Fake Michelle Obama Sends Out Mass Scam Email

A crudely written email that claims to come from the American first lady invites recipients to collect their supposed shares from a “scam victims’ compensation fund, ” but only if each one ponies up his email address, phone number and $260.
“I am Mrs. Michelle Obama and I am here to inform you that your SCAM VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUNDS from white house here in Washington DC is the sum of $20.000.000 twenty million us dollars,” the email says. “Bear in mind that i am the only one that has your funds in regard to my husband Mr Barack Obama and you will have to pay the sum of $260.00 before your funds will be delivered to you today so get back to me with your home address.”
Of course, the email isn’t from Michelle Obama, or from anyone affiliated with the government at all. Instead, it’s the work of scammers, possibly from Nigeria, who invoke the names of celebrities to try to make their scams more appealing and believable, Kaspersky Lab’s SecureList blog reported.
To anyone with an eye for detail, this is not believable. A quick look at the sender’s email address shows that the message actually comes from “World Wide Web Owner” with a Russian “.ru” email domain suffix, and “missnadia” with a Chinese “yahoo.cn” email address.
Although this particular scam may not be disguised very well, that may be by design. The sheer stupidity of such obvious scams ensures only the truly gullible respond.
As Softpedia points out, getting duped into sending money or accepting payments from dubious sources could lead to significant financial losses or even charges of fraud and money laundering.


Fake Michelle Obama Sends Out Mass Scam Email

There is no such organization as the Canadian Cyber Police

Online scams are a constant feature of the Internet. From Phishing scams that attempt to get you to click a link in an email or on a website to gather your personal information, to the virus threats, it is important for you to keep your computer safe. The Thunder Bay Police Cyber Crime Unit have received calls from a number of concerned citizens about a computer virus that seems to be infecting computers.
Officers have been advised that a large pop up screen with a Canadian flag and the words Canadian Cyber Police has been appearing when people try to access their computer. The information on the pop up states that this computer has bee detected as engaging in illegal downloads and it that the computer owner could face criminal charges, a large fine and their computer will be locked within 72 hours. An option exist with a link for the computer owner to pay $100.00 out of court to get their name off the list so they will not be prosecuted and their computer will not be locked.
The police are warning the public that there is no such organization as the Canadian Cyber Police nor do any police agencies monitor internet usage. If this pop up occurs on your computer you should NOT purchase the option to have your name removed. By offering to pay for this service, the computer owner is giving their credit card information to an unknown organization.
Over the past months, some of the scams being attempted include the New York parking or speeding ticket email. It offers a link to plead your case. It is a phishing attempt.
Michael Nitz from the RBC shares, “Hey everyone! Wanted to warn you about a phishing email scam that is circulating. The email appears to be from RBC asking you to provide your personal account information and a request to click-through to an activation link. Please DO NOT CLICK on any links and please delete the message right away. RBC will never ask you for such information through email.
Nitz adds, “For more information on how to protect yourself and how to report phishing messages, please visit our Privacy and Security site.”
Having a good anti-virus program, removing malware on a regular basis and using common sense will go a long way to ensuring that your online time will be safer.
A good tip is to hover your mouse over a link in an email before clicking. While the message might appear to be from who it says, in email programs like Microsoft Outlook the actual address will be in the bottom left of the screen. A little less speed and more common sense, as stated, will help protect your from a scam.
If you would like more help, visit www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca


Thunder Bay Police Service - There is no such organization as the Canadian Cyber Police

Scam Alert -- More Americans Harassed Over Fake Payday Loans

More people than ever are being harassed by collection calls at home and work about payday loans they either never received or already repaid. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center recently released a new alert about the disturbing rise in these scams.  

 

How the Scam Works:

You answer the phone. The person the other end claims you are delinquent on a payday loan and must pay up to avoid legal consequences. You think the caller must be mistaken. You've either never taken out a loan or you've already repaid it. You hang up and probably think that's the end of the trouble.

But the phone calls don't stop. You start receiving more calls at work and home. Callers make threats and/or claim to be representatives of government agencies and law firms. The scammers also have your personal information, such as your Social Security/Social Insurance number, date of birth and address. They may even contact your friends, relatives and employer. 

In a new twist on the scam, you may also begin receiving emails. These messages are official-looking and purport to be from a federal agency. They accuse you of violating banking regulations and reference law enforcement agencies like the FBI. To fight the charges, the emails say, you need to contact the sender within 48 hours. 

 

I'm a Victim of This Scam. What Should I Do?

• Contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and request an alert be put on your file
• If you have received a legitimate loan, verify that you do not have any outstanding payments by contacting the loan company directly
• File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center
• If you feel you are in immediate danger, do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement

For More Information

Check out the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center's Public Service Announcement for more information about the scam.

To find out more about scams, check out the new BBB Scam Stopper.

Top six scams to avoid

VIN cloning scams- According to Consumer Reports.. this is when crooks steal a car then copy the vehicle identification number from another car that is the same make, model, color and year. they forge the registration documents then sell the car to you at a great price. when your insurance company or the state motor vehicle department discovers the car is stolen... you end up without your car and the money you paid for it. if something is too good to be true... walk away...
Bogus tech support scams- You may get a phone call or email claiming that you have a virus... the crook may even install software.. but instead of fixing the fake problem, your personal information is stolen.
Store Gift Card scams- Criminals claim to be calling from a local store to say you've won a one hundred dollar gift card that you have to go to the store to pick up... the trick is to get you out of the house long enough so that robbers can get your goods while you are gone.
Online survey scams- the goal is to get you to give out personal information. use caution when granting access to your profile.... and consumer reports says think before you hit the like button.
Medical discount plan scams- Its really a discount card that costs an enrollment fee plus monthly fees... the FTC has taken action against more than 50 of them because when sick patients try to use the card many places do not accept it.
Tax return scams- Crooks use your identity to claim a tax refund and you don't have money coming to you they lie on your return to get a refund. if you think that you could be a victim contact the irs identity protection specialized unit at 1-800-908-4490. you may want to also contact the social security administration to protect your benefits.
There are a number of organizations you can contact if you have questions about scams: the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov), the FBI (www.fbi.gov), the IRS (www.irs.gov) even the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org).

On Your Side: Top six scams to avoid

Lebanon arrests Shiite for attack hoax

Beirut: The Lebanese army said on Thursday that it has arrested a Shiite man for falsely reporting he had been attacked by Sunnis who cut off several of his fingers with a sword.

“As a result of media reports concerning a man named Ehab Al Azzi, 23, who claimed that he was the victim of a sectarian attack, the military intelligence interrogated him and it became clear he fabricated the story,” the army said.

“In fact, during a fight after an accident with two other bikers on the road to the airport, one of them severed several of his fingers with a switchblade,” it said.

Al Azzi, who will remain in custody until he is brought before a judge, had told media outlets that he was the victim of an attack on Sunday by Sunnis armed with a sword.

