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What Would You Do If Someone Scraped Your Web Site Content?
May 9th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.
Normally when I pose a question in the title of my posts I go on to answer it myself. This time, however, I ask a question to which I do not know the answer. Earlier today I found two different sites that were copying my recent posts, in their entirety, word for word. If I had any kind of ego I might feel flattered by this – after all, they do say plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery don’t they? Anyway, I’m not going to name and shame the two sites in this post – methinks theres a good chance this post will appear on those sites anyway. No, instead my point is to see what you guys think is the correct response to having your content stolen? I have a few options – Hotlink Protection Firstly, both sites in question are also displaying my pictures in their posts. This could give me the opportunity to use hotlink protection through my hosting account in such a way that the picture they get is different to the one I display. I could utilise this to send a message about content theft or, alternatively, find something gross involving a woman and a horse for example. RSS Redirection Fun Secondly, I know how they got my content – through the RSS feed from another of my sites which now picks up these posts since I 301 redirected the home page of the old site to point to the home page of this site. Knowing this, I could now change where that original feed points, maybe finding an RSS feed from a DMCA type site to make a point, or some gross type of site as alluded to above. Better yet, I could make my feed redirect to their feed – that way, every time their bot scrapes my feed it will in fact copy their own, leading to a huge amount of duplicate content appearing on their site. My understanding is that this could end up becoming an endless loop which will surely fill them up with so many copies of the same posts that the search engines will quickly spit them out. Digital Millenium Copyright Act A third option would be to contact the webmasters (I’ve tried without success thus far) or the hosts. Failing that, a DMCA takedown notice might just do the trick. Seems like a lot of effort without any fun payback to me though. Speak To My Friends Fourthly, through Twitter and other avenues, I have come to know many great and interesting people in the security arena – not all of these work on the light side. Some of these people have offered to practice their skills in certain ways, if you catch my drift. Interesting, but not really my style. Pepper My Posts With Affiliate Links The fifth option that I thought of was to make a point of writing several posts in a row into which I could insert affiliate links. Doing so would mean that I could, possibly, earn some money from having my hard work copied around the web – if someone found my post in another place and used those links then I might possibly earn from it. Good idea in theory but not good for my own blog if I link to products every single time I write something. Ignorance Isn’t Very Blissful Lastly, I could ignore the problem and just hope neither of these sites would outrank me. Which option would you choose and why?? What Would You Do If Someone Scraped Your Web Site Content? is a post from: Security FAQs
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What Would You Do If Someone Scraped Your Web Site Content?
Why You Need To Ensure That Your Company’s Database Is Secured From Two Types Of Threat
May 9th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
One of the most important things that we deal with on a daily basis is data. As we have lived through the bronze age, and the industrial age, so this era is known as the information age. The Rise Of The Database Since this is the case, the database has become one of the most useful software tools around. No matter if it is a relational database or a flat file, any software that has the ability to store and organize information has become uniquely important. Most companies now run database software to handle the data that is both generated and received by their business. An owner or manager must be sure that this data is being handled in a safe, secured fashion. If not, they might find all of their industrial secrets are out there for the world to see. There are a couple of things that you must be aware of when you have a database system on your network. First, you must be aware of what the hacker could be looking for and, secondly, the different types of vectors for attack. These are not small details either. The Two Motives For Database Hacking Most hackers these days, when they break into someone’s computer network, are looking for two things that will bring them a lot of profit. They are looking for either business information or personal information. Information like this on a company’s server has a lot of value to it. So the manager must be aware and secure the system in a proper way. Usually that would mean bringing in a professional to do the job. A big worry for a manager is the different ways that the system can be attacked. You will have to worry about both the online and the physical world trying to get into your system. I think it is obvious, when we talk about online, what we are talking about. This is the type of stuff that you see in movies. A hacker sitting in his room or office, trying to do several different things to break into a system from a remote location. Most security professionals that you bring in to work for you will know how to take care of that kind of problem. Another concern that they might look past is the co workers that are at the job. A disgruntled employee is a very serious risk when it comes to protecting your database data. The one thing that is worse than a profit motive to steal your data is a personal one. Instead of just stealing your data, they might try to destroy the whole system. That is why the professional that you bring in must be aware on how to stop someone from killing the database in this manner. There are several reasons why people would want to get the information off of your database. It is you job to make sure that you hire the right people to stop them. Why You Need To Ensure That Your Company’s Database Is Secured From Two Types Of Threat is a post from: Security FAQs
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Why You Need To Ensure That Your Company’s Database Is Secured From Two Types Of Threat
Should I Have A Formal Security Policy About USB Devices At Work?
May 8th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.
The flow of data in and out of the workplace is amazing these days. With all of the wireless networks and tiny storage devices it is hard for an IT manager to keep track of them all. Unfortunately, if you want to keep your data secured , you must be able to keep track of these types of situations. All of the ways that people use to store their data are potential security leaks that must be able to be contained at a moments notice. This is why you must have a formal security policy at the job when it comes to items such as this. Formal Security Policy If a person is able to put whatever data that they would like onto these devices you will never know who will get their hands on them. The problem with most of these devices are that people lose them all of the time. Even if you have an employee that is not being malicious and truly wants to take the data home to work on it there could still be a major security leak waiting in the wings. If they are taking a piece of secret company data home in their pocket and they go to a bar that people in the industry hang out there could be consequences. What if the employee leaves the USB device there? Then a competitor could get a good portion of your companies secrets. That could lead to a huge disaster for future product launches and ideas. This is why you must make sure that an employee has to log in whenever they are in a part of the server that has top secret information. Also you must let them know which kind of data they can and cannot take home with them to work on. If they have forbidden data on the USB drive there would be no way that they could say that they didn’t know it wasn’t allowed. If the person is caught with it or loses it it could serve as a mean to fire them. If there is no formal policy against this kind of activity then the person could simply say that they didn’t know and legally they would be fine. A firm, hard, official company wide stance would leave the person with no wiggle room. Lock Out The USB Ports If you wanted to take the policy to the extreme, you could also eliminate the ability of people to store data from a USB port on their work computer. If they want data at home, then they can log in for it. When they log in, they would leave an IP address and log in credentials. This would help you keep better info on who got what data. If you need workers to have access to data on the server to their job then you should make sure that you have formal policy in place. Especially if it involves USB devices . These tiny little devices can lead to a world of trouble. Should I Have A Formal Security Policy About USB Devices At Work? is a post from: Security FAQs
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Should I Have A Formal Security Policy About USB Devices At Work?
How Can I Choose A Completely Safe BitTorrent Client?
May 7th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.
Even though the standard has been around for almost nine years, the world of BitTorrents is still a mysterious thing to a lot of people. When it comes to downloading files off of the internet, most people still use the traditional way of going to a web site and just downloading the file like they would normally do. Some people who may be a little more technically inclined may use one of the file sharing services like Kazaa to download files off of the net. But if you are a person that really knows computers then there are two ways that you are going to go – either use the Usenet service that has been around for ages or use bittorrent. Going Underground Even though bittorrent still remains somewhat an underground phenomenon, it is still popular enough that people make many versions of the client. Since the bittorrent client is an open protocol, anyone who feels like it can make their own version of it and can build it and use it themselves. Software and protocols being open like this is usually a good thing but there have been some bad guys that have tried to take advantage of this. They have created their own version of a bittorrent client and use it to spread malware to unsuspecting users’ computers. The tainted software does this by either pretending to be a real client when it isn’t, or it is a real client but it sends unauthorized downloads to your computer. Either way, both of these tricks can give a new user to bittorrent a bad impression about the software and the overall community itself. So, to make sure that you download a client that is safe, here is what you should do – The first thing that you can do to make sure that your client is safe is to go to a site that is well known and retrieve the client from there. If you look at a web site such as download.com or any other like that, you will find dozens of bittorrent clients waiting to be downloaded. This way you know the software is safe and has been tested. Peer Recommendations Another thing that you can do is to go and visit some forums to see what clients they are using. Ask the people for a link and you will surely be able to come up with a decent client to use. Once you start trying to find out what client you want to use, you will hear certain names that come up over and over again. Try a couple of these clients and see which one that you like the best. When a new person is entering the world of downloading torrents there is a steep learning curve to get past. Learning how to pick a safe client to use should not be on that list. Once you have a client remember also that there are some dangers inherent in downloading torrents . How Can I Choose A Completely Safe BitTorrent Client? is a post from: Security FAQs
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How Can I Choose A Completely Safe BitTorrent Client?
New Tool From Zesty.ca Allows You To Find Out How Much Of Your Privacy Is Leaking Out Of Facebook
May 6th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Facebook has been a lead story in the tech world for a couple of weeks now and there is a good reason why. In fact there are two good reasons. The first reason they have been in the news a lot is that they have launched a bunch of new features that is supposed to make using their service a much better experience. The other reason why they have been in the news is that this new enjoyable experience seems to be coming at the expense of their users’ privacy, leaving some wondering how they can maintain their privacy on Facebook . When people first signed up for the service they thought that it would be just like any other social network service and play by the same rules. But this has not happened. Changing Facebook Policies Facebook has gotten bigger than any other social media web site before it and now they have changed a couple of their policies to reflect those changes. But if you are worried about how much information Facebook is sharing from your account, then there is a tool out there that will help you find out. You can use this software to determine if you would like to stay with the service any longer, if you feel as if they are not respecting your privacy. One of the tools out there was created by a developer named Ka-Ping Yee. All the tool needs is your Facebook ID to see what is being put out there about you. The tool is located here http://zesty.ca/facebook/ and before Facebook fixed a big security breach, using the API, there was a lot more information that this tool could find out about you. Facebook had to admit that there were holes in their API and they finally fixed them. This tool is still able to tell you how much information is out there about you according to Facebook but thankfully the holes have been fixed so the results are not as deep as they once were. Resistance Is Futile Facebook is trying to challenge services such as Google and to do this they need your data to be a catalyst. So, little by little, they try to change the terms of agreement that you first had to agree to when you signed up for Facebook. By changing this agreement, I believe that they are telling you that they want to put more of your data out for public display and the data that is not put on public display can still be shared by third parties that use their API. By sharing some of your private information with some of these third parties, they allow them to target their ads with a laser like focus to attract you. The bad part about this is that most people do not know that their data is being used like this. Of course Facebook is not the only web company that is doing stuff like this but they are one of the most noticeable. People go to the site to share their information with their friends and family. It is too bad for them; they are now unknowingly sharing it with the world. New Tool From Zesty.ca Allows You To Find Out How Much Of Your Privacy Is Leaking Out Of Facebook is a post from: Security FAQs
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New Tool From Zesty.ca Allows You To Find Out How Much Of Your Privacy Is Leaking Out Of Facebook
The Basic Anatomy Of A Program And How It Can Take Over Your System
May 3rd, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
There is a big mystery when it comes to the world of programming and how a program actually operates. If the person that you are trying to explain the system to is not a programmer then it is hard to put what is happening behind the scenes of the computer in abstract terms. Even a lot of programmers have trouble digesting what is going on behind the scenes, especially if they work on a language that is several layers above the “metal”. The “metal” is a term that is used when we are describing the hardware parts of the computer. Usually this means the actual CPU and motherboard. When a program runs on the computer, is actually going through several layers before it can execute. I can give you a brief synopsis on how this works and then follow it up with an explanation of how this can lead into someone taking over your computer. Execution When you first start up a program, most of the time the data is just sitting on your hard drive. We will think of it as “sleeping” on your hard drive. Once you click on the button, you are waking the program up. When you wake the program up, you are placing the data into the memory. Another name for memory is ram. Ram actually stands for Random Access Memory. Once the data is there, it is stored and then released to the CPU. But before it goes to the CPU, it must make a stop into two to three caches, depending on the quality of the motherboard. The more caches, the better. These caches are known as L1, L2, and L3. The L3 cache is bigger than the L2. The L2 is bigger than the L1. The data goes through the caches and ends at L1. Once there, it goes into a register and then to the actual CPU to be executed. This may seem like a lot of processes for a single piece of data, but your computer is so fast that you will not notice. The only time that you see a lag in the system is when there is a large amount of data trying this process at once. Once it gets to the CPU, you then witness the magic on your screen. Now that you know how the program executes, you might be wondering how a bad program can ruin this process. Messing With The Memory Well, there are many ways that this can happen but one of the more popular is by messing with the memory . A talented black hat hacker can change the flow of the program by placing something in the memory that is not supposed to be there. Usually this is extra data that causes the computer to skip to a part of memory that is not supposed to, giving a program permissions that it is not supposed to have. These part of the memory that we are referring to is known as the “address”. This is usually the more complicated of attacks. Most attacks are not this complicated but do a lot less damage than this type can. Hopefully I have given you a basic understanding of how your computer works and how the wrong program can do bad things. Once a rogue program is in the memory, it can spell disaster. The Basic Anatomy Of A Program And How It Can Take Over Your System is a post from: Security FAQs
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The Basic Anatomy Of A Program And How It Can Take Over Your System
How Can I Protect My Gmail Account?
