipping to the United States from overseas.
Beware of any offer asking you to wire money to foreign banks.
Check a website's security credentials before giving out credit card information, which may be recorded and sold to support identity theft.

Adobe has an active Internet anti-piracy program and our own anti-piracy enforcement specialists who investigate the sources of spam email offers. We are doing everything in our power to stop this kind of activity and to protect our customers. Your decision not to interact with spammers represents a very real contribution to the mission of shutting them down. Adobe also works to educate consumers about the risks of getting software from suspicious sources. Purchasing from known and trusted sources is the best way to avoid risks. Find a list of Adobe Authorized Resellers.