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Beware of Imitations! Security, Internet Scams, and the African Real Estate Agenda
Fishing on the Internet has come a long way. However, we TechWeb junkies like to call it Phishing. What I am talking about here is not going after your ordinary, everyday catch. Yet a fine catch it indeed may be to those thieving bandits if they can lure you into giving up your personal and private information. Trickery is vast and common on the World Wide Web. Beware, I say, beware! Email schemes, called "phishing" or "carding", attempt to trick consumers into disclosing personal and/or financial information. The emails appear to come from legitimate companies with whom consumers may regularly conduct business. I have seen scams appear to come from such noteworthy corporation as AOL, Earthlink, Paypal, eBay, or major credit card issuers. Often times the email threatens termination of accounts unless consumers update billing information. Phishing comes around in all forms. How many of you have had some Nigerian Prince that just inherited 35 million US dollars offer to share it with you for one reason or another? How many of you have received an e-mail supposedly from your bank that for "security reasons" requests you to click a link that takes you to an online form to fill out, requesting all your personal and confidential information about your bank account? A word to the wise: there is no Prince in Nigeria that needs your help, and your bank will never ask you for that info in an e-mail! The latest Internet scam appears to come from the South African Department of Mining. "Resources and we are in dire need of a foreign partner to assist us in the receipt and investment of US$15,500,000.00?" All they request is a secure place to deposit the lump sum on US territory, and you will gain a large piece of the pie. WOW, what a deal! Another I received comes from Johnson Mgabe, the son of the leader of the Republic of Zimbabwe Agricultural Commission. His father has just been assassinated, and he, the only remaining heir, is trying to escape. If you help him, he will give you lots of dough! Right on! "Please e-mail and tell me of your decision. I am ready to pay you 25% of the money [$45.5 Million] for your help, 5% shall go for expenses you might incur during the transaction. The remainder [70%] shall be mine." Ok, ok, I am convinced; here is my private bank account, my SSN, DL# and address. Please tell me what I need to do next. Are they for real? Seriously though, if people didn't fall for these types of stunts, there wouldn't be so many floating around. Identity theft has become more and more rampant in this techno traveling world. Again I say, beware. Many of these email schemes contain links to "look-alike" websites that are loaded with actual trademarked images. The websites then instruct consumers to "reenter" their credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank PINs, or other personal information. If consumers actually provide the information requested, the data goes to scammers, not the legitimate company whose name is on the site. Thereafter, the data is often used to order goods or services and/or to obtain credit in the name of the consumer and potentially, steal your identity. Again, I say, beware! Rule for the road: If you receive a precarious e-mail asking you for personal information, chances are it is a scam. It is better to be safe than sorry. By Greg Richburg All past articles written by Greg Richburg are available at www.netricks.com/news">http://www.netricks.com/news. Please address article suggestions to: info@netricks.com. Greg Richburg is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and the owner of Netricks, Inc. a network consulting, web design and hosting company located in Fresno, CA. Visit Netricks at www.netricks.com">http://www.netricks.com Richburg also runs KlickCommerce, anInternet based marketing system for Ujena brand clothing. See www.klickcommerce.com">http://www.klickcommerce.com for details. More of Richburg's work may be seen at www.valley411.com">http://www.valley411.com
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Lottery Scam, What It is and how to Avoid It?
Internet scams and frauds are on the rise! The quantity of scam emails with various fraud schemes any email account receives today is simply overwhelming! There is this infamous Nigerian 419 scam, which is by far the most widely circulated one. I wrote about it in one of our ezine articles not long ago.
An Open Letter From a So-called Stupid
Someone recently told me, "You would have to be a stupid to lose your personal information." While I respectfully responded to this person in the moment, the comment has stuck with me.
Road Warrior At Risk: The Dangers Of Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking
Airport Menace: The Wireless Peeping Tom ---------------------------------------- As a network security consultant, I travel quite frequently. At times, it seems like the airport is my second home.
DOS Attacks: Instigation and Mitigation
During the release of a new software product specialized to track spam, ACME Software Inc notice that there was not as much traffic as they hoped to receive. During further investigation, they found that they could not view their own website.
3 Pervasive Phishing Scams
Scams involving email continue to plague consumers across America, indeed the world. These so called "phishing" scams involve "spoofed" emails meant to draw the unwary to bogus internet sites masquerading as legitimate sites.