May 2nd, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
For most people, even though it is still an older technology, email is still the number one way that they do business in the world of the internet. They are used to the ability of checking the account whenever they want and they still might not be comfortable with the real time aspects of most newer communication applications that are out there. Sure, email may be a slower way to communicate than some of the newer applications, but it is still one of the most effective ways to get your message across. Email Accounts Are Appealing To Black Hat Hackers But… black hat hackers know that a lot of people still use email as their main form of communication, so they have focused their latest attacks in getting past this road block. In particular they have focused on getting past the security barriers that are layed down by Google. Google’s Gmail service is one of the most popular email services out there and because of that, it has become a target. When you are dealing with Gmail or any other email accounts, you have to be careful who can gain access to it. There are a couple of steps that you can take to make sure that no one but you is able to access the account. Do not give the log in information to anyone else, or most of these techniques will be rendered moot. The first thing that you want to do before you try to protect your password, is to make sure that you have your reset password details set. In case you are hacked, you can let Google know that you are the real owner by answering a few questions. If you are not able to answer these questions, or if they are not set, then you will not be able to access the account. So make sure that you have this feature set. Password Security Is Paramount After that is done, make sure that you have a password that will not be easy to guess . When creating the password, use symbols, numbers, and Capitalized letters. Also make sure that the word is not a dictionary word. Using all of these precautions, you will be able to keep the attacker from guessing the password. Another thing that you should do, is to access GMail from as few locations as possible. Do not access your account from a public computer if possible. Some people forget to log out when they do this regularly and people are able to get in and see your information. When you log into Gmail, if anything seems off, you can check the IP address of whoever logged in last. At the bottom of the page, Google has set up a feature that is called “Last Known Activity”. You can check this to see if anyone besides you has access your account. To check your IP, go to WhatsmyIP.com and compare it to the ones that are listed on Google. Keep in mind that if you logged in from a remote place, such as work, it will give a different address. Or if you have an ISP that uses dynamic IP addresses, it will not be as effective as well. These are a couple of ways that you can protect your email . Make sure that you use them. How Can I Protect My Gmail Account? is a post from: Security FAQs
How The Storm Worm Highlights The Security Industry’s Dirty Little Secret
April 30th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
There is a dirty little secret in the security world. One that only shows it head every once in a blue moon, so it isn’t something that is discussed that much. This secret is that, even though you may have thought that you have gotten rid of a virus, a lot of times it will come back. (This doesn’t just apply to the most popular viruses but to most other malware too). I am not talking about its ability to infect your machine again, I simply mean that it comes back to being in prominence once again. Every so often the security world will see a flare-up of a certain type of malware that will spread across the globe very quickly. It happens quicker than the IT people can hope to patch their machines against the attack. We usually see a heavy boost of activity, and then the security researchers catch up with the technology so that they are now able to stop it, and then it dies down again. But that is not usually the last that you will hear about it. Often there is a re-occurrence. It is usually the same piece of malware, just altered by a little bit so that it can bypass the detection software. The Storm Worm Right now we see this happening once again with the Storm worm . The Storm worm is an infection that hit in 2007 and was a real threat when it came to computer security. The Storm worm was different that other threats because of the fact that it refused to die. When it was introduced to a system it would change the packing code of the Trojan so that the antivirus software would not detect it. There are a couple of other little tricks that it would use to escape detection as well, such as changing the IP address of the servers that it would use to connect to the rest of the bot network. This made this piece of malware a very hard one to stop. Now it is being reported that this particular piece of malware is rearing its head once again. Cheap Copy This new version shares a lot of the same traits as the old one, but it does not seem to be as effective as the original strain of this particular malware. Most likely it is someone who has made a duplicate without all of the necessary resources that the owners of the first strain had. When security experts reverse engineered the new version of the worm they saw that it was missing some of the vital components that made the original version so hard to destroy. Once again a popular piece of malware has flared up but it is only a shadow of the original version. This version of the Storm worm does not seem to be as effective as the original once was but I guess we will soon if it is able to live up to its namesake. Most likely it will not be able to. How The Storm Worm Highlights The Security Industry’s Dirty Little Secret is a post from: Security FAQs
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How The Storm Worm Highlights The Security Industry’s Dirty Little Secret
Watch Out For Counterfeit Software Scams
March 2nd, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Fraudsters are always looking to make money on the internet and they use a number of different schemes to do just that. One way in which they achieve their nefarious means is through distributing counterfeit software . Typically, these fraudsters will open up online stores from which to sell their warez. They will then advertise the popular software products of the day at a huge discount, often from 50% or even much more. To lend an air of credibility to the deals that they are offering they will also falsely claim that they are authorised sellers for the software on their sites. Should you happen to buy counterfeit software from such a seller it is likely that you will end up extremely disappointed and out of pocket as the programs will most likely come with fraudulent serial keys. Such keys, if not already blocked by the software manufacturer at the time of your purchase, will likely prove to be useless in a short period of time. How Do I Protect Myself From Counterfeit Software Scams? As ever, commonsense is the key here. If a product is priced at a ridiculously low level then alarm bells should ring loudly in your head. Also, you should also be very wary of buying anything from websites you know nothing about. In the case of software, you can always contact the producer of the software you are interested in to check whether the website you’ve seen is indeed an authorised seller of said product. Watch Out For Counterfeit Software Scams is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Watch Out For Counterfeit Software Scams
Why You Should Beware Of Dance Studio Scams
February 15th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.
Dancing can either be a fun pastime or, for some gifted people, a great career opportunity. Dance studios can cater to both types of dancer, though they tend to be aimed more at those who are looking to have fun and socialise rather than pursue a career. Students can learn new techniques and have fun at a dance studio but they should, perhaps, be a little wary when signing up.. Dance studios generate large amounts of money for those who run them and so, just as with most types of business, scam artists become involved in a small number of them. HOW DANCING STUDIO SCAMS ARE COMMITTED Dance studios don’t tend to allow students to come and go as they please, preferring to organise agreements for minimum periods instead. Clients will be signed up for a certain amount of time, typically a year or more, during which will they be contractually obligated to continue paying fees. Dance studios that are looking to earn as much as they can from their clients then find ways of using those contracts, including adding terms and conditions that compel their students to make purchases of training materials or equipment solely through them or an agent of their choice (who will undoubtedly be giving them a nice kickback) . Additionally, such contracts may also compel clients into paying additional fees too, such as a contribution towards the cost of the venue, or for extra training sessions. Funnily enough, a lot of these ‘extras’ will either be unwanted or will go unused. HOW TO AVOID DANCING STUDIO SCAMS As with everything in life, common sense is key. Before joining a dance studio be sure to check them out and ask questions. Speak to people who are already members as well as searching for the studio on the internet. Whilst you shouldn’t believe everything you read it will be worth investigating any complaints you see or hear. Here are some ideas of the types of question you should be asking before joining a dance studio – What is the cost per dancing lesson? Will there be a need to pay for extra materials or lessons? What are the total costs of the contract? Are there any advance payments or deposits required? Will there be monthly or annual fee increases during the term of the contract? How many lessons you are paying for, when are they held and how long do they last? Can you cancel early and what would be the cost of doing so? Is your payment protected if the studio goes out of business? Check whether the answers to those questions will be contained in the contract and, before signing the contract, it may be worth consulting with an attorney to verify that you are clear on what you are paying for and what rights you have. Enjoy your dancing! Why You Should Beware Of Dance Studio Scams is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Why You Should Beware Of Dance Studio Scams
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Oops, I Pressed *Esc
February 8th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
The following email has been circulating around the internet in many guises for several years, but I still find it amusing. Dear Microsoft Technical Support, I am desperate for some help. I recently upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 and found that the new program began giving unexpected errors and also took up a lot of space and valuable resources. This wasn’t mentioned in the product brochure. In addition Wife 1.0 installs itself into all other programs and launches during system initialization where it monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Boys Night Out 2.5, and Cricket 5.3 no longer run and crash the system whenever selected. Attempting to operate Saturday Sports Bar 6.3 always fails but Saturday Shopping 7.1 runs instead. I cannot seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background whilst attempting to run any of my favorite applications. I am thinking about going back to Girlfriend7.0 but uninstall doesn’t work on this program. With regards, ……………….. THE REPLY: – This is a very common problem resulting from a basic misunderstanding. Many men upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 thinking that Wife 1.0 is merely a UTILITIES & ENTERTAINMENT program. Whereas Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM designed by its creator to run everything. You are unlikely to be able to purge Wife 1.0 and still convert back to Girlfriend 7.0 as Wife 1.0 is not designed to do this and it is impossible to uninstall, delete or purge the program files from the system once installed. Some people have tried to install Girlfriend 8.0 or wife 2.0 but have ended up with even more problems. (See in manual under alimony Support and Solicitors Fees). Having Wife 1.0 installed myself I recommend you keep it installed and deal with the difficulties as best you can. When any faults or problems occur, whatever you think has caused them, you must run the C: I APOLOGISE.bat program and avoid attempting to use the *Esc-key. It may be necessary to run C: I APOLOGISE.bat a number of times but hopefully eventually the operating system will return to normal. Wife 1.0 although a very high maintenance program can be very rewarding. To get the most out of it consider buying additional software such as Flowers 2.0 and Chocolates 5.0. Do not under any circumstances install Secretary36.24.36 (Short Skirt version) as this is not a supported application for Wife 1.0 and the system will almost certainly crash. Thank you for using the program!! I received the latest version this morning and it reminded me why I’m getting divorced.. I just couldn’t bring myself to run the I APOLGISE.bat program which she requested, even when she was the one in the wrong If you haven’t been able to work it out, the above is, of course, an email hoax and not a genuine reply from Microsoft. Oops, I Pressed *Esc is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Oops, I Pressed *Esc
