If you receive billing notices from Verizon Wireless in your email in-box, you need to be careful of not falling victim to the latest scam.

On June 18 I received what appeared to be my normal monthly billing notice from Verizon Wireless. I just about fainted when the charge appearing on the bill was $1,785. I talk a lot on my cell phone and frequently use my hot spot to connect to the Internet. But even I could not have possibly spent that much time on the airways.

The email conveniently gave me a link to what I thought was Verizon's Web site so that I could review and pay the bill.

Stupidly, I clicked on the link.

Normally, I'm pretty tuned into Internet scams and don't believe for a second that someone in Liberia is going to hand over a million dollars to me. I don't even believe Amy, the stay-at-home Mesquite Mom, who makes $10,000 a month.

After I clicked on the link, the little buzzer in the back of my brain went off. For one, it was taking too long to access the Web site. For another, there's no way I could have racked up that much in phone charges.

I quickly shut down the

Web page. Then I logged onto what I knew was Verizon's trusted, secure Web site that required me to use my User ID and password.

A quick check of my monthly bill revealed that my charges were only $161. Well, that's still too high for my satisfaction but more in line with what I'm used to paying.

I went back to the bill I received in email and compared it to last month's email. Sure enough there was a slight difference.

The scam email said "Your current bill for your account is now available online in My Verizon."

The real, valid email said "Your current bill for your account ending in XXXX-XXXXX is now available online in My Verizon."

The X's represent my account number which the scammers didn't have access to. Other than that slight difference the scam email appeared as real as real can get.

Fortunately, I didn't continue on with the scam Web site, for surely they would have asked for my credit card number, my social security number, my mother's birth weight, and whatever else they need to wreak havoc in my life.

Please don't fall victim to this latest scam.

Be safe.

Compare the two email bills I received and see if you can tell the difference.