Lebanon arrests Shiite for attack hoax | GulfNews.com

Officials warn veterans about scams offering assistance

The N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs is warning veterans about a scam that promises help with pensions and other benefits, but for a high price.
Tim Wipperman, assistant secretary for veterans affairs, said his office has received several reports about people who claim they want to help veterans with the VA benefits process, but veterans end up losing hundreds of dollars.
"We are trying to get a grip on this," Wipperman said. "These folks are good at changing their tactics where they do what they do and stay one millimeter above the law."
The scammers target veterans - mostly those who are older or disabled - through seminars and other outreach programs about VA Aid & Attendance Special Pension, Wipperman said. That is is a special federal veterans' benefit program that provides financial support to veterans who have a limited income and who are considered to be in need of regular in-home or nursing home care.
"Once they get the veterans and their families in the room, they give them a little pitch. They try to sell them questionable insurance or investment products," Wipperman said.
The scammers also promise to file a claim with the VA at a cost, but the claim is not filed, or it is filed incorrectly, he said.
Others targeted by the scammers are homeless veterans. These scam artists charge homeless veterans a fee to prepare or assist in a claim. Their fee is taken from each monthly check, which the scammer has mailed to his home.
The state Division of Veterans Affairs is working with several agencies to try to educate veterans about the scams. The N.C. Department of Justice issued a release in September warning veterans about the problem.
Wipperman is also working with U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan to address the issue.
"We plan to stay on this," said Mary Hanley, Hagan's press secretary. "We are doing our own outreach to veterans and will continue to do so.
"We consider this a serious problem. It is unfortunate that this is going on. It is deplorable."
Veterans should seek any assistance they need from someone who is accredited by the Veterans Administration to represent veterans seeking benefits. Those who are accredited aren't allowed to charge for services.
"If we can get the veterans to come to an accredited service officer, it will help," Wipperman said.
Veterans can search for accredited service officers on the VA's website, www.doa.nc.gov /vets/locations.


FayObserver.com - State officials warn veterans about scams offering assistance

ALERT: Phishing Scam Looks Like BBB Email…But It’s Not - BBB News Center

 
The BBB name and logo are being fraudulently used by criminals in an on-going phishing scam. The emails look very much like notice of a complaint from BBB, but contain links to malware that can infect your computer, steal passwords, etc. BBB is working with law enforcement, as well as with a private deactivation firm (at our own expense), to shut down as many criminal websites as possible. To date, we have shut down well over 100 sites.
If you get an email that looks like it is a BBB complaint, here is what you should do:
1. Do NOT click on any links or attachments.
2. Read the email carefully for signs that it may be fake (for example, misspellings, grammar, generic greetings such as “Dear member” instead of a name, etc.).
3. Be wary of any urgent instructions to take specified action such as “Click on the link or your account will be closed.”
4. Hover your mouse over links without clicking to see if the address is truly from bbb.org. The URL in the text should match the URL that your mouse detects. If the two do not match, it is most likely a scam.
5. Send a copy of the email to phishing@council.bbb.org (Note: This address is only for scams that use the BBB name or logo)
6. Delete the email from your computer completely (be sure to empty your “trash can” or “recycling bin,” as well).
7. Run anti-virus software updates frequently and do a full system scan.
8. Keep a close eye on your bank statements for any unexpected or unexplained transactions.
If you have a business and are not certain whether the complaint is legitimate, contact your local BBB (www.bbb.org/find).

ALERT: Phishing Scam Looks Like BBB Email…But It’s Not - BBB News Center

Malware Installed on Travelers’ Laptops Through Software Updates on Hotel Internet Connections

05/08/12—Recent analysis from the FBI and other government agencies demonstrates that malicious actors are targeting travelers abroad through pop-up windows while they are establishing an Internet connection in their hotel rooms.
Recently, there have been instances of travelers’ laptops being infected with malicious software while using hotel Internet connections. In these instances, the traveler was attempting to set up the hotel room Internet connection and was presented with a pop-up window notifying the user to update a widely used software product. If the user clicked to accept and install the update, malicious software was installed on the laptop. The pop-up window appeared to be offering a routine update to a legitimate software product for which updates are frequently available.
The FBI recommends that all government, private industry, and academic personnel who travel abroad take extra caution before updating software products through their hotel Internet connection. Checking the author or digital certificate of any prompted update to see if it corresponds to the software vendor may reveal an attempted attack. The FBI also recommends that travelers perform software updates on laptops immediately before traveling, and that they download software updates directly from the software vendor’s website if updates are necessary while abroad.
Anyone who believes they have been a target of this type of attack should immediately contact their local FBI office and promptly report it to the IC3’s website at www.IC3.gov. The IC3’s complaint database links complaints together to refer them to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration. The complaint information is also used to identify emerging trends and patterns.

Smartphone Users Should be Aware of Malware Targeting Mobile Devices and Safety Measures to Help Avoid Compromise

10/12/12—The IC3 has been made aware of various malware attacking Android operating systems for mobile devices. Some of the latest known versions of this type of malware are Loozfon and FinFisher. Loozfon is an information-stealing piece of malware. Criminals use different variants to lure the victims. One version is a work-at-home opportunity that promises a profitable payday just for sending out e-mail. A link within these advertisements leads to a website that is designed to push Loozfon on the user’s device. The malicious application steals contact details from the user’s address book and the infected device’s phone number.
FinFisher is a spyware capable of taking over the components of a mobile device. When installed the mobile device can be remotely controlled and monitored no matter where the Target is located. FinFisher can be easily transmitted to a smartphone when the user visits a specific web link or opens a text message masquerading as a system update.
Loozfon and FinFisher are just two examples of malware used by criminals to lure users into compromising their devices.
Safety tips to protect your mobile device:

• When purchasing a smartphone, know the features of the device, including the default settings. Turn off features of the device not needed to minimize the attack surface of the device.
• Depending on the type of phone, the operating system may have encryption available. This can be used to protect the user’s personal data in the case of loss or theft.
• With the growth of the application market for mobile devices, users should look at the reviews of the developer/company who published the application.
• Review and understand the permissions you are giving when you download applications.
• Passcode protect your mobile device. This is the first layer of physical security to protect the contents of the device. In conjunction with the passcode, enable the screen lock feature after a few minutes of inactivity.
• Obtain malware protection for your mobile device. Look for applications that specialize in antivirus or file integrity that helps protect your device from rogue applications and malware.
• Be aware of applications that enable geo-location. The application will track the user’s location anywhere. This application can be used for marketing, but can also be used by malicious actors, raising concerns of assisting a possible stalker and/or burglaries.
• Jailbreak or rooting is used to remove certain restrictions imposed by the device manufacturer or cell phone carrier. This allows the user nearly unregulated control over what programs can be installed and how the device can be used. However, this procedure often involves exploiting significant security vulnerabilities and increases the attack surface of the device. Anytime an application or service runs in “unrestricted” or “system” level within an operation system, it allows any compromise to take full control of the device.
• Do not allow your device to connect to unknown wireless networks. These networks could be rogue access points that capture information passed between your device and a legitimate server.
• If you decide to sell your device or trade it in, make sure you wipe the device (reset it to factory default) to avoid leaving personal data on the device.
• Smartphones require updates to run applications and firmware. If users neglect this, it increases the risk of having their device hacked or compromised.
• Avoid clicking on or otherwise downloading software or links from unknown sources.
• Use the same precautions on your mobile phone as you would on your computer when using the Internet.