A Top 5 List Of The Most Common Security Hoaxes On The Internet
February 1st, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Most people tend to ignore the email that may appear in their spam folders, with good reason of course. Sometime, if you are expecting an email and it hasn’t appeared yet, you may check the spam folder to make sure that it didn’t end up in there. Otherwise you will just most likely ignore it. Sometimes, the opposite might happen and a piece of spam email may appear in your normal inbox. The spammers will find a way to circumvent the filters. So now that it is in your normal email inbox, you will tend to trust it a little bit more. It will tell you a story that may come off as a serious piece of news or a rumor that is going around. It may sound credible or it might sound crazy, the main thing that the email wants you to do, is to click on the link. Once you click on that link, they have won the battle. Dangerous Places It’s not the email itself that is dangerous, its the place that it is sending you to. There are a lot of hoaxes that are discovered everyday floating around the Internet. These new stories are passed around, just to see what sticks. Along with the new ones, there are some that have been around forever. They are still used by hackers and spammers, because people will continuously click on them. They are worded just right, so that they do their job and make people click on to somewhere they do not want to be. They may think that by clicking the link, they are getting the rest of the story, but in reality, they are being sent somewhere that will damage their computer. Some of these hoaxes have been around for years. At this point, maybe even decades. No matter how many warnings are given, people still tend to click on them. As long as that happens, they will never stop. The Top 5 Email Hoaxes Here are some of the top five email hoaxes that are being spread around on the Internet – A.I.D.s virus – this hoax tells people that they have to be aware of email messages that state “OPEN: VERY COOL” or “aolfree.com”. It then ask you to warn everyone in your message book. Evocash – This hoax sends a false alert, saying that it contains a worm. It doesn’t but the page that it sends you to might. Just delete it. John Kennedy Jr – This is another one that tells you to watch out for a virus being spread by a screensaver called “John Kennedy Jr”. Big Brother – This is an old hoax, that comes around every year while the show big brother is on. This is another one to just delete and not pay attention to. PANDEMIC COMPUTER VIRUS – This is another that tells users about a fake computer virus, called “Microshaft”. Again this is not real and you should not pay attention to what it says. These are the 5 most common email hoaxes that are out there. If you see any of these hoaxes, to not be concerned. Simply take your delete key in your email and use it. Do not click on any links or take any actions that these emails may suggest to you. A Top 5 List Of The Most Common Security Hoaxes On The Internet is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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A Top 5 List Of The Most Common Security Hoaxes On The Internet
Hackers Use The News Of Fake Celebrity Deaths To Their Own Advantage
January 28th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.
If you want to get people interested in something that you have to say, just add a celebritie’s name to it and the heads will turn. This does not necessarily reflect well on our society, but it is the truth. We pay attention more to celebrities, than to anybody else. It doesn’t matter if they are in movies, music or sports, people care what they have to say. Since this fact is well known, hackers use this to their advantage on a regular basis. Before, they would wait until a big news story about a celebrity to break, and they would then try to capitalize off of it. Since there are sites such as Twitter and Facebook out now, it is easier to create a fake story themselves and get everyone to click on it. Fake Deaths Spread Malware This is exactly what happened last week. Throughout the different social media web sites, it was reported that the actor Johnny Depp, was killed in a car accident . Even though there was no credible source, that was reported in the news, the story spread like wild fire. In less than a couple of hours, Twitter was filled with RIP notices to the supposed “late” actor’s death. Of course none of this was true and was only just the means of a hacker spreading his latest attack throughout the Internet. It seems that it was a pretty successful attack, even though there are no hard numbers to reveal this fact. But as popular as this fakes new story was throughout the weekend, there had to be a lot of victims to this attack. He used the news, that there was video that showed the actual crash, to spread the virus around. When they went to watch the video, it would ask them to download a codec to be able to see the video. Once they did, the virus would then spread onto their machines. There must be an effort to educate people on what to click and what not to click. If there is not, then attacks such as this will work every time. Malware Plugged In People are so used to web sites asking them to install plugins when they go to them, that it is not a big deal for the average user anymore. When you go to web sites such as CNN.com, they even ask you to use a special plugin to view their content, which is only a Flash video. So it is hard for the average user to be able to tell the difference. As long as these attacks still work, Hackers will do their best to implement them. We have to get the word out to the public, when it is best to install something from a web site. If not, then this problem will be a continuous cycle. Hackers Use The News Of Fake Celebrity Deaths To Their Own Advantage is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Hackers Use The News Of Fake Celebrity Deaths To Their Own Advantage
Johnny Depp Killed By Malware. Savvy?
January 25th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
There is a story currently going around the internet that claims that Pirates of the Caribbean actor Johnny Depp is dead. Don’t believe it! The reports about Depp’s supposed death are nothing new, having first been spotted way back in 2004 – Johnny Depp dies after fatal car crash BORDEAUX, France (CNN) — Johnny Depp’s car was found along side a road outside Bordeaux, France, with the guard rail embedded deep inside the car. If you click on that link you’ll be taken to what looks like a real page from CNN about the actor. If you read past the first few paragraphs, however, you’ll discover that the story is in fact about some British divers working in France. Whoever was behind the original hoax simply changed the start of the story to create their hoax. So how does this link into malware? Well, hackers watch the internet for trends and the story of Depp’s supposed death was certainly hot over the weekend. If you go Googling for news then there are now sites popping up about the alleged tragedy that contain links to videos… or so it seems. Over to Graham Cluley from Sophos for a better demonstration of where the malware may come from – You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video So, remember, stories of Johhny Depp’s demise are very much a hoax, just like previous ones about Miley Cyrus and Emma Watson dying in car crashes. Johnny Depp Killed By Malware. Savvy? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Johnny Depp Killed By Malware. Savvy?
How Are Online Ads Used To Scam People?
January 21st, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
The human race is an imaginative bunch. If there is a problem that is in front of us, we do our best to solve it. The same goes for when we have an objective to achieve. We will pull out our imaginations and come up with something very cunning. This is what hackers and online scam artists do on a daily basis. They see an objective, which is how to get the money that is in your wallet, and figure out a way to accomplish it. Online Classified Ads Scam The latest scam has been using online classified ads to find their victims. There have always been scams when it came to classified ads, even online ones. Craigslist, Ebay and all of the other types of classified web sites, have all had to increase their security over the years. No one wants to visit these places, if all that happens is, them being scammed and their money taken. So there are safe guards in place to help prevent this from happening. But these safeguards deal with just the normal crooks. These days, the online classified ads scams are being done by organized groups of individuals. Organized Crime The groups that are involved with the scams range from organized crime members in the US to criminals operating out of Nigeria. There is just not one group of individuals who are committing these crimes, it has gone international. People have found it lucrative and are taking advantage of it. The range of scams are also great. The different scams include fake electronics, bait and switch, robbery, and even real estate fraud. Some of these scams might need a little bit of explanation so that you know how to avoid them. The bait and switch is especially popular on EBay . It involves someone advertising an item and showing a picture of it in a package. In little letters at the bottom of the page, they say that they are selling the packaging and not the item itself. So when you get only the packaging and you start to complain, they bring up that it is exactly what was advertised. Robbery happens a lot on Craigslist . People will pretend that they are selling something and they need you to pick it up. When you go there with your money, they physically assault you and take the money out of your pocket. This happens more often than people think. Make sure you meet in a public place if possible, when purchasing items off of craigslist. The real estate scam involves people claiming that they have a house for rent or sale. They will tell you that they live there but are out of the country. They then send you a key, and you send them the money. When you get to the place, you find out that the key doesn’t work. This is a relatively new crime that has been happening a lot. Most traces claim that a lot of the real estate scams are originating from Nigeria. Online classifieds are a great way to get a deal but they have their share of risk as well. If you are careful and make sure that read the listing very throughly, you should be able to avoid the scams. How Are Online Ads Used To Scam People? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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How Are Online Ads Used To Scam People?
The Conficker Worm Proved To Be The Biggest Problem In 2009
January 14th, 2010. Published under Scams. No Comments.
