Spyware, viruses, & security : Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam?
- 4/25/08 11:55 AM
Call your bank directly
by caller1D - 5/1/08 10:21 PM In reply to: banking scam by applausesheltiesIf you get a call or message asking you to verify some purchases, make sure the caller reads you the info. You should never give out your info unless you initiated the call. If a message tells you to call b/c of suspiscious activity on your card, call your bank directly if you think it might be a scam. Your bank can verify whether there really is a problem.
Here are your tips
by Hoppman - 4/25/08 6:32 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Common sense, simple common sense. Nothing is free and if you aren't sure, type the companies url in your browser, don't click on links in email. It just blows my mind that people STILL get tricked by this $#!+.
vishing scams
by Old Coot - 4/25/08 7:14 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes I also have been bothered by that type of scam, but NEVER fell for it though, thank God.
Apart from the credit card and bank account scams,there is another one that is quite frequent in some areas. A recorded voice says very happily: "We're glad to advise you that you have won a trip to the Carribeams (or other kind or prize) PLEASE PRESS 9 for more details".
This time, if you press 9 on phone, you release your line to the caller and within a few hours your long distance phone bill will raise to the sky while someone or many, use your line for LD calls all over the world. THIS IS A THING TO REMEMBER. Authorities in Canada have widely posted or eMailed notices to that effect.
That my friends is for your information. Tell your friends
PS: Another one is to phone recorded numbers and when you answer the phone there is no one on the line... This is a scheme to establish the best time to have you answer the telephone and is used by telemarketing people to throw you their sales pitch, (yeah usually at meal time) One way to fool this computerized foolishness is to hit the * key on the phone 10 or 12 times and the puter goes nuts with no valid data to record.
Phishing Scam
by robert7649 - 4/25/08 7:42 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The only one I received that I know of said it was from ebay and that my account information had been compromised and to click on the link to enter my login ID and password. I guess it was IE7 that identified the page as a know phishing page.
Robert
Phone phishing
by YayaJanice51 - 4/25/08 7:45 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I get call I need to contact, a 800 as the warenty on my car is about to expire. LOL I drive a 1987 car! called the 800# and asked them to contimnue with my warenty, the guy asked me for this info on my car, I said hell you called me so you know all about it. Hong on them
email scams
by poorprincess - 4/25/08 8:14 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
To answer the queston on phishing scams is I just recently had one fro pch, from Britain, saying i won the lottery. I sent that email to pch.com and let them deal with it. Otherwise I do not give out my information on the internet about any of my personal information. I don't do you on the phone either. I am smarter than they think I am.
NO
by btljooz - 4/25/08 8:19 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I do NOT even open spam, no less read it!!! 
I do NOT download my e-mail to my computer. I use Web-based e-mail portals and services. 
I even have Outlook blocked by my firewall! Never even set it up to receive or send mail from. 
I have my telephone registered with both the US National AND my State's Do Not Call lists. Therefore I don't get many unwanted calls...less than 10 a year. I do what I outlined in response to the question that was asked about this. Read my answer here:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=291936&messageID=2755169#2755169
I have never been phished because...
by kstenbch - 4/25/08 9:33 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I began receiving emails some time ago from different banks about my account being compromised. I called each bank in question because I suspected it might be a scam. Why did I suspect a scam? Because the banks and credit card companies whose names were on the emails were for accounts at banks & credit cards that I did not have. I got my 1st such request of 2 years ago from 1st Tennessee here in Memphis, TN. I remember that phish attempt because I was denied an account there. When I finally got a phishing attempt from a bank where I did have an account, I called the telephone number I had for them from when I first opened the account. I repeat, I did not call the number from the email, nor did I click on the link to go to the fake website. My bank assured me, as have all of the other legitimate banks, that if my account were compromised, they would send me a letter in writing (not by telephone, cellular phone, or email), and I would be asked to come into the bank in person . In addition, the word is out on phishing in general; when you sign up for a legitimate account get some of their literature with legitimate names, address, telephone numbers, website URL's, and email addresses. If you receive an email or notice from the bank, the website they give you should match the ones in their literature. Second, if you receive an email or notice by phone of a change of information or merger, you can return to your financial institution to confirm the change and get literature with the new URL, etc. Finally, most web browsers including MS Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape, and Opera, have "phishing filters" that you should leave on and use. These filters will spot and block, alert, and blacklist most fake websites. Whenever you updated your browser or browsers, these filters will be updated also. In the end you must be a proactive consumer and use common sense; if you don't trust a website or do not think everything is on the up-and-up, leave or don't use the website. Ask the IT guy at work; ask the IT guy at the local electronics store; ask the IT guys at the local repair shop, and even ask the IT guys at Circuit City, Best Buy, or Walmart. People love when you ask about what they do & like sharing what they know. If you don't really know those guys, they can still confirm information. When you do suspect or find a scam, report it.
