|
PHISHING / Spoofed Emails and Scam:
We get quite a few complaints to remove users from our mailing list due to the phishing scam email that went out on August 10, 2007. We do not have a mailing list. The mailing list we did have was discontinued July 2006 due to the fact spam is so horrible on the net that no one could even get a chance to read our newsletters. Thus they were discontinued. If users want new content, then surfing the site is the only way to see it.
Many of the major web sites have been the subject of phishing scams...
Some of these sites refer to these forgeries as spoof email, which is perhaps a more 'consumer friendly' term.
These spoof emails are distributed just like spam and to anyone whose email address is on the scammers' lists,
whether they are a user of that particular site or not. Sites hit by these scams have included...
Yahoo - Microsoft - AOL - eBay - Paypal - Hotmail - Earthlink - Barclays iBank
Citibank - Halifax - Nat West Bank - Nationwide - MSN
FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)
Lloyds TSB - AT&T - Fleet Homelink - U.S. Bank
As of August 10th, SuperLaugh
The vast majority of phishing scams consist of...
...a forged email which links to a forged web page or site. The email text urges you to complete an essential procedure by using a link
which opens a forged web page. That essential procedure has included account verification, invalid credit/debit card details,
attempted hacking of your accont, prize draws and account suspension, to name but a few. In many cases, the email has included
a worm virus which creates a browser type form rather than opening a web page (such as the Mimail worm).
For many months, this was made easier for the perpetrators when a bug was found in Internet Explorer browsers which allowed a
fake URL to be shown in the browser's address bar while a forged page was being viewed. Scammers had rich pickings until Microsoft
issued a patch in February 2003.
The forged web pages usually contain a form to provide the information that the scammers want to use to commit fraud.
This usually includes use of the victims' credit/debit card to open online accounts and hijacking of online accounts to steal money.
For instance, eBay users have had their accounts hijacked in this manner while the scammers use the accounts to list high value items,
receive payments from hopeful buyers but never send the goods. Other victims have had their credit rating and financial livelihood
destroyed when their identity has been used to raise finance, while others have seen their credit or debit cards used by others to
buy goods online.
Avoid becoming a victim of a Phishing Scam by following these simple rules ...
Treat all email with suspicion - What you see in the email body can be forged, the sender's address or return address can be forged and the email header can also be manipulated to disguise its true origin
Never use a link in an email to get to any web page. If you must go there, type the URL directly into your browser's address bar
Never send personal or financial information to any one via email
Regularly log into your online accounts - don't leave it for as long as a month before you check each account
Scrutinise your bank, credit and debit card satements and ensure that all transactions are legitimate. If anything is suspicious, contact your bank and all card issuers
Ensure that all of your software is up to date - for instance, if you use Microsoft's Windows, run Windows Update every day when you first connect to the internet. If you use other operating systems or browsers then check daily for patches or updates. Security loop holes are regularly discovered in software and many of these scams have utilised a vulnerability in Internet Explorer
If you must use your financial information online, ensure that you have adequate insurance against fraud
Be good, be careful and be aware.
Example of the Phishing email that went out to "unknown amount of people."
| 
Catnip Kitty
Life Is Like A Jar of Jalapenos
An Interview With God - Inspirational!
Happy Birthday To You