One thing about the year 2009 is that it saw it’s share of online threats. As a matter of fact, there were probably more threats seen in 2009 than in any year prior. There are more and more hackers that are seeing the financial benefits that can be made by introducing new exploits to the average computer user. Also, there are a lot more hacker kits that are available. They allow a person who is not skilled in creating an exploit to have the ability to use one anyway. All of these factors mixed together made 2009 and dangerous year on the Internet. The Conficker Worm None of the threats that were out there caused more problems than the conficker worm. This worm took traction in 2009 and wouldn’t stop. The conficker worm could be easily one of the worse infections that has spread through the Internet for the entire decade, not just 2009. First found in the wild at the end of 2008, this worm quickly spread to users of the Microsoft Windows operating system family. After the worm was first discovered, it was hard to stop the infection on user’s computers because the worm itself kept transforming. The creators of the worm would monitor recent developments that would hopefully help stop the spread of it and they adjusted accordingly. This is part of the reason why the worm goes by so many different names. Besides Conflicker, it also known as Downup and the Kido worm. The worm was able to spread so much and so quick that Microsoft offered a huge bounty on the heads of whoever wrote the worm. They were determined to eliminate the threat if not by technology, then through old fashion police work. They were able to discover what region of the world the worm was originating from, but they were not able to find the person or persons responsible for it. Antivirus Avoidance For a long time, antivirus software was not able to get rid of every variant of the worm. Now they all claim to be able to detect and dispose of the worm on a users system. This seems to be true since the spread of the worm has rapidly decreased in the last couple of months. The worm was so successful that there is no doubt that the creators of it are working on a 2.0 version. Since they haven’t been caught, they get the chance to work on all of the mistakes they made. This time, they can make it even more untraceable. Out of all the malware that was released in the past year, the Conficker worm proved to be the biggest pest. It was able to baffle network administrators and security professionals everywhere. The Conficker Worm Proved To Be The Biggest Problem In 2009 is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Twitter Being Used To Get Information About Potential Targets
January 12th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
This is a great time in social media technology. Even though MySpace and some of the other leaders in the field have fallen by the way side, they have been replaced by either technically or socially superior offerings. Twitter & Facebook In the case of technical superiority, the winner is definitely Facebook and it’s huge user base. It allows you to stay connected to individuals and still maintain a great deal of privacy. Some of that has been changed in the past couple of months, but overall they keep your privacy better than any other social media site. Twitter is the other winner in this battle. They have grown a great deal in such a short amount of time. Unfortunately their privacy policy is not as good as Facebook’s. Private Twitter Twitter allows you to have two settings. Your tweets can either be open or they can be private. When they are private, only the people that you choose are allowed to follow you. This seems secured on the outside, but it quickly becomes a setting that people get tired of. Part of the fun of Twitter, is that people that you do not know get to follow you, if you seem like an interesting person. Locking your twitter account eliminates that feature. So most people end up turning it off. This is when the problems begin. Public Twitter People use twitter when they are in the office, on the streets, and at home. This causes the average user to become real comfortable with the service and maybe say things that they didn’t mean to. This includes personal items about themselves and information about their job that should not be spoken about in public. There are ways that you can delete the offending tweet, but most times it will still be picked up by third party devices that hook to twitter. Applications such as tweetdeck will cache the tweet and the people who follow you will still see it. If a hacker or any other kind of criminal is casing a particular target, they can find out who works there. Once they find out who works there, it should be easy to find the workers that use Twitter . Once that information is found out, they can then set those people as part of a list and monitor what they say. Someone in that group will say something valuable about their job. All they need is one person to slip up. Corporations and small businesses need to go over with their workers social media protocol. A firm policy is needed, so they know what they can disclose on social media sites. The companies must realize that these sites have become a huge way that people socialize and they need to plan for it. I wouldn’t go as far as monitor their tweets but an official office policy should be good enough. Especially when you are dealing with sensitive information. Twitter Being Used To Get Information About Potential Targets is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Twitter Being Used To Get Information About Potential Targets
I Looked Out My Window And There It Was, Evidence Of Global Warming
January 6th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I always thought global warming was a hoax . I mean, come on, is the planet really getting warmer each year? Today, though, I saw it with my own eyes, the glorious sunshine on what should have been a cold winter’s day – A quick change of clothes was in order, I feel so much cooler in my shorts and t-shirt. The weathermen said this was the coldest winter since records began in Britain. They are clearly deluded – They also said that we hadn’t had this much snow since those records began either. Are they on drugs? This here photographic evidence clearly proves otherwise – I am therefore, completely converted. No longer will I believe that global warming is a hoax or conspiracy designed for hitting us with higher taxes or who knows what else. It is quite obviously a genuine phenomenon that poses a very real threat to society. I for one am glad though as I won’t be needing my heating on this winter I Looked Out My Window And There It Was, Evidence Of Global Warming is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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I Looked Out My Window And There It Was, Evidence Of Global Warming
If Hackers Attack Your Business Then You Can Be Held Legally Responsible
January 4th, 2010. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
The next step for mostly anyone that has a brick and mortar store set up out in the real world is to create an online virtual space for their customers to shop in. Of course anyone that is in business has heard of the great advantages that can be gained when you bring your store online. You have access to a lot more customers in a global arena. Plus the use of the latest and greatest software allows your transactions to be made easily without any problems. All you have to do is to take the credit card, process it, and get ready to take the order, right? Wrong, having your business online is a great way to make extra money but there are some considerations that are there that you can not take lightly. One of those are the very serious security issues that can arise from taking someone’s credit card online. If this is handled the wrong way you can be held legally responsible. Right now there is a case going on between the financial institution Capital One and an electronic testing firm from Louisiana. The name of the company is JM test systems and they had more than $97,000 stolen through the use of illegal bank transfers. Capital One is stating that it is not their fault and they are not involved with the transaction beside letting it go through their systems. How this case will pan out is anyone’s guess and will, undoubtedly, be expensive in either case. Therefore, it pays to take sure security seriously. When you are a company that takes a person’s credit card number, you must have the best security that you can possibly afford. You have to be certain that the protection of the numbers is your number one priority and that you take it seriously. If you are a small business the best thing that you can do is to allow a third party entity that is trusted to handle your credit card processing. Look at the companies that get the best reviews and use them. These people are professionals and handle security threats on a daily basis. They will be able to handle the security of your customers personal data better than you can. You have to make sure that when you decide to take orders online that you do not take this responsibility lightly. People are entrusting their credit card numbers in your hands. If you are the one that slips up by not providing enough security then you can be legally liable. If Hackers Attack Your Business Then You Can Be Held Legally Responsible is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Investor Scam
December 21st, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Finding someone to invest in your ideas in this day and age isn’t easy. You develop a new idea, a unique plan or a superb niche which you think could earn you a good income, but you don’t have the money to put it into fruition. So what do you do? You look for people, who are willing to invest in your idea. You should remember though, that there are many scammers lurking out there on the internet. Therefore, be very careful before disclosing your plans to anybody, especially someone whom you have just met on the internet. Forums Something that fraudsters have begun doing is visiting forums, communities, and announcement boards, and posting that they have cash waiting to invest in new products or ideas. The victim thinks his luck is in, gets talking to the scammer and reveals all his plans in the process (scam artists are very good listeners after all!). Afterwards, the scammer disappears and never returns, leaving the victim thinking that maybe their idea wasn’t as attractive as they first thought. On the contrary, however, the scammer WAS interested. ‘Investor’ Turns Copycat So much so that he has extracted all the information required to go and implement the plan himself without the need to partner with the victim at all. If you are looking for an investor the best plan is to give them as few details as possible at first until you are sure you can fully trust them. Even then, ensure you have genuine contact details for them, not just free email accounts and mobile phone numbers. It may even be worth getting them to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement before divulging the best parts of your plans in order to retain your usefulness in the bargain. Investor Scam is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Have Researchers Found A Way To Bypass Microsoft Bitlocker Security Technology?
December 18th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
In the last several iterations of the Microsoft Windows operating system they have touted the availability of higher security on the system. The newer security features included the forced nag screen that came up when installing a program that could be harmful to your computer. Also, the new command that you must have administrative access to be able to change certain settings that could damage the computer. One security feature that was praised above all was the Bitlocker system. You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video This technology allowed people to encrypt their hard drives in case it was stolen. It now seems that the technology has a flaw that allows it to be bypassed. The security test lab named Fraunhofer SIT discovered a way that they could get around the Bitlocker encryption. The way that they bypass the system is completely software based and requires physical access to the machine. It involves booting the system with Bitlocker on it from a separate device. This device can be a USB drive or another computer. Once it is ready, the attacker can then replace the boot code of the Bitlocker system with a piece of code that records the user provided key. Once that key is recorded ,the person is able to reboot the system back to its unmodified state. This attack even works if a person has the Trusted Platform Module turned on. The Trusted Platform Module is another part of the Microsoft security system that until now was not able to be bypassed. I’ve obviously made this sound simpler than it is as I don’t want to be teaching anyone how to do this but, in reality, it is far from simple. It is very involved and not at all easy to pull off. Overall the Bitlocker security system is still a very safe way to encrypt your files and folders. They did not find a way to break the actual encryption, they merely found a way to bypass it. You will not have to worry about your average attacker knowing how to do anything this complicated. The system is still very secured and should keep you worry free. Have Researchers Found A Way To Bypass Microsoft Bitlocker Security Technology? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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How To Get A Job In Any Economy
December 17th, 2009. Published under Unemployment. No Comments.
This is a video sample of a DVD called, “How To Get A Job In Any Economy.” With nearly 20% of the US population looking for work, the tips on this DVD are invaluable and will help you get the job you are looking for: getajobnow.yolasite.com
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Inheritance Scams
December 16th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.