If you have been a victim of an Internet scam or have received an e-mail that you believe was an attempted scam, please file a complaint at www.IC3.gov.

Fraud and scam alert: email lists for sale | B2BL: B2B spam

Scams abound in the email-list sales world, and a good many of them lead back to the India-based Data Champions / Sloan Marketing scam and spam group.

Some recent fake company names and addresses we’ve seen in spam from these scam groups include:

• monica.thomas@technology-database.com. Signed “Monica Thomas, Business Development Manager,” no address, no telephone number. Spam subject: “Data Backup Software Users/Resellers Accounts.” Spam mailed from their exchange-media.com [199.175.55.106] spam server, spam hosting provided by Softlayer, as often seen in the past.
• postmaster@b2borb2c.com / alan.greg@banetxmail.com. Signed “Alan Greg, Market Analyst, no company name, no phone number.” Spam subject: “Permission Pass Letter.” Mailed from their b2borb2c.com [109.230.213.106] spam server.
• ksmith@datafinder.us. Signed “Karen Smith, Lead Consultant, Data-Finder Inc, 1275 S. Main Street, Atlanta, GA 30034, 302-384-9814.” Address does not exists, and the datafinder.us web site has contact information. Uses their ibamailer.com spam site. Spam subject: “Contact Discovery”
• cathy.a@b2bdatas.com. Signed “Cathy Anderson, Account Manager,” no company name. Spam subject: “Key Decision Makers List.” Mailed from their emaillistsworld.com [72.55.131.108] spam server.
• davis@aadatabizleads.com. Signed “Davis Mark, Business Development Coordinator, American Accurate Data Inc.” Fake company, no valid contact info on web site, no phone number. Sent from a google.com mail server.
• amanda.wallace@greennetworkers.com. Signed “Amanda Wallace, Marketing Manager, ED Group Inc.” No phone number or address, no such company. mailed from their xchangehost.biz [199.175.48.230] spam server.
• bs@mxpdtwelve.info. Signed “Bryan Spuler, Omaha, NE 68144,” no company name, no address. Spam links to their sale-bluebase.com spam domain. Sent from their bigoffers2.info [74.3.161.115] spam server. Spam subject: “New B2B Email Prospects.”
• jane.ferguson@leadtailors.net. Signed “Jane Ferguson, Marketing Executive – Lead Tailors, Inc., 225, Level -2 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12230, United States, 518-621-2695.” Not a real company, not a valid address. Sent via their ihostmediasrvr.biz / edatacluster.com [208.115.206.238] spam server. Spam subject: “Prospects List with Email-id’s.”
• lauren.morrison@ubermarketers.com. Signed “Lauren Morrison, Marketing Executive – Uber Marketers, 225, Level -2 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12230, United States, 518-621-2695.” Same spam as the one above except they’ve changed the name of the fake employee and the fake company from leadtailors.net to ubermarketers.com. Address didn’t change, however.
• gerard.butler@unicemail.com. Signed “Gerard Butler, Business Development, Division Of E-mail & Data Services, UNIC Info, Inc.” Non-existent company, no phone number.

The Data Champions and similar groups also use cheap mail and anonymous services such as aol.com and google.com for their spam. Some sample addresses:

• brian.becker@aol.com. Signed “Brian Becker, Online Marketing Specialist, Email Bridge, Inc, 100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701.” Email Bridge is a fake company and no suite number has been provided for phony address in the Congress Ave office tower. No phone number either. Spam subject: “Professionals Industry Database.”
• stacy.nelson.us@gmail.com. Stacy Nelson, Online Marketing Manager, Lead Marketers, Inc., #820, 4th Floor Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA, Phone: 484-221-6289. Company doesn’t exist, and somehow they forgot to specify which suite number they occupy in that Philadelphia office building. Spam subject: “Email Appending Solution.”
• jennifer.mintz@aol.com. Signed “Jennifer Mintz, Database Marketing Executive, UberMarketers, North Hero, VT 05474, USA, 888 329 3394 or 60 Cannon Street, London.” Non-existent company (sometimes seen as ubermarketers.com). Spam subject: “B2B/B2C Email List & Appending solution.”
• james.michae@aol.com. Signed “James Michae, Online Marketing Specialist, Email Bridge, Inc, 100 Congress Ave Austin, TX 78701 USA.” That fake Email Bridge company name again. Spam subject: “Business leads Follow up.”

Fraud and scam alert: email lists for sale | B2BL: B2B spam

Watch for Political Scams this Election Season

As pre-election emotions run high, the Better Business Bureau says to watch out for people pretending to be lobbyists or campaign volunteers who really just want personal information. Experts say there are some key red flags to watch for.

Most people fall for scams when they try to get something for nothing. The biggest red flag is when someone asks for your credit card or bank account information. But most importantly, trust your instincts. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't legitimate.

"These people say I'm an educated business person and I fell for it,” said Better Business Bureau Community Relations Director Barbara Green.

The Cedar Rapids Better Business Bureau office fields complaints such as, fill out this survey and we'll send you on a cruise.

"They ask for your credit card number to pay for your port fees,” said Green.

Another scam says, fill out this survey and we'll pay your utility bills. Just send them your bank account information and they'll make a deposit into your account.

Plenty of volunteers and paid staff on both sides of the aisle will likely call you as we inch closer to election day. But if it's too hard for you to tell the difference between a real or fake request go to their website and make a donation on their secure site.

"You go to their site and you make a donation on their secure site. You're giving out quite a bit of personal information. You home address and credit card and they can take advantage of that very quickly,” said Green.

The Iowa Attorney General's Office say they haven't received any formal complaints about these kinds of political scams. It may be a campaign volunteer calling on a specific party's behalf. But the Better Business Bureau says, as a rule of thumb, guard your personal information at all costs.