How Can Someone Get Private Information From My Computer?
From the "Ask Booster" column in the June 17, 2005 issue of Booster's Auction News, a free ezine for online auction sellers and enthusiasts.Dear Booster,How can someone get private information from my computer?Thank you,Evan S.
Phishing
Recently I have received email from my bank/credit Card Company, eBay & pay pal saying that my account has possibly been compromised and I need to confirm my details and password in order to get continued access.Spam email now has a new and more frightening variant, it's called phishing and it has been made by criminals and hackers who aim at getting unwitting consumers to reveal account numbers and passwords.
8 Surefire Ways to Spot an E-Mail Identity Theft Scam!
The E-Mail Identity Theft Scam is running Rampant. These E-Mail Scam artists will go to great lengths to Get Your Bank Account information and Steal your Identity.
How to Protect Yourself from Viruses, Spyware, Adware, and Other Nuisances
Spyware/adware is a new major concern for PC users everywhere. Infecting your computer silently (usually installed with programs that seem harmless), spyware and adware can collect personal information about you, as well as cause pop up ads to come up all of the time, changing your browsers home page, sometimes even completely disabling your computer's usability.
Beware of Imitations! Security, Internet Scams, and the African Real Estate Agenda
Fishing on the Internet has come a long way. However, we TechWeb junkies like to call it Phishing.
The Saga of the Annoying Adware
When we think of adware, what comes to mind are those annoying and pesky ads that pop up out of nowhere whenever we are surfing the net. Anybody who has surfed through the net has encountered those irritating pop-up adwares advertising everything from computer software down to Viagra.
Click Here To Defeat Evil
Microsoft routinely releases new security updates, many of which are given it's highest severity rating "critical". Here's a typical announcement:"A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Internet Explorer and gain control over it.
Personal Firewalls for Home Users
What is a Firewall?The term "firewall" illustrates a system that protects a network and the machines on them from various types of attack. Firewalls are geared towards keeping the server up all the time and protecting the entire network.
Don't Become An Identity Fraud Statistic!
"You've just won a fabulous vacation or prize package! Now, if you'll kindly give me your credit card information and social security number for verification purposes, you will receive this awesome gift!"Now why would they need my credit card or social security number to send me a freebie? Can you say, "identity theft?"Although there are legitimate reasons for people to need that information, such as a purchase or job application, thieves need it to steal your life and money from you!Crime officials are reporting that this kind of theft is becoming quite common. Don't be a victim! Follow a few common-sense suggestions to avoid finding out someone else has taken over your life-along with your bank account!-Do not allow anyone to borrow your credit cards! Your best friend may be trustworthy, but her boyfriend may not be!-Don't provide personal information such as date of birth, credit card numbers, your pin number, mom's maiden name, or social security number over the telephone unless you initiate the call.
How to Protect Your Child from the Internet
When the Internet first came about, it was realized it could be quite the multi-tasking machine. These days people use it for just about everything, from downloading music to checking e-mail, and virtually making the rest of the globe closer all the time.
Free Ways to Tackle Threats to Your Computer
Protect Your PCHaving problems with your pc? Do your kids, family or friends fill it with all the stuff they find on the internet?Your computer, just like your car, needs to be serviced regularly to keep it running efficiently. You wouldn't fill your car up with petrol from an old rusty can with a layer of dirty water on the bottom, so you shouldn't allow your pc to be treated that way either.
What Can Be Done About Spyware And Adware
Having a good Spyware eliminator on your computer is vital now a days with all of the different Spyware, Adware, and other malicious computer parasites that are out there. Most of them are reasonably priced and very easy to use.
Arming Yourself Against Spyware
While clicking from site to site on the internet you are likely to land yourself on a website that downloads spyware onto your computer system. Even while using familiar or unlikely and secure web site you run the risk of being infected with unwanted spyware.
Watch Out For That Scam
The IFCC (Internet Fraud Complaint Center) received over 200,000 complaint submissions for 2004, an increase of 66.6% from 2003.
Corporate Security for Your Home Business
The words Corporate Security may conjure up images of a group of techies working in a wire-filled basement room of Microsoft or HP, combating hackers and terrorists online using words like algorithm and encryption. If you own your own business, do not allow yourself to think that security is only for big corporations.