If you receive an email, or notification via regular mail, from an ‘estate locator’ claiming that there may be an unclaimed inheritance to which you are entitled then don’t get excited too quickly. Sure, there are times when someone dies and leaves a sum of money to people who didn’t know them, or didn’t expect to inherit anything from them, but that tends to be the exception rather than the rule. So, if you do receive such a notification from an ‘estate locator’ suggesting that you have an inheritance due then remember that if something sounds too good to be true it typically is. THE INHERITANCE CON Con artists will adopt any scheme that they think will part a fool from his money. They will tell you that you are due an inheritance and that they have found you by undertaking extensive research. Don’t feel flattered that they have found you though – inheritance scammers bulk mail the same message to hundreds, or even thousands, of people at the same time, hoping that one or two may reply. Those people who do reply are then enticed into a classic advanced fee scam , being told that they need to pay for various expenses before they can claim their inheritance. Such fees can include estate reports, legal costs and processing fees. Needless to say, this money disappears without a trace and no inheritance is ever forthcoming. PREVENTION Keeping yourself safe from inheritance scams is relatively easy and just requires some commonsense. If you receive mail from an ‘estate locator’ then check sources other than the ones they quote to you, such as relatives and obituaries. Additionally, business services such as the BBB and the AG’s office could tell you if you are being approached by an individual or company that has been investigated in connection with inheritance scams. Remember too that legitimate law firms and executors of wills will never require you to pay a fee in order to determine whether you are entitled to an inheritance or not. If you have been unfortunate enough to become a victim of such a scheme then report it to the authorities so that others do not have to experience the same fate. Inheritance Scams is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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In The World Of Online Crime, The Drive By Method Is Most Effective
December 9th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
Everything that you do in this world, if you are to have some kind of success, involves hard work and planning. The average person has the misconception that people who do crime are able to wake up in the morning, do a crime, and then receive a lot of money. This may be true for criminals that make a little bit of money in their endeavors but for the criminals that hope to be able to commit the big score, it takes lots of hard work and careful planning. This is the same reality when it comes to online crime. Viruses And Trojans Virus authors have to be very creative when they create a new infection. They also have to be creative when it comes to delivery. Let’s talk about one of those creative methods. One of the best and most creative methods that are available to malware authors today is to create a Trojan package that is able to upload and install on your computer without the victim having to do anything. Usually when a person gets an infection on their computer they must be part of the process to cause the damage. This is usually done by tricking the person to do some sort of activity. This activity usually involves them installing a program on their computer that is not what it pretends to be. It then starts to take shape and does it’s damage. Most of the time the damage is done behind the scenes and unnoticed by the user. Some advanced virus and Trojan writers have found a way to be able to leave you out of the process and upload the infection on its own. Well to be honest you are not completely out of the process. For this attack to work, they will usually need you to go to a web site that will deliver the attack. Once they trick you into going to the web site then your involvement is no longer needed. There is a method of doing this, that is making the rounds among virus authors now. IFrames It involves having you go to a web site with what is called an IFrame embedded in it. An IFrame is the ability of web page to display another web page on the same screen. This IFrame is then pointed to page where they use a corrupted PDF file to deliver the payload. Once the payload is delivered it is able to execute and infect your computer. This is why it is called the drive by method. It requires you to only pass through to the web site and with no other activity needed. You are then infected. This is not an easy to attack to create so it is not as propagated through the Internet as other attacks would be. As you can see the drive by method of delivering a virus or Trojan can be very effective in its execution. This is why you must be very careful when you go to visit a web site. There are attacks such as these that can be performed and cause you to have a very bad day. In The World Of Online Crime, The Drive By Method Is Most Effective is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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In The World Of Online Crime, The Drive By Method Is Most Effective
Hackers Looking To Exploit Windows 7 Already
December 8th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
When it comes to secure operating systems, with the release of Windows 7, Microsoft can finally claim to be one. Windows 7 has proven that Microsoft has taken security seriously and that they have attempted to prove that through their actions. Even though Windows 7 has improved a great deal of security issues that used to be a concern for Microsoft products there are still some legacy issues that continue to be a problem. This is why Windows 7 is becoming a favorite attack vector when it comes to cyber crime. Windows 7 is a trim operating system going by previous Windows OS standards. The reality is that the operating system still has more lines of code than it’s nearest competitors, Mac OS X and Linux. It is because of Windows 7 legacy support that this is still a problem. There are still vendors out there that need a new version of Windows to be able to operate programs that are 20 years old. And Windows 7 still has the ability to do this. To be able to have this feature though, it means that you must leave old code in. The more code that is in a program, the better the chances that a malicious hacker will find an exploit that has not been discovered yet. Security experts have already seen a rise of communication between groups of bad guys discussing vulnerabilities that they have already found. Microsoft has already released security patches for their new operating system and you can expect several more. The large code base and the wide amount of usage means that the Hackers will have fun looking for new and creative ways to attack innocent victims. Some attackers are using old school techniques to exploit the release of Windows 7. They are using emails that either pretend to be a support ticket for the new operating system or the email pretends to have a link that allows you to download an upgrade for the operating system. This is why if you want to do an update of your operating system never go to a third party that pretends to do this. Always visit the official Microsoft web site and follow their instructions on how to update your OS. As you can see, even with all of the security that Microsoft has baked in to Windows 7, the security issue still remains. This is why you must not rely only on software security to keep your computer safe. You must be on the lookout as well and learn to be able to tell when something is wrong. Hackers Looking To Exploit Windows 7 Already is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Use Of Charities To Run Scams On The Internet
December 4th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
One of the things about the holidays is the good feeling that people seem to display that is not there during the rest of the year. A lot of this goodwill gets displayed in the form of giving to charities . It helps a person feel good about themselves. They feel like they are helping someone else in need. That feeling is unrivaled to anything else in the world. This mood can be spoiled very quickly when they find out that their good deed went punished. This happens a lot on the Internet in the form of a scam . The bad guys of the Internet never take a day off, even during the holidays. It is up to you to make sure that you keep yourself on guard during the holiday season. There are several ways that an attacker will try to take advantage of your goodness this holiday. The number one way that this will happen is through a charity email that will be sent out to hundreds of thousands of people. This email will be a legit email but from a fake organization. They will try to sell you a sob story on how needy their cause is and how it is up to you to help them. They may even try to do a hard sell by sending information to your house about the charity in question. Do not fall for it. You have the Internet, be smart and use it. Do some research on the charity. This will let you know very quickly if the charity is a legitimate organization. If they have a negative rating or no record of the charity at all then you know that they are a fake organization. Another way that people will use a charity against an unsuspecting victim is to send you a tainted email. This email will try to pull at your heart strings so that you will visit the site in question. This site will be loaded with malware that will be used to infect your computer. Once again this can be avoided by doing some research on the charity in question before you visit any suspicious links. If you do click on the link, then having the latest in anti virus software protection will help to large extent from having your computer become infected. You must be careful during this holiday season. People have bad intentions 365 days of the year. Just because it is the holidays, do not let down your guard while you surf the Internet. The Use Of Charities To Run Scams On The Internet is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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How To Communicate Securely Through A Network With SSH
December 1st, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
When you take your computer onto a strange network, it pays to be highly suspicious and even paranoid about the situation. There are many tricks that are out there now that allows malicious hackers to gather your information as the packets transmit through the air. Many people need to access their work computer when they are in a remote location and this action requires traveling over strange networks. Some people only need a command line client to be able to access the office server. The SSH protocol allows a command line client to be able to access a work server securely through encrypted data packets. Let’s explain how the program works and why it is one of the best solutions out there. SSH The SSH protocol has been around for a long time. It started in 1995 as a small free project but turned out to be so useful that the project just grew and grew. When the idea of networks first came about, the thoughts of security were secondary to thoughts about the speed of the network. People would use programs such as Telnet to access from remote locations and transmit data back and forth. Then in the late 80’s and throughout the 90’s security proved to be a real big issue and tools were created to address that issue. A replacement for Telnet, which was lacking encryption and other secure features, was needed. This created the desire for a program such as SSH. SSH is just the security protocol and there are plenty of clients that make use of that protocol. The most popular being the putty program. It has gained the respect of the security community and seems to be the favorite by a large margin. Once you have installed a client such as putty you just put in your log in information and pick which type of encryption you would like to use. After that is done you can now use it to log into your server. You can now transmit your data back and forth without the gnawing feeling that somebody can be easily dropping in on your communications. The use of SSH to log into your remote server is one the best ways to make sure that your data stays secure. If you in any way concerned about a network that you are using remotely then make sure that you pick the best way to keep your communication secured. How To Communicate Securely Through A Network With SSH is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Would You Forward A Virus Hoax?
November 30th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
If you received an email from a friend or family member, warning you about a dangerous new virus and telling you how you could prevent it, would you forward it to all your own contacts? Most people would as they like to look out for their friends. In some respects thats a good move as warning your friends will help them prepare themselves so that they can keep their own systems secure. Unfortunately, however, the majority of these emailed messages are not true, they are virus hoaxes . It would be simple then to dismiss virus hoaxes as just a distraction but that would be missing the point – they actually deflect attention away from real threats and can lead to someone becoming infected after they have developed a blase approach to any future warnings they happen to read. Spotting A Virus Hoax Spotting hoaxes, whether they be about viruses or not, is a relatively simple affair. Most of them follow a similar theme in that they will claim to have originated from a large, well-known and legitimate company. This is a deliberate ploy from the writer of the hoax who will be hoping to add an element of authenticity to their claims. The companies named in a virus hoax may respond to virus warnings but rarely, if ever, make them. If a warning was legitimate then the email would almost certainly link to a web page with more information, whilst a hoax obviously wouldn’t for obvious reasons. Another way of spotting a virus hoax is to look at the style of the message. As hoax warnings are not written by bona fide security companies their wording tends to differ from what you may see in an official press release, for example. Also, the warning may be lacking in information, such as – Precisely who is at risk? Which operating system? Which software? Which versions? When will a patch or fix be released? Where on the Internet should you look for it? Why is there no cure? All of the above details would be present in a legitimate virus warning, but tend to be missing in a hoax. Finally, and perhaps most tellingly, a virus hoax will always ask you to inform all your friends which is the whole point – the writer wants his bogus message to spread far and wide. Confirming A Virus Hoax The above advice on how to spot a virus hoax will only take you so far – the writers of such messages don’t tend to be stupid and are always evolving. Sooner or later you are bound to receive a virus warning that includes just enough information for you to believe that it may be genuine. If you’re not completely certain whether the message is legitimate or not then conduct further research. There are plenty of online sources, such as Snopes and Hoax-Slayer , that examine and confirm/debunk all sorts of rumours. There are also millions of bloggers who will write about the odd virus hoax here and there too so you should be able to find plenty of information. Just remember to check more than one source. If you discover that a warning you received is a hoax then be sure to tell whoever passed it on to you in the first place – they’ll then be less likely to pass on the next hoax that turns up. So, don’t automatically believe every email warning that arrives in your inbox, but don’t assume an attachment sent to you by a friend , or a file you downloaded yesterday, is virus free either. Check everything and stay safe. Would You Forward A Virus Hoax? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Would You Forward A Virus Hoax?
Pan Am 103 – The Lockerbie Conspiracy – The CIA Theory
August 21st, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.
On Wednesday December 21st 1988 a Boeing 747-121 named Clipper Maid of the Seas was destroyed by a bomb. Pan Am Flight 103 was a Pan American World Airway’s scheduled transatlantic flight, travelling from London’s Heathrow International Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. When the bomb exploded the fuselage of the plane was ripped apart, leading to the deaths of 243 passengers and 16 members of crew. Additionally, the debris fell upon the town of Lockerbie in southern Scotland, causing 11 further fatalities on the ground. APPORTIONING BLAME Even though there has been a trial and conviction in the Lockerbie case, doubts still seem to remain in the minds of many people as to what really happened, who was responsible for the bombing, how the bomb was detonated and what motives the perpetrator(s) may have had. Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, a Libyan national, who was serving life in prison for the atrocity was released yesterday on compassionate grounds as he is suffering with terminal prostate cancer. His alleged co-conspirator, Lamin Khalifah Fhimah, was found to be not guilty. Since the original verdict on January 31st 2001 there has been one appeal dismissed and another is pending, likely to be heard in early 2009. Whilst a level of uncertainty remains in the conviction of Megrahi, the conspiracy theorists continue to speculate as to what they believe may have really happened. Here is one of many conspiracy theories that have gained a level of popularity amongst those who subscribe to such thoughts – DRUGS, BOMBS AND THE CIA One of the many conspiracy theories suggests that that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had set up a protected drug route from Europe to the United States. Some people allege that this route was known as ‘Operation Corea’ and suggest that Syrian drug dealers, led by Monzer al-Kassar (who was involved with Oliver North in the Iran-Contra scandal) used it to ship heroin to the U.S. These conspiracy theorists say that the American intelligence community then received intel on Palestinian groups based in Syria in exchange. It is alleged that the CIA protected the suitcases containing the drugs and ensured they were not searched. The theory suggests that on the day of the bombing a suitcase containing drugs was switched for the one that contained the bomb. WHITE POWDER AND $547,000 After the explosion debris fell on Lockerbie . In the aftermath of the disaster two teenagers claim to have found over half a million dollars in travellers cheques. A reporter, David Johnstone, reported on white powder being found in polythene bags. Furthermore, Wikipedia reports that a mountain rescuer wash ushered away from a field containing a large tarpaulin. Conspiracy theorists believe that the tarpaulin covered a container which they believe may have belonged to Major Charles McKee, belived to have been a special forces operative. This particular theory continues by suggesting that the CIA allowed the alleged drugs and bomb to be switched because the protected drugs route was a rogue operation, and Maj. Charles McKee had found out about it, and was on his way to Washington to tell his superiors. YOUR VIEWS Personally, I think this particular theory sounds quite spurious but does it hold any truth for you? Was a Libyan responsible for bombing Pan Am 103, or is there an alternative answer? Pan Am 103 – The Lockerbie Conspiracy – The CIA Theory is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Data Entry Scam
August 1st, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
A great many people have been ripped off by data entry scams. Visiting a website that offers a good rate for entering simple data into fields seems like an offer that is too good to be true. Usually it is. After parting you with anywhere up to $99 for registration, the data entry website will then send you an ebook instead of the work you were expecting. This ebook will explain that the way you get paid is by writing advertisements for the Adwords system that Google operates. You also have to pay to run the Adwords campaign, however, you do get paid whenever one of the ads is clicked on (call me cynical, but this also seems to be encouraging click fraud on top of the scam doesn’t it?). Google Adwords is most definitely not a scam. However, it takes a lot of skill and knowledge to utilise to it’s full potential. Also, the fact that you have now become, in effect, an affiliate, is nothing to be unduly worried about either. It just means someone else is earning off the back of your hard work. You have been duped though – This is not the type of work you had been led to believe it was by the original advertisement You have paid a registration fee – work should be earning you money, not parting you from it. You will be required to part with more cash to operate an Adwords campaign All this in advance of receiving a penny back from your employer. So what can you do to protect yourself from this sort of shady business opportunity? Firstly, search the web for the company you are thinking of affiliating with. Add the word “scam” or “problems” to the search string to see if others have experienced problems. Secondly, pay by credit card only. This will afford you some limited protection if you find you have been completely ripped off. Data Entry Scam is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Data Entry Scam
The Loch Ness Monster – Do You Think Its A Hoax?