Watch for Political Scams this Election Season | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather | Local News

State officials warn veterans about scams offering assistance

The N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs is warning veterans about a scam that promises help with pensions and other benefits, but for a high price.
Tim Wipperman, assistant secretary for veterans affairs, said his office has received several reports about people who claim they want to help veterans with the VA benefits process, but veterans end up losing hundreds of dollars.
"We are trying to get a grip on this," Wipperman said. "These folks are good at changing their tactics where they do what they do and stay one millimeter above the law."
The scammers target veterans - mostly those who are older or disabled - through seminars and other outreach programs about VA Aid & Attendance Special Pension, Wipperman said. That is is a special federal veterans' benefit program that provides financial support to veterans who have a limited income and who are considered to be in need of regular in-home or nursing home care.
"Once they get the veterans and their families in the room, they give them a little pitch. They try to sell them questionable insurance or investment products," Wipperman said.
The scammers also promise to file a claim with the VA at a cost, but the claim is not filed, or it is filed incorrectly, he said.
Others targeted by the scammers are homeless veterans. These scam artists charge homeless veterans a fee to prepare or assist in a claim. Their fee is taken from each monthly check, which the scammer has mailed to his home.
The state Division of Veterans Affairs is working with several agencies to try to educate veterans about the scams. The N.C. Department of Justice issued a release in September warning veterans about the problem.
Wipperman is also working with U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan to address the issue.
"We plan to stay on this," said Mary Hanley, Hagan's press secretary. "We are doing our own outreach to veterans and will continue to do so.
"We consider this a serious problem. It is unfortunate that this is going on. It is deplorable."
Veterans should seek any assistance they need from someone who is accredited by the Veterans Administration to represent veterans seeking benefits. Those who are accredited aren't allowed to charge for services.
"If we can get the veterans to come to an accredited service officer, it will help," Wipperman said.
Veterans can search for accredited service officers on the VA's website, www.doa.nc.gov /vets/locations.
They also can report a scam to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 877-5-NO-SCAM or at ncdoj.gov.


FayObserver.com - State officials warn veterans about scams offering assistance

Suspected Scam Artist Arrested In Undercover Sting

 

Sidney Allan Jeffords

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. – A suspected scam artist who is believed to have targeted people in at least four states was arrested in an undercover sting operation in Williamson County.
Sidney Allan Jeffords, 33, was arrested Thursday and charged with theft over $1,000 and being a fugitive from justice.
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office said Jeffords, who also goes by Al Jones, uses Craigslist to contact people who post they are looking for a rental property. Investigators said he took a couple to a property which he said he owned in Williamson County, and attempted to collect money for a rental agreement. However, he does not own the property, according to officials.
Authorities believe there are others who have been victims of Jefford's scams in Williamson County and across Middle Tennessee.
Anyone who has seen Jeffords or done business with him is asked to call law enforcement. In Williamson County, victims are asked to call WCSO Detective Kevin Sheldon at 615-790-5554.
Jeffords was held on $150,000 bond at the Williamson County Detention Center. He is scheduled to be in court on October 25.

Suspected Scam Artist Arrested In Undercover Sting - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

Beware the new fake Amazon email scam

On October 16, a fake Amazon email scam began making the rounds. This phishing email claims that your account has been closed and provides a link to a “form” where the recipient can update their information. The most sophisticated of today’s email scams use the logo of the organization that is the target of the scam, however, there is no logo in the email currently being sent. In fact, the message, with the exception of the attached form, is merely plain text, which reads: “Your account has been closed because of too many failed login attempts. Please download and fill out the form below to reactivate your account.” The email includes a form with the file name “amazonform.html.”
The source code shows that the message was handled by a server at amazsecudb.com, which is owned and/or administered by Tommy Johnson of Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Messages of this sort are intended to take the unsuspecting to a website that will collect personal information to later be used by others.

Beware the new Amazon fake email scam

Amazon.com takes Internet fraud very seriously and has pages of information on how to report email scams involving Amazon.com. They also have a dedicated form for reporting the emails at https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/report-phishing.html?. In their October 17 automated reply to a report of this phishing scam, Amazon provided several tips on how to spot fake emails.

1. Amazon.com will *not* ask you for the following information in an e-mail message:
* Your Amazon.com password
* Your bank account information
* Your credit card information or PIN
* Your social security number
* Your mother's maiden name or other information to identify you
2. Amazon.com will *not* ask you to verify or confirm your Amazon.com account information by clicking on a link from an e-mail.

If you suspect that you have received a phishing email involving your Amazon.com account, report the incident to Amazon immediately. You can also find information about identity theft and Internet fraud on the FBI and Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) websites.


Beware the new fake Amazon email scam  - National Crime & Courts | Examiner.com

Deceased spouse insurance

When a spouse dies there are so many things that need to be handled almost simultaneously. Burial arrangements made, death certificates sent out to creditors and life insurance policies cashed out. It is the issue of life insurance that brings us to our latest scam.
The deceased spouse insurance scam works like this: a newly widowed man or woman will receive a telephone call from a “life insurance agent” stating that their deceased spouse had purchased a policy from their company. The policy is always said to be over a million dollars.
The “agent” will then tell the surviving spouse that the policy was to be kept a secret from him or her because their spouse “loved them very much and wanted to take very good care of them.” The kicker is that there is one more premium payment that is owed, usually in a very specific amount (i.e. $4890.37) and that the premium payment needs to be paid before they can release the policy amount to the beneficiary.
Of course, once this premium payment is sent (often to a foreign country) the alleged policy payout never arrives, and the widowed spouse is out the alleged premium amount that they paid. This scam has been going on for some time, but has been ramping up in recent years. It is a sad fact that there will always be scammers willing to take advantage of a person during one of the most vulnerable times in their life. Criminals pick their victims from obituaries.
How to avoid: there are very few agents who will call you when your spouse dies, so getting a phone call of this variety is red flag number one. Two, always ask to see some verifiable documents; regardless of how official they may appear, always follow up by calling the customer service department of that company or ask your personal insurance agent to verify this policy for you. Finally, if you are approached by an “agent”, never send them any money. A reputable agency (if a policy really does exist) will take any remaining premiums off of the payout amount and would never request a premium payment be sent. In the aftermath of the death of a spouse, the surviving spouse can be very vulnerable. Be aware of scams such as this one; always make sure to protect your assets.


Deceased spouse insurance - Telephone Scams - Scam Detector

Facebook Email Scam warning – “your friend added a new photo”

Do not let this latest wave of scam emails trick you into clicking the big blue button in these emails. You wont get to see a photo of yourself, you will infect your system with a Trojan horse.
Social networking has changed the way businesses communicate with their customers and partners, and how people stay connected with friends and family.  Most organizations now incorporate social media into their marketing and communications strategies, and many allow their employees use of Facebook to stay in touch even when they are in work. Unsurprisingly, the popularity of this new media has also created an influx of social media specific malware.
The emails pretend to come from Facebook and saying that your Facebook friend added a new photo of you. This is a  scam email that really does  not come from Facebook, but is designed by internet scammers to trick the recipient to download or open the attachment.
Do not click the link in the email. Unfortunately, the attached ZIP file contains malware, designed to allow hackers to gain control over your Windows computer.
Subject:
Your friend added a new photo with you to the album
Attached File :
FacebookPhoto_ADD_album_[Ramdom].zip, where ‘random’ is a generated number.
Message Body:
Greetings,
One of Your Friends added a new photo with you to the album.
You are receiving this email because you’ve been listed as a close friend.
[View photo with you in the attachment]


Facebook users should be aware that the social media site never sends the pictures posted online as attachments via email.  Therefore  users are always advised to beware of shady-looking notifications.  And as always, to not click on links in emails.


Facebook Email Scam warning – “your friend added a new photo” | Omniquad Security Blog

Jamaican Phone Scammers Use BBB Name

A classic scam is back in action! Jamaican scammers are calling unsuspecting consumers across the country, but this time they are pretending to be representatives of BBB.