Maybe I have
by peter4012 - 4/25/08 10:01 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Someone comented on strange cell phone e-mails -- I don't bother with E-mails on my cell phone , but have recieved a couple of od messages, including one "from" a credit union were supposidly something was expiring --- never thought much about them - ignored them - they wern't for me regarding anything that concerned me (identifiable) -- the Net - I keep prety close reighns on my E-maail address - if I go on a limb I use another address - where unless I expect something I just regulaly delete all the garbage
Phishing; The do's and don'ts
by supersoj - 4/25/08 10:29 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It's really simple. Really.
Vishing:
1) The only reason a credit card company will call you, is because you owe them money. They will refer to you by name, and supply you with your' credit card company's name. In addition, you can ask your' credit card company to assign a voice password, which any person from that card company must use for you to know it's them, and you must use, so they know it's you. This is the important part. YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY WILL NOT CALL YOU, IF YOU CAN GET A BETTER INTEREST RATE, ETC. They add those memos in with your' bill. In addition, using Caller ID properly is very helpful.
For example, most Credit Card Companies show up as 866, or 888 numbers, and often show up as Unknown Name. However, the phone number is still there. I'm going to give you the hugest tip ever here.
CREDIT CARD COMPANIES OF VARIOUS KINDS OFTEN USE A 'MASK' NUMBER. ((example: 1-800-555-1212))
But perhaps the best thing, is to call them, and ask them to call you back. Then, when they do, check your' Caller-ID, and write down the number somewhere close to the phone. That way, when you see that number call again, you know, without question, that it actually IS your' credit card company. If it's any other number, tell them that this isn't the number they normally call from, and that you don't trust them enough to give out any personal information, and hang up IMMEDIATELY.
PHISHING:
Biggest, and simplest rule of thumb:
1) NEVER give out ANY banking information.
Companies like Paypal, first off, rarely send you e-mails on anything, except for reciepts of purchases, or sales. They also require you to log-in, and then submit an inter-site message, rather then relying on unsafe e-mails, that may end up in the spam folder.
In addition, Paypal addresses you BY NAME OR ACCOUNT NUMBER in any e-mail.
Do not reply to, follow links from, or otherwise do anything but delete any message that begins with the phrase:
"Dear Member"
Here's why:
Paypal, and pretty much any other company like paypal has an automated computer program which generates these e-mails. These automated programs automatically add in names, or account ID's.
2) You've won the lottery in some foreign country!
Right.
No.
Just no.
Here's why:
According to EVERY country's laws, rules, and regulations, while you can gamble((ie: slot machines, etc)), you are prohibitted from buying, or playing major lotteries((including State lotteries, or in Canada the 6/49 or BC49 or Super 7 are available only for Canadian Residents. The BC49 is only available to residents of British Columbia.)), and even if you DO win, you can't claim it, because you require to produce ID stating you are a valid member of that country.
3) Hi, this is >Insert Random website you visit regularily<. We're doing >Insert lame-ass excuse<, and need access to your account for >Insert secondary lame-ass excuse<.
Hotmail, Yahoo, or pretty much ANY company worth thier' weight in kilobytes will never e-mail you, asking for your' password. EVER.
Period.
4) This is my personal favorite trick:
Have two e-mail addresses.
Use one for registering for forums, facebook, myspace, or any place where your' e-mail address is part of your' user profile. There are 'virus' programs, that scan the entire internet, looking for e-mails to scam. Only give out the secondary e-mail to your' friends, or use it to register for Paypal. This way, if you get any e-mails from paypal to the first account, you know it's bogus, and since paypal is legally required to keep your' e-mail private, they are the only ones who know your' secondary e-mail address.
Just a few tips and tricks to help keep yourself safe.
HANGING UP is not the answer!!!!
by cuttingbanana - 4/25/08 11:55 PM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I work in a call center...don't hate me already, ok? We all have to earn a living somehow. There are 3 steps to get off of the phone lists.
1. Answer the phone politely! If you are rude they will make sure you are called back repeatedly.
2. Some are legit businesses and have done business with you in the past and are doing a follow-up call, this is a time to listen to what they have to say and you can voice your opinion about that service (+ or -).