July 26th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
I have a post coming up soon which will be taking a look at the Loch Ness monster and asking whether it is a hoax or not. In the meantime I was wondering what you guys think? Nessie – ancient sea monster or tourist-attracting hoax.. Please let me know your views via the comments. The Loch Ness Monster – Do You Think Its A Hoax? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Wilhelm Voigt, Captain of Köpenick
July 8th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
Wilhelm Voigt, born in 1849, gained a level of notoriety as the ‘Captain of Köpenick.’ He was in fact an impostor who posed as a Prussian officer in a case of fraud in 1906. In 1906 Voigt purchased all the various parts of a captain’s uniform and then went to the army barracks at Köpenick. There he stopped four grenadiers and a sergeant who were on there way back to the barracks. Being a captain meant they didn’t question him when he asked them to follow him into the local town where they then arrested town secretary Rosenkranz and also Mayor Georg Langerhans on charges of crooked bookkeeping. In all Voigt confiscated 4000 marks and 70 pfennigs from the ‘fraudsters’. Still posing as a captain he then commandeered two carriages and had some of the grenadiers take the Mayor and the treasurer to Berlin so that they could be interrogated by General Moltke. He left the remaining guards at the town hall whilst he slipped off o the train station. Despite changing into civilian clothes he was still caught and received a sentence of 4 years in prison for forgery, impersonating an officer and wrongful imprisonment. However, German Kaiser Wilhelm II pardoned him in 1908 with some observers of the time claiming that the Kaiser had in fact been quite amused by the whole incident. Wilhelm Voigt, Captain of Köpenick is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Wilhelm Voigt, Captain of Köpenick
The Coffee Bean Pricing Scandal
July 8th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
Did you realise that after oil, coffee is the second most used commodity in the world? I didn’t. Putting aside some of the variations, such as ganoderma coffee, pure, natural coffee has a market estimated at over $70 billion each year. Despite the huge market prices, and continually high demand, farmers in third world countries, such as Ethiopia which often struggles with famine, are payed a mere $0.03 for each cup of coffee that they provide for. CAPITALISM, FREE MARKET ECONOMY OR EXPLOITATION? People around the world are beginning to take notice of how little producers of coffee are being paid for their product. To make that 3 cents, the farmer needs to harvest around 50 coffee beans, assuming the resulting coffee is finely ground. A couple of years ago there was a film, ‘Black Gold’, that aired at the Sundance Film Festival. The film exposed how the affluent countries in the West payed a pittance for coffee to people who are barely able to scrape enough money together to feed themselves or even attain basic shelter. Companies in the US, UK and other parts of Europe are making huge amounts of profit on the back of third world farmers. THATS A LOT OF CAFFEINE! Considering that there are around 2 billion cups of coffee consumed every day, could these large multi national companies not afford to pay a fairer wage to the farmers? Even if they doubled their payments they would be paying a tiny, tiny fraction of what labour in their own countries would cost and their profits would still be huge. Many companies source their coffee beans directly from Ethiopia who produce around two thirds of the world’s supply. By paying such a low rate to the farmers who spend all day hand picking a small number of beans are they doing what’s best for the consumer, their shareholders, or are they just taking advantage of a nation that relies on them too much for their income? What do you think – is there a coffee bean scandal or is it just market forces and world commerce operating as the laws of economics dictate? The Coffee Bean Pricing Scandal is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Do You Consider 100% Mortgages To Be A Type Of Housing Fraud?
July 1st, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Many people aspire to own their own property. Due to this desire, many banking and investment institutions have engaged in lending practices that could, at best, be described as unethical. Some may even believe them to be involved in housing fraud . THE PROPERTY BOOM There are some suspicions that the recent property booms, seen both in the UK and the US, were created, in part, by loan companies and banks who were looking to cash in on the lucrative mortgage market. With ever-increasing property prices, that showed no signs of abating, many aspiring homeowners felt inclined to do whatever it took to get their feet onto the property ladder. With the increase of property prices rising far quicker than inflation, and offering returns far in excessive of many other investment options, many people were quick to sign up for interest only mortgages, and other unethical schemes. They hoped to make a quick, and substantial, profit. The reality, however, may be somewhat different. TRAPPED BY NEGATIVE EQUITY Interest only loans, often coupled with high arrangement fees, leave those that took advantage of them in the position where they can typically only afford to pay back the interest. Month after month, the outstanding capital balance remains the same. Obviously, if housing prices had continued to rise rapidly, then a healthy profit could still be made from selling at a later date and benefiting from any remaining equity left after the principle sum had been repaid. However, when the market crashes, as it may well be doing right now, the victim of this housing fraud will find themselves paying a loan for the rest of their lives. This loan may well end up being secured on a property which is then valued at far less than the value of the mortgage. Such negative equity can then lead the victim into a position where they are trapped and cannot move. THE NEVER-ENDING LOAN With such high interest rates on these types of mortgages, they are then trapped in a situation where they are paying through the nose for a home they will never actually get to own. Additionally, having such a large credit burden may prevent them from sourcing funding from other lending firms and may even lead to poor credit ratings . The housing market fraud is designed in such a way that the only people who consistently make profit from it, whatever happens in the property market, are the banks and other lending institutions. Personally, I would never obtain a 100% or interest-only mortgage as it poses too big a risk. By being careful, I have managed to keep an affordable roof over my head, despite getting divorced. On the other hand, if you don’t take risks, you will never make big profits. Have any of you reading this made a big profit, or a huge loss, by utilising interest only mortgages? Do You Consider 100% Mortgages To Be A Type Of Housing Fraud? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Do You Consider 100% Mortgages To Be A Type Of Housing Fraud?
Newcastle United FC In £150m Takeover Hoax
June 13th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Mike Ashley, owner of newly-relegated Newcastle United is keen to sell up and recoup some of the money he ploughed into the football club. On Thursday evening he may possibly have thought that he had a buyer in multimillionaire Rick Parkinson from Northumberland. Following photos and a press release the story ran on television but the Northern Echo had reservations. Turns out they were right as Mr. Parkinson actually turned out to be a fan of bitter rivals Sunderland and the whole story was a hoax. I guess it will depend upon your football allegiances but do you think such a joke is funny or a little bit stupid? Newcastle United FC In £150m Takeover Hoax is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Newcastle United FC In £150m Takeover Hoax
The Great Toilet Paper Scam!
June 10th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
David Alexander over at ScamStop gave me a chuckle today with a post about toilet paper. Considering the problems facing just about every nation of the world right now it seems quite bizarre that his native South Africa should be feeling bummed about a toilet roll scam in which wipers are receiving less than the mandatory 500 sheets! Read the whole story : The Great Toilet Paper Scam . The Great Toilet Paper Scam! is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Great Toilet Paper Scam!
Dirty Deeds Leave AC/DC Fans Feeling Thunderstruck
April 22nd, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
According to the Croatian Times over 8,000 fans of one of my favourite rock bands – AC/DC – were caught out in a recent ticket scam . The news article states that the scam could have netted several million pounds for those behind it but was rumbled after just £300,000 of tickets had been sold. Fortunately the bogus concert in Bucharest was busted when the band posted a warning on their official website . Dirty Deeds Leave AC/DC Fans Feeling Thunderstruck is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Dirty Deeds Leave AC/DC Fans Feeling Thunderstruck
Real Lotteries – No More Than A Get Rich Quick Scam?
March 15th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Here at Scam Types dot Com I have already written about several phony lotteries – you know, those ones where you receive an email saying you’ve won when you haven’t even entered? Such lottery scams are an attempt to con you by asking for advanced fees in order to release the so-called winnings. My question today though is – are genuine lotteries as much a scam? I would hope that most readers are aware of the fact that if something seems too good to be true, and offers you the opportunity to get rich quick, then it is probably a scam. Why, therefore, do people insist on playing national and other lotteries? Did you know that your chances of winning a lottery are far less than the likelihood of you being struck by lightning? When purchasing a lottery ticket are you not hoping to become extremely wealthy, in a very short period of time, without doing any work? Are you one of those people who hates the standard of living they have and so, by buying a lottery ticket, you are also in a way buying a dream? Considering that there are reports suggesting that around 10% of the internet population has fallen for a scam online I can’t help but wonder how many of the remaining 90% are guilty of buying into the hopes of the lottery? Personally, I believe that pyramid schemes are rightly illegal, and MLMs dubious. Am I right to think that way? Well, that’s a matter of opinion, but before you make assumptions about those engaged in multi level marketing and such like, perhaps you should consider that a large proportion of the world’s population invests into the hope of a better future every week. Real Lotteries – No More Than A Get Rich Quick Scam? is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Hotel Work Scam
March 14th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.
Usually, those criminals behind the majority of email scams will blindly send out emails to everyone on their mailing list. If they ever target specific groups of people then it is obviously in their best interests to go for those they expect to have the most money. However, with the hotel work scam they generally reverse this and try to target those who are less well off, i.e. those who are desperate for work. Targeting regions such as Africa and Asia, the hotel work scam begins with an email from someone who ‘works in a hotel’ or ‘represents one’. They will tell their victim that the hotel is currently hiring staff and even conduct an online interview. One way to tell that this is a scam is from the fact that the ‘interview’ questions are so easy to understand… after all, the scammer definitely wants everyone to be offered the ‘job’! On completion of this interview the (lucky?) candidate will be referred to an immigration officer who will be able to prepare and formalise all the paperwork required to enter the country, typically Canada, in order to commence the new job. This immigration officer will require all the victim’s personal data, including name, age, date of birth and social security number. They may even attempt to phish their bank details from them too. What’s more, they will then try to extract money up front to pay for the legal expenses, visas and anything else they think they can charge for. In reality, the job never existed – this is just a scam to gain a quick buck and personal data that could be used for identity theft. Typically, the scammer is based in Nigeria or some other scamming haven and is nowhere near Canada or wherever the job has been advertised. The Hotel Work Scam is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Mr Osas Henry Wants $290.00
February 15th, 2009. Published under Scams. No Comments.
