Printing Industries members should be wary of any email messages offering a download of a new version of freeware Adobe® Reader®, Acrobat®, Flash® or other Adobe software sent by entities claiming to be Adobe.

These emails usually require recipients to register and/or provide personal information by directing them to a website where they can download a supposed upgrade to their Adobe software. The URL link is commonly hidden behind what appears to be a legitimate website address and clicking the link will usually result in the user's computer becoming infected with malware and/or viruses which can capture personal information from your computer without your knowledge.

The website may use the “Adobe” brand and logo which can easily mislead visitors into believing that the site is legitimate. This is a tactic employed to get users to fall for the scam. Never disclose personal details or credit card information when directed to a website from a link in an email.

If you receive one of these potentially malicious emails, we strongly recommend deleting the email immediately without clicking any of the links. Legitimate Adobe updates are free, automatic and do not require registration.

If you believe you may have already been scammed by one of these emails, we urge you to update your anti-virus software and run a complete system scan to ensure that your computer is safe and protected. In cases where your credit card details have been potentially compromised, you should contact your banking institution immediately.

For more information, please visit the Adobe Community Blog here or visit our ScamWatch page for tips and tricks on how to spot a scam.