3. If you do not want their service again, say no. Then you ask politely to be put on their "DO NOT CALL LIST". DO NOT just say "Don't call me again", or "No, thank you", or hang up, that will not do anything, they will call you again and again and again until you relent or someone else in your household says okay.
By law, in Canada, the company has thirty days in which to comply. You can ask how long will it take to get you out of the system. Most systems take about 5 business days. (unfortunately, you WILL get calls in those 5 days).
If you have never done business with the company you'd be surprised where they get your phone number.
1. Magazine Subscriptions
2. "Points" cards
3. Your local store that has you on their database to send you addressed sales flyers
4. Contest forms from the mall, trade shows and magazines
5. Rebates and mail-in offers
6. Surveys
7. Warranty Registrations
8. Information Requests
9. Any contract you agreed to and sign
10.Open house Registrations
11.Charities.
12.Petitions...etc., etc.
In short, anywhere you have put your name and address down with your phone number (or anyone in your household)!!!!!!!!. It does seem rude to refuse give out the info even if you don't want to do further business with them. I fill out the forms, but put false info on it so they CAN NOT contact me and ask for their card in case I do want to contact them in the future.
Do not assume that since you asked them to put you on THEIR "Do not call list" that you won't be on it again! (See above for new sources)
Do not have your children screen your calls for you! They do not even have to say anything, a simple "huh??" will suffice for a "yes" for most telemarketers!! Your example, (See above), will teach them the right way to answer a phone. Telemarketers don't ask if they are speaking to an adult or to someone who has a legal right to answer questions on the phone. The child may be innocently allowing a salesperson or others to your door...and then TRY to get rid of them!!!
Finally, there is an NEW Across-Canada Registry for the "Do not Call" list at INFO Canada, (it is another "Registry") but, as I understand it, it has not really started yet, and is really underfunded, has no legal strength or bite even so it may not even useful as of yet.
Just remember, be polite on the phone, don't put your name and telephone number on anything, and certainly don't give out the info on the phone or computer unless you are dealing with people you know. Protect yourself!
Been scammed once, figured out the signs
by Interpolnyc - 4/26/08 12:08 AM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Once apon a time I was horribly scammed, I thought that the person had reasonable evidence to suggest that they could be trusted for the transaction however I was horribly mistaken. After having posted a deal on craigslist (who deserve no blame what so ever) I soon got a hit from a person who seemed to want to purchase said item with no questions what so ever. I was a bit weary of making any deals that would not choose to meet in person but I recieved a relatively ligitimate looking email and sent the item to the location that was given by a label this person provided. After everything was sent and a "secured" payment was ensured I waited for my payment and to this day I still wait for that payment. At any rate, now I know better and I know that when it comes to some things a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Just remember to notice the little things, incorrect grammar usage,bland asking for trust, in general if your careful you can avoidbeing scammed.
Keyboard logging software.
by TreknologyNet - 4/26/08 12:28 AM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
A trojan file emailed my Paypal account details. I was only alerted to it when I received an email receipt from Paypal advising me of a transfer of $300 for the purchase of "I dunno". I notified Paypal, contacted my bank advising that the transfer was fraudulent and not to process (it's a bank, of course they processed it!), and it took about three months to get it all sorted out and reversed by which time my credit card was over the limit and a whole bunch of penalty fees had to be reversed as well.
I had a lovely scam played on me!
by henrybarnett - 4/26/08 1:41 AM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a holiday home to let and I got an email from a Dubai travel agent wanting to rent our villa. "OK please send me a deposit." "No we'll send the full amount" ($15,000 for a month) They sent $30,000 with a UK cheque from a well known company. They asked me to send the balance to a car hire company. I was by now suspicious! They pressed me to send the money as soon as possible but I insisted on waiting until the cheque cleared. This is where it is important to know that a cheque will show as "cleared" after four days on your account but can be "bounced" up to ten days later. Of course the cheque was from a stolen cheque book as I discovered when I phoned the company and checked the names of the happy holiday crooks! I gave the names of all concerned to the UK Police. I've had phishing emails as well but thought this scam should be mentioned as well.
Not a Victim - Yet!
by Ana Zor - 4/26/08 2:23 AM In reply to: Have you ever been the victim of a phishing or vishing scam? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I get alerts from my credit card companies, but I have learned to check the email address first before opening them, and I never respond to any of them. Several times a month I receive emails from a “legitimate” credit card company addressed to an email that I do not use for business. The first couple of times I called the cc company who denied generating these emails.
Caller ID stops me from simply picking up the telephone when I am occupied and susceptible to being duped.
The car warranty extension with all the proper information is one I get monthly from various companies via the USPS. The first one nearly got me, but since then I shred them.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