Here’s the latest scam email to hit my inbox. Strangely, this one is quite open about requiring an advanced fee before, supposedly, passing on a fortune in return – Greetings! I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of $800.000.00 United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX COURIER SERVICE, West Africa, I travelled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not come back till end of December. What you have to do now is to contact the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charge, Insurance premium and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money or meant to sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country. Contact Person:Mr Osas Henry Email Address sas.dispatchofficer.henry2@googlemail.com Telephone: 009 234 802 626 2996 The only money you will send to the FEDEX COURIER SERVICE to deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($290.00 US) Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far. Again, don’t be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $290.00US Dollars. I would have paid that but they said no because they don’t know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage. You are to make the payment to the information below by western union or money gram. Receiver Name: Mr Osas Henry Receiver Address: #10 Old Obasanjo Road Lagos, Nigeria. Once you forward the necessary details to the Representative Mrs. franka isibor ujeh and once your payment is been confirmed by them they will issued your Tracking Number. Sender’s Name:……………………. ……………… Sender’s Address:…………………. ……………….. Amount To be Sent:$290 Text Question to be used: WHO CAN HELP US? Text Answer: OUR LORD ONLY. Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N). Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address() and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and ask them to give you the tracking number to enable you track your package over there and know when it will get to your address. Let me repeat again, try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $290.00 US Dollars for their immediate action. You should also let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft. Yours Faithfully, MRS.Elizabeth Gate The most obvious giveaway with this one is the fact that it promotes urgency yet the dates are messed up – it’s February already so we’re a bit lit with this one arn’t we! Mr Osas Henry Wants $290.00 is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Mr Osas Henry Wants $290.00
The Valentine’s Day Rip-Off
February 14th, 2009. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
I just popped round to my local florist to enquire how much it would cost to buy a dozen red roses for Scametta this year. Considering that we are in the middle of a credit crunch I though it would be somewhat less than the extortionate £36 being asked for last year. How wrong I was! £65 Can you believe that the florist wants £65 this year?!? (not far off $100) That’s crazy!!!! Do you believe that Valentine’s Day is a commercial scam designed to part foolish lovers from their money? Did you pay inflated prices to please your loved one or did you pass? The Valentine’s Day Rip-Off is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Valentine’s Day Rip-Off
Popular Searches
Dead Man Spending
January 13th, 2009. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Perhaps the fastest growing crime in the world right now is that of identity theft. More specifically, the UK identified Impersonation of the Dead (also known as IOD) as the fastest growing area within identity theft. It has been estimated that there have been in excess of 100,000 cases of Impersonation of the Dead fraud in the UK thus far, at an annual cost of around £1.5 billion. UK INFORMATION TO BE SHARED In a joint effort between the Registrars General for England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, records of those who have died recently are going to be freely shared with the main credit reporting agencies and the law enforcement services. Any organisation, such as Experian who are already approved, can apply to receive the information on recent deaths. However, agencies will have to undergo a strict application process in addition to agreeing to operate within a strict licensing agreement. It is estimated that an average of around 12,000 deaths will be reported weekly in the UK. Death records were, of course, publicly available before now, though credit agencies and law enforcement had no means of easily accessing the information in order to prevent identity theft. THE DEATH INDEX In the US, the Death Index is a complete list of people who have died. The Death Index includes information such as their birth dates, date of death and Social Security numbers. It was originally designed so that banks and lenders could ensure that people did not exploit the deceased’s personal information. Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Death Index is updated each month and made public by the Department of Commerce. Tracy June Kirkland (see below) notoriously took advantage of the Death Index by exploiting a loophole which allowed her to take over accounts that were already open. According to Mike Ward, a spokesman for Rootsweb, “The reason the Social Security Administration has it out there is to prevent fraud, and when it’s used to perpetrate fraud it’s because not all the checks and balances were in place on the financial institution’s end.” TRACY JUNE KIRKLAND One of the more infamous cases of identity theft of the dead in the US involves Tracy June Kirkland who was charged by federal prosecutors with aggravated identity theft, amongst other crimes. Kirkland’s research was more intensive than simply reading obituaries – she utilised genealogy web site Rootsweb.com in order to garner the information she required to conduct identity theft. With such readily available names, social security numbers and birth dates Kirkland was able to randomly call credit card companies to find out if the deceased person had an account with them. If she was able to confirm that an account did indeed exist then she would change the registered address to one of her many rental mailboxes. Her 3 year crime spree is believed to have included the personal information of over 100 dead people. Dead Man Spending is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Dead Man Spending
Barbara Moretek, Ivete Foundation, Spamdexing And Trojans
November 1st, 2008. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
The following email I received looks like a common 419, or scam, email – Subject: Information for prospective donors Would you have additional information for prospective donors or volunteers other than what is on your website? Thank you in advance. Warm regards, Barb Barbara Moratek Vice President, Director of Grant Programs Ivete Foundation Phone- Fax- 800.397.7205 Web- www ivetefoundation.org However, a quick Google of some of the key words shows that it is designed to be much more than just that. Recognising the email for what it was, I searched for ‘Ivete Foundation’ and was somewhat surprised to find that it was listed on digg.com. ( Hint : click on the digg link at the end of the article to give it some competition) According to sunbeltblog , the scammers behind this email have not only spammed the search engines with hundreds of less than salubrious sites, all containing the term ‘Barbara Moratek’, but have also got a link on Digg which points to a fake video site. The fake video site is, presumably, associated with nasty ActiveX controls, trojans, or other malicious or annoying malware. I can’t help but wonder if this is the beginning of a new trend in which scammers will try to ensure that searching for the names in their 419 emails will lead to sites under their control, thereby allowing them to get you one way or another? Protect Yourself From Email Scams – Click Here! Barbara Moretek, Ivete Foundation, Spamdexing And Trojans is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Barbara Moretek, Ivete Foundation, Spamdexing And Trojans
The Christian Scam
October 31st, 2008. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Historically, the time around Christmas was a celebration of when the days began to lengthen. However, many religious groups throughout history have claimed the winter solstice as a holy day. THE WINTER SOLSTICE The date of the Winter Solstice is not absolute. Over the centuries it has moved forward, having originally been in early January. Though it is often associated with December 25th, it now actually falls on the 22nd, and will be earlier still in the centuries to come. MITHRAISM In Roman times, well before Christians recognised Christmas as a time of celebration, there was a religion known as Mithraism. Worshippers believed that Mithras was born on the 25th of December. Interestingly, it was said that his birth was witnessed by 3 shepherds. Also of note, is the fact that Mithraism celebrated this date with the Nativity of the Sun. PAGANISM As I mentioned previously in my post about Halloween , many Christian celebrations, and other dates of note, are based upon old pagan festivals. For example, the integration of the Roman Saturnalia and the Scandinavian and Teutonic Yule, which are clearly pagan in origin, now feature during the Church’s year. SUN-DAY Back in the times of ancient Egypt, the god Osiris represented the sun. Coupled with Akhenaton’s belief in monotheism, this may have led to the concept of the ’sun of God’, alternatively recognised as Jesus. Either way, early Christian imagery generally depicts holy people with a light backdrop of rays of light, or corolla, around their heads. This is clearly designed to show that they represent the sun. The worship of the sun was a common element in many early pagan and Roman religions. For this reason, even to this day, Sun-day is held to be a holy day in many religions, including Christianity. It’s Ironic, then, that when God said to keep the Sabbath holy, that he was actually referring to Saturday. How many Christians around the world worship on a Sunday instead? THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS Considering the links between December 25th and the Winter Solstice, would it then not be logical to conclude that the real meaning of Christmas is sun worship? In ancient times everyone knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that life itself was dependent upon the sun. Almost all religions, current and past, hold sun worship as a pillar of their philosophy. Major celebrations and large festivals were held at the Winter Solstice in order to recognise and affirm the victory of the strength of the sun over the forces of darkness (evil) that try to suppress it. Prior to the Roman emperor Constantine’s push for Christianity in his realm, Christmas was not celebrated by Christians at all. That only came to pass through integration with Mithraism. In Catholicism, it was believed that only the heathens celebrated the sun on the 25th of December. However, in order to integrate the masses into the Church of Rome, December 25th was made a temporal date for the birth of Christ in order to appease them. JESUS WAS NOT ALONE ON CHRISTMAS DAY Further evidence to suggest that December 25th is not a true celebration of the birth of Jesus may be highlighted by the fact that he was not alone in having that birth date. The following deities were also born on ‘Christmas day’ – Vishnu Osiris Hercules Mithras Apollo Adonis Tammuz Buddha Indra Horus Dionysus Does this list suggest that the whole concept of celebrating Christmas, supposedly the birth date of Christ, is at best a misled philosophy? Is it not possible that the whole concept of Christianity is just a collection of borrowed dates, newly spun versions of older stories and, ultimately, a religious scam? Could it be said that the all-embracing Christian faith simply stole other religious dates and then applied their own belief systems to them, in order to appeal to the mass market? CONCLUSION Christmas time often sees many arguments between different groups. Non-Christians will moan that Christmas is too religious. Christians complain that Christmas is associated too closely with pagan rituals. However, the simple fact is that the 25th of December has always been associated with Sun worship, dating back thousands of years prior to the advent of Christianity. Consider the traditions of a modern Christmas – Christmas trees Decorations The Nativity All are pagan in origin, yet are intrinsic to how many people celebrate the 25th of December, regardless of their religion. Nevertheless, Christians will still be happy, safe in the knowledge that they are deluding themselves into thinking that the day has some relevance to Christ . Equally, pagans should be happy, knowing that the sun is being worshipped in one form or another. Those without religion, well, they get the commercial and social pleasures of the holiday season don’t they? What does Christmas mean to you? Does that make any difference to your beliefs, or do you not care? The Christian Scam is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Christian Scam
The Next Of Kin Email Scam