How the Scam Works:

You get a call from a phone number with a "876" area code. The person on the other line may have an accent but claims to work for BBB. The caller tells you that you won a sweepstakes with a prize of $2 million and a Mercedes Benz. The catch is that you can't collect your winnings until you pay them a fee.

This is the current scenario, but the scam will evolve as word gets out.  Scammers are claiming to represent the Acadiana BBB in Louisiana, but this may change to another location or even another credibility-boosting organization, such as the FBI. 

The scam itself also may change. Instead of asking victims to collect lottery winnings, scammers may ask for you to deposit a check and wire them part of the money or inform you that you are receiving a fake government grant.  

I Think I've Found a Scam. What Should I Do?    

• Hang up and don't call the scammer back. We all like to have the last word, but returning the phone call may just give the con artist information he can use. 
• Report phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission. Check out FTC.gov for more information about making a phone fraud report.

Phishing campaign abuses flaw tricking thousands with shortened .gov URLs

A vulnerable component in a content management system has enabled savvy cybercriminals behind a spam campaign to spoof .gov site URLs by abusing a short link designed to validate the authenticity of redirects to U.S. government websites.

Despite the best intentions, 1.usa.gov short links seem to be ineffective at ensuring the ultimate destinations of the URLs are trustworthy government websites. Jeff Jarmoc, Dell SecureWorks

The click rate of the campaign has been significant, redirecting more than 16,000 victims over a five day period to a malicious website designed to look like a CNBC news article pushing several work from home scams. The phishers have abused several U.S. state government domains, including Vermont.gov, Iowa.gov, Indiana.gov and ca.gov. Guam.gov and Vermont.gov appear to have been abused the most so far this month, according to data collected by Dell SecureWorks.
Email spam has been the primary method for distributing the short links, wrote Jeff Jarmoc of Dell SecureWorks' Counter Threat Unit.
"While it seems the perpetrators are not targeting .gov sites specifically and are not using the government as a lure, the ability to generate short .gov links that lead users to malicious domains is concerning," Jarmoc wrote in an advisory about the phishing scam issued on Wednesday. "If combined with a government-focused message, such as the common tax season phishing emails , this spam could lure even savvy users."
Many of the links in the ongoing spam campaign abuse 1.usa.gov short URLs, according to Dell SecureWorks. The 1.usa.gov short URL service is run by the U.S. government, in partnership with bitly.com. It was designed to enable users to submit a long URL to bitly that resides on a .gov or .mil top-level domain. The goal of the service is to make it easier to verify the authenticity of a U.S. government site in a shortened URL.
"Despite the best intentions, 1.usa.gov short links seem to be ineffective at ensuring the ultimate destinations of the URLs are trustworthy government websites," Jarmoc wrote.
Dell traced the IP destination of the malicious servers used in the attack to hosting services in Moscow and InMotion Hosting Inc., based in Los Angeles.

Phishers exploit open redirect flaw

The cybercriminals hunt for servers with a vulnerable version of DotNetNukes LinkClick.aspx, software designed to give website developers the ability to configure a set of custom re-direct rules.
"By exploiting an open-redirect vulnerability in this .aspx file, the attacker can direct traffic to a non-.gov site under his control, while exposing only a 1.usa.gov short link in the initial message," Jarmoc wrote.
An open-redirect vulnerability is a common coding error in Web applications that simplifies phishing attacks by bypassing protection mechanisms. Attackers can set up spoofed pages and more easily dupe people into giving up account credentials or infect their system with malware.


Phishing campaign abuses flaw tricking thousands with shortened .gov URLs

Email on adopting Marine dogs is a hoax

The Marine Corps is debunking an offer to provide bomb-sniffing dogs for adoption that has been published by numerous websites, blogs and email lists.There are currently no bomb detection dogs available for adoption, the Marine Corps Systems Command said in a statement.
An email whose origin is not clear and that appeared to circulate widely said the Corps was looking for good homes for “incredibly well-trained” Labradors, Belgian Malinois, border collies, German shepherds and Rottweilers that served in war zones.
The email went on to say that the approximately 400 dogs were “war heroes,” having saved countless American lives by sniffing out improvised explosive devices before they could blow up. Adoptive families were told they must go to Washington to pick up the dogs or arrange transport at their own expense.
The contact information provided in the email was that of an actual Marine office and staffer, but when contacted Tuesday the office said the email was a hoax and no such offer was available.
However, by then news stations’ websites in Miami and elsewhere had run with the email, as had blogs that cover topics involving pets and adopting animals. Neighborhood listserves in Arlington, Va., home of the Pentagon, also posted the offer to thousands of members.
The Marine Corps Systems Command said it was not known who received the email or who sent it out.
The Marines said such offers are sometimes made for “decommissioned” dogs but that they are offered to other federal agencies first since many are still fit for service even when they can no longer deploy to war zones.


Email on adopting Marine dogs is a hoax - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Microsoft says free money scams are most commonly encountered

Microsoft has released results from a recent survey as part of a campaign to promote National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The questionnaire reveals that the phrase “Congratulation, you’ve won!” or something related to lottery winnings is the most popular line used to lure unsuspecting people to online scams.
It should come as little surprise that the promise of free money or getting something for nothing ranks highest in the list of most commonly encountered online scams at 44 percent. Fake antivirus alert scams that mimic real programs account for 40 percent, good for second place on the survey.
Phishing scams using fake emails that attempt to get user to click a link and emails claiming to be from a foreign person that needs help transferring a large sum of money are tied for third place at 39 percent each. Rounding out the top five online scams are work-from-home offers that promise to help you start your own business, encountered by 38 percent of respondents.
The survey points out that the average Internet user has encountered roughly eight different types of online scam. Most people, 62 percent surveyed, believe they wouldn’t fall victim to an online scam although only 12 percent said they felt fully protected. Survey-takers were most fearful of impersonation scams like fake antivirus alerts, phishing scams and work-from-home offers.
Microsoft offers up some common-sense tips to help keep yourself protected online like thinking before you click, looking for warning signs that an offer might be fake and cutting down on spam by only sharing your email address with friends, family and organizations you know and trust.


Microsoft says free money scams are most commonly encountered - TechSpot News

Scam Alert: Who’s Who Directories Take Your Money and Give Little Back

Congratulations! Through an unexpected email or phone call, you learn you've been selected for listing in a "Who's Who"-type directory. Now, after patting yourself on the back, be prepared to reach for your wallet.

A keepsake copy of one such publication will cost you up to $900. The companies say they make selections based on "humanitarian contribution" or "leadership and professional achievement," yet there's no mention of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett or other well-known philanthropists on the pages … just people who've made their living selling insurance, operating beauty salons or manufacturing ladies' clothing. The 2012 "Executives of the Year" for one registry are a retired business professor from a small Montana college and the director of a nonprofit in Chicago that helps immigrants from Asia and Eastern Europe.

