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Hi Friends,
You can go fishing, or you can go phishing. In this case
spelling does count. In the first you hope to land a big one, in
the second you hope to land a really big one. Did PT Barnum have
it right, there is there a “sucker” born every minute? Or is it
the computer and the Internet that make an otherwise sane person
act like an idiot? Phishing is just another method of identity
theft, typically performed either through email or through the
creation of a Web site that appears to represent a legitimate
company.
Most people who have been on the Internet for awhile, are
becoming a little more sophisticated, and are not falling for
the traditional scams. When they get email from multiple banks,
credit unions or one from ebay stating that their account has
been compromised, they realize what is going on, and quickly hit
the delete key.
Those new to the Internet may not realize this, and do fall
victim to them. But, step back Jack. There is a whole new breed
of people trying to separate you from your money, and they are
coming up with some new wrinkles that even the more
sophisticated could easily fall prey to.
Blogging has become an institution. Some Blogs are there for one
purpose, and only one purpose – to collect email addresses of
people with like interests. The same scamsters that run the
Blog, also create a business that caters to those people.
Example – Blogs on Bush - both for and against. A popular item
among “Bush Bashers” is the Backwards Bush Desk Clock that shows
the time he has remaining in office. It retails for $18.99 plus
shipping and handling.
The phisher sends out an email berating Bush and the Republican
Party in general, and offers to give this clock away for just
the cost of shipping at $4.95 – wow what a deal you might think.
You are directed to a web site to pay with your credit card. On
the site you see a wide array of other “Anti-Bush” products for
ridiculously low prices. The site of course is a phony created
under a fictitious name (usually offshore) and has nothing to
sell.
It does have a secure web page where you can pay for your
purchase, and you receive an automatically generated email
saying your product will be delivered in 4 to 6 weeks. They of
course are hoping that you will forget that you ordered it. You
write to the email address on the web site and receive an email
saying it must have been lost in shipment, but it will be sent
again, and you should receive it in 4 to 6 weeks. They keep this
up until you give up and write off the $4.95 to experience.
But wait – the phisher has your credit card number, its’ date of
expiration and the 3 digit code on the back of the card. They
keep a record of the expiration dates and shortly before the
cards’ expiration date, the information is sold to various and
sundry “lowlifes” who quickly max out your card, and are never
to be seen again.
You don’t realize this until you receive your next credit card
statement, or if you are denied credit. At this point, you are
facing a world of hurt. A year or so could have passed since you
tried to buy the clock, and you have probably forgotten all
about it.
The purchases made using your card are usually sent offshore. A
weeks vacation in a third world country such as Costa Rica,
where they don’t require other identification can be costly.
While the fraud division of some credit card companies will
contact you if they see a large purchase, there are many who
don’t, and you can bet that the phishers know the ones that
don’t.
There is a bottom line here. While doing business on the
Internet is convenient and normally safe, don’t be sucked into
something as the result of an unsolicited email. Before parting
with that information, be sure you have contact information with
the person or company you are buying from and check it out.
Otherwise that phisher may have just landed another “big one.” --wise words from Bob Osgoodby
Be Carefull and do your research!!
Thanks
Leanne Busby
Great Jokes
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