Scams (mainly) on the Internet
From people posing as widows to those pretending to be a Bank, online frauds are increasing in frequency. Here are the most common and how to avoid them.
A form of fraud, known as "phishing", has made headlines recently, with Barclays, Lloyds TSB, MBNA, Natwest, Citibank and even the Bank of England affected.
Barclays customers were sent emails saying that the bank was making technical changes. There was a link to go to a page where customers were prompted to enter their account details.
Lloyds TSB customers received emails saying their accounts would be cancelled due to a new security measure unless they went to a site and entered their details.
The fraudsters set up “spoof” email addresses that look like they could credibly belong to the institution. Once they have received account details, they siphon money out via “mules” – people with UK accounts – to their own accounts abroad. These scams are believed to be run from Eastern Europe.
Natwest, Halifax and Nationwide customers were sent emails saying they needed to verify their accounts by going to a site and entering their details. In addition, an email supposedly sent from the Bank of England urged people to download anti-virus software.
Here are some other examples of online scams:
The "Nigerian" frauds
The fraudsters send emails to people telling them they can release a fortune that is tied up in an African bank by allowing them to transfer the money into the person’s account. In return, the person will be given a share of the profits.
Another variation on this is an email supposedly from the widow of a high-ranking Nigerian official pleading for the recipient to help her access her late husband’s money. Again, the recipient is asked for their bank details.
The catch with these scams is, of course, that rather than money going into the person’s bank account, the fraudsters clean out them out using the details sent to them.
Lottery and prize draw wins
Emails are sent out to people telling them they have won a lottery or prize draw and they need to send a payment for “administrative” or some other purpose in order to claim their winnings. Of course, there is no prize...
A form of fraud, known as "phishing", has made headlines recently, with Barclays, Lloyds TSB, MBNA, Natwest, Citibank and even the Bank of England affected.
Barclays customers were sent emails saying that the bank was making technical changes. There was a link to go to a page where customers were prompted to enter their account details.
Lloyds TSB customers received emails saying their accounts would be cancelled due to a new security measure unless they went to a site and entered their details.
The fraudsters set up “spoof” email addresses that look like they could credibly belong to the institution. Once they have received account details, they siphon money out via “mules” – people with UK accounts – to their own accounts abroad. These scams are believed to be run from Eastern Europe.
Natwest, Halifax and Nationwide customers were sent emails saying they needed to verify their accounts by going to a site and entering their details. In addition, an email supposedly sent from the Bank of England urged people to download anti-virus software.
Here are some other examples of online scams:
The "Nigerian" frauds
The fraudsters send emails to people telling them they can release a fortune that is tied up in an African bank by allowing them to transfer the money into the person’s account. In return, the person will be given a share of the profits.
Another variation on this is an email supposedly from the widow of a high-ranking Nigerian official pleading for the recipient to help her access her late husband’s money. Again, the recipient is asked for their bank details.
The catch with these scams is, of course, that rather than money going into the person’s bank account, the fraudsters clean out them out using the details sent to them.
Lottery and prize draw wins
Emails are sent out to people telling them they have won a lottery or prize draw and they need to send a payment for “administrative” or some other purpose in order to claim their winnings. Of course, there is no prize...
How to protect yourself.
If you receive an email asking you to submit your personal financial details, it is certain to be a scam. Banks never ask for personal details in email communication. If the email appears to have come from your bank, contact them to report it.
Do not reveal your details to anyone you do not know. If it sounds too good to be true, then unfortunately it probably is...
Update your Web Browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc) to the latest version - all now incorporate anti-phishing measures.
Ensure you have good Anti-virus, Anti-spyware and Firewall software installed - and KEEP IT UP TO DATE.
If you receive an email asking you to submit your personal financial details, it is certain to be a scam. Banks never ask for personal details in email communication. If the email appears to have come from your bank, contact them to report it.
Do not reveal your details to anyone you do not know. If it sounds too good to be true, then unfortunately it probably is...
Update your Web Browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc) to the latest version - all now incorporate anti-phishing measures.
Ensure you have good Anti-virus, Anti-spyware and Firewall software installed - and KEEP IT UP TO DATE.
Emergency Telephone
112 (free)
112 (free)
Spanish, English and German spoken in many areas
Vecinos Cooperando
Neighbourhood Watch
Nachbarschaftswacht
Neighbourhood Watch
Nachbarschaftswacht
Help protect yourself and your email buddies.
Get familiar with www.snopes.com and/or www.truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.
1) Any time you see an E-Mail that says forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends, sign this petition, or you'll get bad luck, good luck, you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it, or whatever, it almost always has an E-Mail tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and E-Mails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' E-Mail addresses to use in SPAM E-Mails, or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus ....that's E-mail tracking and they're playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease - "how would you feel if that was your child"....E-mail Tracking!!! Ignore them and don't participate!
2) Almost all E-Mails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of E-Mail is, is a way to get names and tracking information for telemarketers and spammers.
Do your friends and family members a GREAT favour by sending this information to them; you will be providing a service to your friends, and will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam E-Mails in the future!
If you have been sending out (FORWARDING) the above kinds of E-Mail, now you know why you get so much SPAM! Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listings regardless how inviting they might sound!
And VERY importantly, when forwarding mail, PLEASE delete all the previous senders names and e-mail address before forwarding.
Get familiar with www.snopes.com and/or www.truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.
1) Any time you see an E-Mail that says forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends, sign this petition, or you'll get bad luck, good luck, you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it, or whatever, it almost always has an E-Mail tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and E-Mails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' E-Mail addresses to use in SPAM E-Mails, or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus ....that's E-mail tracking and they're playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease - "how would you feel if that was your child"....E-mail Tracking!!! Ignore them and don't participate!
2) Almost all E-Mails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of E-Mail is, is a way to get names and tracking information for telemarketers and spammers.
Do your friends and family members a GREAT favour by sending this information to them; you will be providing a service to your friends, and will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam E-Mails in the future!
If you have been sending out (FORWARDING) the above kinds of E-Mail, now you know why you get so much SPAM! Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listings regardless how inviting they might sound!
And VERY importantly, when forwarding mail, PLEASE delete all the previous senders names and e-mail address before forwarding.