The words "Who's Who" are in the public domain — any publisher can use them. There are old and reputable directories of that name that charge nothing and are truly discriminating in their selections. Some are published by professional organizations to cite notables in a specific occupation, say surgery or engineering.
But there's a whole group of less trustworthy ones that try to profit from the cachet the legit ones carry.
It's not that people listed in the vanity directories are necessarily undeserving of recognition; many are hard-working professionals making valuable contributions to society. It's just that the qualifying criteria may be less "outstanding" than what's suggested in the titles.

"In most cases," notes the Better Business Bureau, "the [publisher] doesn't turn down any nominee or entry." In fact, honorees are often recruited via mass-sent "congratulations" emails or phone calls in hopes that ego-stroking or hard-sell tactics will elicit the spending of big bucks on "memberships," commemorative plaques and/or souvenir copies. Many directories are touted for their usefulness in "networking," but they typically aren't available in libraries or bookstores, only online. — Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

The latest sales method, report some candidates: Telemarketers falsely claiming they are calling from Google Books. More accurately, a three-year-old registry is posted on Google Books, along with countless other publications.
Here's what else you should know if told you've been selected for one of these registries.

• Your credit card may be immediately charged — "before I even received forms" to submit a biography, writes one recent selectee. "They assured me it would cost nothing; the next month there was a $700-plus charge on my credit card."

Scam Alert: Who’s Who Directories Take Your Money and Give Little Back - AARP

Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams

It’s your lucky day! You just won a foreign lottery! The letter says so. And the cashier’s check to cover the taxes and fees is included. All you have to do to get your winnings is deposit the check and wire the money to the sender to pay the taxes and fees. You’re guaranteed that when they get your payment, you’ll get your prize. There’s just one catch: this is a scam. The check is no good, even though it appears to be a legitimate cashier’s check. The lottery angle is a trick to get you to wire money to someone you don’t know. If you were to deposit the check and wire the money, your bank would soon learn that the check was a fake. And you’re out the money because the money you wired can’t be retrieved, and you’re responsible for the checks you deposit — even though you don’t know they’re fake. This is just one example of a counterfeit check scam that could leave you scratching your head. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know that counterfeit check scams are on the rise. Some fake checks look so real that bank tellers are reporting being fooled. The scammers use high quality printers and scanners to make the checks look real. Some of the checks contain authentic-looking watermarks. These counterfeit checks are printed with the names and addresses of legitimate financial institutions. And even though the bank and account and routing numbers listed on a counterfeit check may be real, the check still can be a fake. These fakes come in many forms, from cashier’s checks and money orders to corporate and personal checks. Could you be a victim? Not if you know how to recognize and report them.

Fake Checks: Variations on a Scheme

Counterfeit or fake checks are being used in a growing number of fraudulent schemes, including foreign lottery scams (as described above), check overpayment scams, Internet auction scams, and secret shopper scams.
Check overpayment scams target consumers selling cars or other valuable items through classified ads or online auction sites. Unsuspecting sellers get stuck when scammers pass off bogus cashier’s checks, corporate checks, or personal checks. Here’s how it happens:
A scam artist replies to a classified ad or auction posting, offers to pay for the item with a check, and then comes up with a reason for writing the check for more than the purchase price. The scammer asks the seller to wire back the difference after depositing the check. The seller does it, and later, when the scammer’s check bounces, the seller is left liable for the entire amount.
In secret shopper scams, the consumer, hired to be a secret shopper, is asked to evaluate the effectiveness of a money transfer service. The consumer is given a check, told to deposit it in their bank account, and withdraw the amount in cash. Then, the consumer is told to take the cash to the money transfer service specified, and typically, send the transfer to a person in a Canadian city. Then, the consumer is supposed to evaluate their experience — but no one collects the evaluation. The secret shopper scenario is just a scam to get the consumer’s money.
Con artists who use these schemes can easily avoid detection. When funds are sent through wire transfer services, the recipients can pick up the money at other locations within the same country; it is nearly impossible for the sender to identify or locate the recipient.

You and Your Bank — Who is Responsible for What?

Under federal law, banks must make funds available to you from U.S. Treasury checks, official bank checks (cashier’s checks, certified checks, and teller’s checks), and checks paid by government agencies at the opening of business the day after you deposit the check. For other checks, banks must similarly make the first $100 available the day after you deposit the check. Remaining funds must be made available on the second day after the deposit if payable by a local bank, and within five days if drawn on distant banks.
However, just because funds are available on a check you’ve deposited doesn’t mean the check is good. It’s best not to rely on money from any type of check (cashier, business or personal check, or money order) unless you know and trust the person you’re dealing with or, better yet — until the bank confirms that the check has cleared. Forgeries can take weeks to be discovered and untangled. The bottom line is that until the bank confirms that the funds from the check have been deposited into your account, you are responsible for any funds you withdraw against that check.

Protecting Yourself

Here’s how to avoid a counterfeit check scam:

• Throw away any offer that asks you to pay for a prize or a gift. If it’s free or a gift, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Free is free.
• Resist the urge to enter foreign lotteries. It’s illegal to play a foreign lottery through the mail or the telephone, and most foreign lottery solicitations are phony.
• Know who you’re dealing with, and never wire money to strangers.
• If you’re selling something, don’t accept a check for more than the selling price, no matter how tempting the offer or how convincing the story. Ask the buyer to write the check for the correct amount. If the buyer refuses to send the correct amount, return the check. Don’t send the merchandise.
• As a seller, you can suggest an alternative way for the buyer to pay, like an escrow service or online payment service. There may be a charge for an escrow service. If the buyer insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service you’ve never heard of, check it out. Visit its website, and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. Call the customer service line. If there isn’t one — or if you call and can’t get answers about the service’s reliability — don’t use the service. To learn more about escrow services and online payment systems, visit ftc.gov/onlineshopping.
• If you accept payment by check, ask for a check drawn on a local bank, or a bank with a local branch. That way, you can make a personal visit to make sure the check is valid. If that’s not possible, call the bank where the check was purchased, and ask if it is valid. Get the bank’s phone number from directory assistance or an Internet site that you know and trust, not from the check or from the person who gave you the check.
• If the buyer insists that you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately. Legitimate buyers don’t pressure you to send money by wire transfer services. In addition, you have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction.
• Resist any pressure to “act now.” If the buyer’s offer is good now, it should be good after the check clears.

If You Think You’re a Victim

If you think you’ve been targeted by a counterfeit check scam, report it to the following agencies:

• The Federal Trade Commission Visit ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). • The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Visit www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect or call your local post office. The number is in the Blue Pages of your local telephone directory.
• Your state or local consumer protection agencies Visit www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General, or check the Blue Pages of your local telephone directory for appropriate phone numbers.

