How to Recognize a Valid Greeting Card

We've all been receiving the fake greeting card e-mails lately, and they do contain a dangerous virus. Some publications suggest that we never open any online greeting cards - but that just doesn't make sense to me, greeting cards are a joy. So I checked out the websites at American Greetings and Blue Mountain, and below are their suggestions on how to make sure the greeting card you want to open is real.

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Is the eCard I received valid? Unfortunately we are currently aware of some malicious activity being channeled through invalid ecard notifications. If you have any doubt as to whether or not your ecard notice is valid and truly from (BlueMountain.com, Americangreetings.com), you can always follow these simple and safe steps:

*Physically type in our web address, (http://www.bluemountain.com/ or http://www.americangreetings.com/), into your browser
*Go to the ecard pickup link at the bottom of the page
*Enter your specific greeting card code

As of right now, here are some other indicators of ecard notices not from us. If you find any of these attributes in your ecard notice, do not click on anything within that email:

*Our subject line is always: I sent you an eCard from BlueMountain.com (or AmericanGreetings.com). Their subject line varies (i.e. You've received an ecard from a class-mate! or You've received a postcard from a family member!)

*Our "from" line: mailto:services@support.BlueMountain.com(or AmericanGreetings.com); on behalf of (the email address of the person sending you the card). Their "from" line: "BlueMountain.com" or "AmericanGreetings.com" (note that the email address is random)

*Our ecard pickup link: will always have www.BlueMountain.com or AmericanGreetings.com as the start of the URL. Their ecard pickup link: starts with an IP address.

If you believe you have been subjected to an invalid ecard notice, again please do not click on any links within that email. Please forward to (security@BlueMountain.com or security@americangreetings.com) to help further the investigation. You will not receive a response from our security department.