October 1st, 2008. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Linking to real news stories is a technique designed to give credence to a scammer’s claims – From: Mr. Jude Godwin (Security Company) Subject: Next of Kin To: Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 9:00 AM From: Mr Jude Godwin African Security Company Ltd No. Plot 22 Williams Close–Victoria Island Lagos-Nigeria Dear Friend, With due respect,I wish this letter will not come to you as a surprise.I am Mr Jude Godwin, the auditing director of African Security Company Ltd, Apapa Branch here in Lagos. We had a foreign customer one Mr N.Merrigan . who deposited a huge sum of money (US$22.3)Million United States Dollars Only) with our company .Eventually,this customer was among the victims of the Swissair Flight 111 ,which crashed into the Atlantic off Nova Scotia in september 2nd 1998. The plane crash was in the news.See links below for more detail informaion: http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/ http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/WORLD/americas/9809/08/swissair.02/ http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/WORLD/americas/9809/05/swissair.transcript Which claimed so many since then,we have not had anybody coming for the deceased funds/properties documents as the next of kin, and I have been monitoring this account with my position here in the Security Company for the past years. However from the information that I have gathered, the deceased died along side with the wife who is supose to produce the next of kin In view of this,I search for someone who is of the same last name or the same Nationality so when i got your contact my mind told me that you will be of good assistance in this deal. Our company guidelines indicated that if such money remained unclaimed for a period of Seven (7-8) years, it would be transferred/reverted into the company Treasury as unclaimed consignment That is why I write to solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every other arrangement has been concluded by me and I am only waiting for a response from you to enable me move the fund out to any account you present for our mutual benefit. This does not have any risk attached to it as all his secret information that will be required from you by the bank is with me right now over here. I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and I will furnish you with details on how to proceed with the bank for the claim to be paid to you as the rightfull beneficiary next of kin to their late customer. Note that part of this money will be donated to charity home and other less priviledge, has i have vowed to God at the end of this transaction. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Your interest will be negotiable before we commence the operation and upon conclusion of the transaction, I will be flying over to meet you for disbursement of the fund and make possible arrangement for a lucrative investment in your country through you. I look forward to hear from you so as to enble us forge ahead to achive this mutual benefit. Please do reply me with my personal E-mail Address mrjudegodwin@hotmail.com Kindest Regards. Mr Jude Godwin Even though the links to plane crashes may be real, it doesn’t mean that this email is in any way genuine. The Next Of Kin Email Scam is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Next Of Kin Email Scam
The FTC’s Guide To The Top 10 Email Scams
September 14th, 2008. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
The FTC (Federal Trade commission) has recently identified the top 10 email scams that consumers should be on the lookout for. The 10 scams are as follows – 1. ADVANCE FEE FRAUD Scam artists offer to transfer huge amounts of money into your bank account in return for paying a fee or their ‘expenses’ that are necessary to release the money. If you are foolish enough to respond then you may receive documents that look ‘official’. Beware, however, that the emails are from crooks who are trying to steal your money or identity or both. 2. PHISHING Phishing scams tend to originate either via email or pop-up messages. They will claim to be from a business or organisation that not only do you recognise, but you may also have dealt with them in the past. Typically, the message will ask you to update, validate or confirm your account, or face the consequences. Phishing is a scam where internet fraudsters attempt to steal accounts or identities or both. Never reply to such phishing attempts and never click on any of the links. 3. CHECK OVERPAYMENT SCAMS Check overpayment scams are common on the more popular online auction sites such as eBay , as well as elsewhere. Someone will respond to your ad or online auction, pretending to be a buyer, and will then offer to pay with a check. At the last moment they will come up with a reason to write the check for more than the purchase price and will then ask you to wire them back the difference. Typically, these checks are counterfeit and when they bounce, you are liable for the entire amount, as well as having lost the goods as well. 4. WORK AT HOME SCAMS Do you really believe you can stay at home, stuffing envelopes or similar, and still earn thousands of dollars per week? If so, then you may become the next victim of a work at home scam . You will be asked to pay a fee to begin with and, instead of real employment, you’ll simply be asked to solicit others into the scheme, thereby earning large amounts of money only for those behind the scam. If something sounds too good to be true.. it usually is. 5. WEIGHT LOSS SCAMS Pills, potions, patches, creams and a multitude of other products that will apparently help you to lose weight without having to exercise or change your eating habits. Experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories whilst increasing your level of physical activity. If someone suggests their product offers a better solution then ask questions! 6. FOREIGN LOTTERIES Emails arrive, boasting of foreign lotteries in which the chances of winning are extremely high. Alternatively, you will receive an email saying you’ve already won, even if you didn’t enter. The people behind these lottery email scams will keep any money that you send for ‘taxes, fees and expenses’ and will then attempt to use your bank account numbers or credit cards to access more of your money. 7. CURE-ALL PRODUCTS Some new health products should, perhaps, carry their own health warning. Scientific breakthroughs, miraculous cures and secret formulas may promise much, but what do they really deliver? When evaluating health care claims, be skeptical and consult a health care professional before buying any cure-all product. 8. INVESTMENT SCHEMES These offer investments with extremely high rates of return and very little or no risk. Typically, early investors are paid with money obtained from later investors and are then encouraged to invest more. Ponzi schemes eventually collapse due to the fact that there isn’t enough money coming in to cover the earnings payouts. You should always evaluate any investment opportunity carefully and discuss with an accountant, investment professional or lawyer before you part with your cash. 9. PAY IN ADVANCE FRAUD Lucky you – you have been ‘pre-qualified’ to either receive a low interest loan or credit card or to repair your poor credit rating . To take advantage of the offer, however, you will be required to pay a processing fee of several hundred dollars. Before handing over your cash, consider this – legitimate and responsible lenders never guarantee loans or credit cards before you apply. 10. DEBT ELIMINATION Debt elimination scams can often arrive via email and either offer ways to consolidate your bills without further borrowing, or to wipe your debts out entirely. Quite often this will involve bankruptcy proceedings but the email is unlikely to make that clear. Before resorting to bankruptcy, or undertaking any other kind of debt elimination offer, talk with your creditors about arranging a modified payment plan, or talk to a credit counseling service to develop a debt repayment plan. Protect Yourself From Email Scams – Click Here! The FTC’s Guide To The Top 10 Email Scams is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Inventor/Patent Scam
September 5th, 2008. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Being an inventor is a hazardous career. There are costs involved – time is always an issue and, often, so is financial funding, both in terms of creation and testing and also in marketing. TAKING RISKS For anyone who has ever invented something new, the risk of having someone else steal or patent the idea or design is huge. This can lead to large financial gains for the thief whilst the inventor does not receive a penny for their efforts. Due to this risk, many firms have sprung up, offering their services in evaluating new designs and offering patenting services. Many of these are quite genuine and serve to protect the interests of inventors. However, there are a good few who are out to make dishonest money from someone else’s efforts too. THE SCAM One such scheme involves praising up a victims invention, regardless of it’s actual merits. By preying on the inventor’s fears of being ripped off, the scammer cons them into paying for an appraisal. Of course this appraisal is most favourable, and the need to licence the invention is portrayed as being both extremely urgent and critical. After payment has been received the company operating the scam then proceeds to advise their victim that a more detailed evaluation is also required. This natuarally costs more money! This secondary evaluation will undoubtedly highlight the need to quickly licence the invention… again, at a cost. Once as much money as possible has been extracted from the inventor, the scammer will disappear! THE GOOD GUYS There are many firms offering such services, both on television and in paper based publications. Be on your guard, and research them thoroughly, before parting with your cash. Better still, use a lawyer who specialises in patent law. The Inventor/Patent Scam is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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The Inventor/Patent Scam
Recent Email Scams
September 3rd, 2008. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
When this site first started I used to upload a number of the email scams I received on a daily basis, however, I found it quite boring to be honest – copying and pasting is not much fun. Also, there are other sites out there that hold huge repositories of such emails, a good example of which would be MillerSmiles , another UK site. That said, I thought I would post a short report on the type of email scams I have been receiving recently so that readers are aware of some of the newer tactics that the scam artists are employing in their quest to defraud their victims – SCARE TACTICS One of the scam emails I received today was entitled, “dude, what if your wife finds this?” and the message body read – “OMG, what are you doing man. This video of you is all over the net. check it out yourself”. There then followed a hyperlink that appeared, at first glance, to lead to the video sharing site YouTube. However, mousing over the link revealed that it actually pointed to a different website that was identified by an unknown IP address rather than a worded URL. Of course I know better than to click on links in emails, and I don’t really care much for what my ex-wife knows about me either, but I could see how this might entice some men into clicking a link that does who knows what or leads to who knows where. eCARDS I still continue to receive a large number of notifications that someone has sent me an ecard. The ‘From’ line normally indicates they are from a legitimate e-card site and the subject line often suggests that they are from a family member or friend. However, in reality, they generally link to less than desirable websites that will attempt to put malware, or worse, onto your computer system. NONSENSE WORDS FOR SUBJECTS Spammers have begun to use a word that isn’t really a word, such as “sophtiol” or “pafgunjat” as a subject. This is designed to bypass the increasingly effective spam filters that most email clients now employ. Any newer email client will have a blacklist of words or phrases, either shipped with them, or added by the user. Using random garbage as subject will typically allow those pills and potions emails to get through. ANTI-VIRUS These types of scam emails, including the ones that appear to be no more than just spam, often have links embedded within them that lead to malicious websites. By clicking on these links, you are exposing yourself to the risk of becoming infected with a Trojan horse, virus, or other piece of malware. If you receive such emails then the best advice is to just delete them. If you don’t already have a virus scanner that scans email messages and their attachments as they are received then get one but do be aware of anti-virus scams . Protect Yourself From Email Scams – Click Here! Recent Email Scams is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Just For Amber
August 13th, 2008. Published under Fraud. No Comments.
Ok, this is what I did for a Breast Cancer charity – I’m the one in the middle!! UPDATE : Here’s a new enhanced version from Kim Woodbridge. Just For Amber is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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Just For Amber
2281 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Paddle A Canoe Like John Darwin
July 24th, 2008. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
John Darwin, the now infamous canoeist (or kayaker if your name is Danny Bloom) from Seaton Carew has been jailed for six years and three months. If my maths is correct then that equates to 2281 days. His wife, Anne Darwin, received a sentence of six and a half years in jail for her part in their death scam . ASSET FREEZE The couple’s assets have now been frozen as insurance companies move to recoup the £250,000 that they paid out upon Mr. Darwin’s faked death. The asset freeze, through the Proceeds of Crime Act, extends around the world and will be centred around Panama where the couple had intended to flee to. It is believed that the Darwins were in financial trouble and possibly facing bankruptcy when they hatched their plan to defraud John’s life insurance companies. Police investigations, however, suggest that they may now have assets worth up to £500,000 in Panama. FLASH CARS The Darwin’s assets are believed to include an apartment in Panama City which may be worth around £28,000, and a plot of land that they intended to build a canoeing centre on, worth approximately £200,000. John Darwin, who was known to like flashy cars, was also in possession of a £45,000 Toyota Land Cruiser at the time of his arrest back in December of last year. Police will now attempt to claw back all of the assets that the Darwin’s accumulated through their fraudulent activity by using the Proceeds of Crime Act. Additionally, the two insurance firms that were scammed – Unat Direct and Norwich Union – have commenced legal proceedings in an attempt to recoup the sums of money that the Darwins received in respect of the ‘death’ of Mr. Darwin. 2281 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Paddle A Canoe Like John Darwin is a post from: Scam Types dot Com Check out The Best Internet Security Programs Of 2009
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2281 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Paddle A Canoe Like John Darwin