For More Information

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams

Victoria Calbert, Missouri Woman, Allegedly Cashed $100,000 In Counterfeit Checks At Walmart

Many of us wish we made a higher salary. Few of us would go as far as Victoria Calbert did to earn a six-figure paycheck.
Calbert, a 40-year-old woman from Springfield, Mo., allegedly cashed $116,295.99 in counterfeit checks at Walmart stores across the Midwest, the Springfield News-Leader reported.
After she was arrested on Sept. 27, police officers searched Calbert’s home and found close to three dozen counterfeit checks linked to 13 fake military IDs printed with Calbert’s picture. Officers also discovered printing and laminating tools among other counterfeiting equipment.
Since November of last year, Calbert reportedly traveled through Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri and attempted to cash 732 fake checks. In total, 515 checks were actually accepted by Walmart. Court documents indicated that Calbert has already served time in prison on previous forgery charges, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
The big box store has fallen victim to fake check scams several times in the past few months. Identity thieves recently used fake checks to buy electronics at 11 different Walmart stores in the southeast, WSB Radio reports. The alleged criminals would write checks for less than $500 at one Walmart store and then return the purchased items to another store for cash. In May, Tina Groff of Leigh Acres, Fla. allegedly used counterfeit school district payroll checks to earn $1,844.32 in stolen funds, Wink News reported.
Walmart isn’t the only company dealing with the issue. A few months ago, Sabrina Yvette Cantrell, an Atlanta woman, was caught allegedly cashing over $40,000 in counterfeit checks at Kroger grocery stores, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cantrell’s crimes were traced using her Kroger Plus Card -- a discount card that she used to save money on her illegitimate purchases.
Fake check scams are on the rise, according to the Federal Trade Commission, but it's usually innocent people -- not stores like Walmart and Kroger -- that are the victims. The scam begins when you receive a check in the mail saying you've won a prize. The enclosed letter states all you need to do to collect your winnings is send money to the sender to pay taxes and fees.

Even if the check appears legitimate, the Federal Trade Commission warns that some counterfeit checks can look so real that bank tellers can mistake them for real ones. By using expensive printers and watermarks that appear authentic, thieves get away with an estimated $5 billion in check fraud a year in the United States, according to Bankers' Bank of the West. An American Bankers Association Check Fraud study found that in 2008 there were 761,000 cases of check fraud in the country.
Calbert is charged with four counts of felony forgery and one count of possessing forgery equipment, according to the Associated Press. She is being held in the Greene County Jail in Missouri on a $50,000 bond, the Springfield News-Leader reported.

Victoria Calbert, Missouri Woman, Allegedly Cashed $100,000 In Counterfeit Checks At Walmart

Postmaster warns of a phone scam

FRANKLIN COUNTY -- Benton postmaster Ruthie Cauble says that anyone who plays sweepstakes scams is a guaranteed loser.
"We have had two cases of telemarketing fraud here in Benton and at least one of them has lost their entire life savings," she said. "Postal inspectors are warning seniors against sweepstakes scams.
"Often, they are lonely and are getting hooked on playing sweepstakes games," Cauble said. "While it may be called gambling to them, postal inspectors call it telemarketing fraud."
She said telemarketers are relentless when targeting potential gullible victims. "The Mail Fraud Statute of 1872 makes it a federal crime to use the U.S. Mail to further a scheme to defraud and the 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill added private carriers to the statute," Cauble said.
She said promoters typically set up phone rooms, called boiler rooms, where they run crooked lotteries and sweepstakes schemes that guarantee you are a winner, provided you pay a fee. "That's illegal," Cauble said. "Elderly people who may be more gullible and hungry for attention are their victims of choice."
She said residents receive sweepstakes offers in the mail. "Legitimate sweepstakes promotions allow anyone to enter and cannot require a purchase or fee as a condition of playing," Cauble said. "Free prize promotions that ask for shipping or handling charges, registration fees, taxes, auditor's expenses or storage fees are against the law.
"If you receive sweepstakes offers that tell you to send money in exchange for free prizes, that is against the law," she said. "Often the elderly will get hooked on these scams because the telemarketer is so nice on the phone. The receiver of the call believes they have someone to talk too but don't be fooled. They are being nice to get your money.
"Any high-pressure sales pitch from telephone callers requiring that you decide to make a purchase or investment right away are pretty sure to be bogus," Cauble said. "Especially if they offer to send a private courier to pick up a check."
She said postal inspectors arrest more than 1,000 suspects each year for fraud conducted through the mail. "The Postal Inspection Service is just one of many federal agencies that target fraud," Cauble said.
"Although people 60 and older account for 26 percent of all telemarketing fraud, 60 percent of people in that age group are victims of prize or sweepstakes fraud.
"That figure is probably higher because often victims of prize or sweepstakes fraud don't report it to authorities because it is too embarrassing to admit that you have been a victim," she said.
For more information, call the Benton Post Office at 438-4931 or the Postal Inspectors office at 1-877-876-2455. Cauble urges residents to visit the website, www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov/radDoes/victim.htm.

Postmaster warns of a phone scam - Flora, IL - The Clay County Advocate - Press-Flora, IL

Chatham police: Beware of scam

Over the past several days, Chatham residents have reported several incidents that are being investigated as telephone scams. Residents have reported receiving telephone calls where the caller advises that the resident has “won” or “is due” a payment check from a lottery. The callers then request personal information from the resident to assist with the delivery of the winnings. What makes the calls unique is that the caller then advises that the “prize” will be delivered to the residence with the assistance of the local police department.

Chatham Police Department is not working with any soliciting agency. Currently there are no authorized or approved solicitors doing business in Chatham at this time.
Currently, there have been no reported losses, or victims to any scam at this time.
The department reminds all residents not to release any personal information to any telephone or computer request, unless the agency is known to you. Any professional agency that notifies you for any business should not have to ask you for any personal information.
Report any suspicious activity to the police department or to the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General at: http://www.mass.gov/ago.

Chatham police: Beware of scam - - Wicked Local Chatham

Top 10 ways to deal with the Internet's biggest morons

Anyone who's spent a few minutes on the internet can tell you its full of unsavory folk. Some are jerks that incite arguments and hate, while others could be our best friends that just don't know how to handle themselves on Facebook. Whatever the case, here are our top 10 tips for dealing with less considerate internet citizens.
10. Learn to spot fake product reviews
Online shopping is awesome, particularly because of the ability to read reviews on any given product before you buy. Some people are upstanding folk and leave good, well thought-out reviews — but some product manufacturers leave their own fake reviews to try and inflate their product's rating. So how can you spot the fake reviews from the real ones? It isn't as hard as you think: extremely positive language is often a good indicator, as is overuse of first-person comments. Check out this list of things to watch out for, as well as some of the new techniques manufacturers have been employing. Hopefully, armed with the right knowledge, you won't get duped.
9. Destroy cheaters in online games
If you've ever played video games online, you probably already know to just turn off your headset unless you want to hear loads of prepubescent racial slurs. But what about the gamers that take it a step further and actually cheat? The best you can do as a player is report cheaters to the moderators of your chosen server. However, you can also make sure you're playing on a server that makes use of anti-cheating measures like Valve's Anti-Cheat System or PunkBuster (some games will even require it to play on their official servers). Just remember that if you're getting owned by a specific player, it doesn't mean they're cheating. Before you go accusing people, make sure you don't just suck first.
8. Avoid getting tricked by scammers
Online scammers are always coming up with new ways to try and trick you into opening your wallet, and the only way to avoid it is to recognize the signs. Most of you already know the obvious tips: don't ever give out your password, don't buy anything from an email you didn't ask for, and don't click any links from your bank or financial institution — type in the address yourself. For the more advanced, check out this list of browser tweaks that can help you out. If you're buying or selling stuff on a site like eBay or Craigslist, you'll need to be extra vigilant since you're dealing directly with other people. Check out our guides to avoiding scams when buying or selling, as well as how to avoid getting duped on Craigslist.
7. Filter annoying email forwards
Some of your spammy email may not be scammers at all, but some of your closest friends and relatives. If you're sick of getting every joke, political rant, and cat picture that your aunt Bertha finds funny, you can set up a simple email filter to avoid them. Of course, before you go to such drastic measures, you should probably ask them to stop and explain why it's bad etiquette, but if they won't hear you out, this is a simple and effective solution.
6. Stop the spread of malware
The tech savvy users among you might be good at avoiding malware — you don't click on suspicious links from your friends, you run good antivirus software, and so on. Unfortunately, your less savvy friends probably don't realize when they've spread malware, or how to stop it, and that's where you come in. You may not be able to deal with the moron that wrote the malware, but you can stop the spread by helping your less tech-savvy friend. Help them clean up their computer, and use that opportunity to teach them how to best avoid malware. Remember that you aren't the only one getting suspicious links from them — if you can help one person avoid getting tricked, you can help their entire contact list from getting future links.
5. Block offensive Internet comments
Every site has its fair share of assclowns, but some sites are known for having downright useless comment sections (I'm looking at you, YouTube). Luckily, you can clean up those sites with a few well-placed browser extensions. Comment Snob, for example, lets you filter out certain words, comments in all caps, excessive punctuation, profanity, and other annoyances, while CommentBlocker just gets rid of a site's comments altogether. It's up to you how heavily you want to block comments, but it's a great way to avoid the stuff that gets your blood boiling.
4. Handle the crazies on Facebook on Twitter
 Whether they're anonymous subscribers or your best friends, sometimes discussions on Facebook and Twitter can get out of hand. If one of your friends or followers is really ticking you off, we've shared a few strategies for dealing with them — whether it's diffusing the situation with humor or politely telling them to shut up. If you want to take more drastic measures, you can filter out posts containing certain words, which is particularly useful during election season. Intelligent discussion is great ... but "I'm moving to Canada" posts are just annoying.
3. Learn to argue without bringing out the worst in people
Sometimes you just can't help yourself, and you get into an argument with someone on the internet. As bad an idea as this is, there are some things you can do to avoid coming off as a troll (and thus avoid bringing out the troll in everyone else). You can also try and sound like you know what you're talking about even when you don't, but on the internet, that's a recipe for disaster, and you'll lose an already impossible-to-win argument. When you realize you've made a mistake, be sure to read up on how to get out of an argument with an irrational person. You'll need it.
2. Keep hackers at bay with good security
Sometimes it seems like everyone's out to get you online, and even if you aren't falling for phishing schemes and other scams, someone can always hack into your accounts. Strong passwords aren't enough to keep them out, either — you'll need to make sure you've protected yourself on all sides in addition to having a strong, unique password for every site. Read up on our best security practices for more information. Even if you find security inconvenient, there's a lot you can do to keep yourself protected.
1. Just stop caring about trolls and get on with your life
The absolute best way to avoid the leagues of morons on the internet — particularly the troll variety — is to just ignore them. They aren't attacking you, they're attacking boredom, and they're hardly worth the energy of even engaging, particularly because that's exactly what they want. If you get locked in, you can weasel your way out with dignity, but the more you realize they aren't worth the effort, the happier you'll be.

Top 10 ways to deal with the Internet's biggest morons - Digital Life

Scam Alert: Beware of CitiBank Phishing Scams | AllClear ID

A brand new scam that we’ve found with our customers involves phishing phone calls has now been popping up.  The victim will receive several phone calls pretending to be from Citibank.  They will leave a voice mail asking for a call back to discuss “your Citibank account”.  These phone calls will be sent out by the thousands, and at least a few of them will reach actual Citibank customers.  When the victim calls back the number provided, they hear a recording that sounds identical to the recording you would hear when you call the real Citibank.  It will say “Thank you for calling Citi cards, servicing Citi and AT&T Universal card accounts.  For assistance in English press one.” “This call may be monitored and recorded for quality assurance. “  It will then ask you “to expedite the handling of your call by typing in your 16 digit account number”.  Once you have typed it in, the phone disconnects.  Now the scammers have taken your credit card information and soon after will be maxing out your account.
To protect against either of these types of scams, just always remember that legitimate companies do not do business this way.  If you ever receive an email or phone call saying that there is a problem with one of your accounts, do not follow the steps that you are instructed to follow.  Instead, call the phone number listed on the back of your credit or debit card.  The customer service representative on the other end will be able to tell you if there is actually a problem with your account.


Scam Alert: Beware of CitiBank Phishing Scams | AllClear ID

Have You Been Scammed?‏ Allen West for Congress scam sites

Please find a special message from our paid sponsor, Allen West for Congress. Sponsorships like this help to allow us to continue to send you my commentary free of charge but do not necessarily reflect my views. In addition to our sponsor's message, I have provided you with my commentary from the Huckabee Report yesterday and information about my show on Fox and my radio show which airs weekdays on over 200 stations nationwide and is broadcast 24/7 on my website. As always, I appreciate your support. - Mike Huckabee Fellow Conservative, If you want to help Allen West get re-elected, I have good news and I have bad news for you. The good news is that Congressman West’s opponent, Patrick Murphy, is getting desperate. Murphy’s support for the failed stimulus,  Obamacare, and his past trouble with the law have him on the ropes. Congressman West is leading in the polls but we need your help to keep it that way.    The bad news is that in an effort to line their own pockets and get rich quick, many groups have sprung up across the country pretending to raise money for Congressman West’s re-election. These groups are running misleading advertising, aimed at tricking grassroots activists into thinking they are giving directly to the campaign when in fact the donations they are making go straight into these groups' pockets.  None of it is spent to help Congressman West. Rest assured, our attorneys are looking into the matter but these groups have undoubtedly taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting donors.  Here’s an example of an incredibly misleading search ad from a group that even purchased a misleading domain name. You have to look closely to see.  If you have been tricked by these groups, the law says you may write them a letter and request your money back. Some of these groups include: CAPE PAC,  Conservative Strikeforce, Republican Majority Campaign, and Patriot Super PAC. We will win this race, but we need your help to do so. Will you donate to the campaign here? Thanks for your support, Chris LaCivita Senior Strategist Allen West for Congress P.S. Please let your friends, family, and other activists know that unless it is on our official website http://www.allenwestforcongress.com , the money is not going to the West campaign. Please donate what you can here.