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Archive 6
Fraudulent Email Claiming to be from the FBI
Fraudulent e-mails containing the
subject line "New DHS Report" have been circulating since August 15, 2009.
The e-mails claim to be from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and
the FBI Counterterrorism Division.
The e-mail text contains
information about "New Usama Bin Ladin Speech Directed to the People of
Europe," and has an attachment titled "audio.exe." The attachment is
purportedly an audio speech from Bin Ladin; however, it actually contains
malicious software intended to steal information from the recipient's
system.
A fraudulent e-mail message
claiming to contain a confidential FBI report titled "New Patterns in
Al-Qaeda Financing" has been circulating since August 15, 2009. The e-mail
has the subject line "Intelligence Bulletin No. 267," and contains an
attachment titled "bulletin.exe." This message, or similar messages, may
contain files that are harmful to the recipient’s system and may try to
steal user credentials.
A fraudulent e-mail, initially
appearing around June 16, 2009, claims to contain a confidential FBI report
from the FBI "Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate." The subject line of
the email is "RE: Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate," and contains an
attachment "reports.exe". This message and similar messages may contain a
file related to the "W32.Waledac" Trojan software, which is designed to
steal user authentication credentials or send spam messages.
DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS E-MAIL OR SIMILAR E-MAILS, IT IS A HOAX.
The FBI does not send unsolicited
e-mails or e-mail official reports. Consumers should not respond to any
unsolicited e-mails or click on any embedded links, as they may contain
viruses or malware.
Social Networking Scams
The Internet Crime Complaint Centre [IC3] has recently
released a report covering how scammers hijack accounts on social networking
sites and spread malicious software by using various techniques.
One technique involves the use of spam to promote
phishing sites, claiming there has been a violation of the terms of
agreement or some other type of issue which needs to be resolved. Other spam
entices users to download an application or view a video. Some spam appears
to be sent from users' "friends", giving the perception of being legitimate.
Once the user responds to the phishing site, downloads the application, or
clicks on the video link, their computer, telephone or other digital device
becomes infected.
Some of the malicious software installed gives the
scammers access to your profile and personal information. These programs
will automatically send messages to your "friends" list, instructing them to
download the new application too.
Infected users are often unknowingly spreading
additional malware by having infected Web sites posted on their Webpage
without their knowledge. Friends are then more likely to click on these
sites since they appear to be supported by their contacts.
How to Avoid the Social Networking Scams:
• Adjust Web site privacy settings. Some
networking sites have provided useful options to assist in adjusting these
settings to help protect your identity
• Be selective of your friends. Once selected, your
"friends" can access any information marked as "viewable by all friends"
• Disable options
and then open them one by one such as texting and photo sharing
capabilities. Users should consider how they want to use the social
networking site. If it is only to keep in touch with people then perhaps it
would be better to turn off the extra options which will not be used
• Be careful what you click on. Just because someone
posts a link or video to their "wall" does not mean it is safe
Each social networking site may
have different procedures on how to handle a hijacked or infected account;
therefore, you may want to reference their help or FAQ page for
instructions.
Virus Protection Scams
There is an increasing incidence
of 'scareware' surfacing on the Internet. You may have been browsing on
Internet sites when you received a pop-up window warning that your computer
has an infection or a warning flashing that offers a free scan to see if
your computer is infected. You may even receive the equivalent of a 'blue
screen of death' which advises your computer has crashed.
These are virus protection scams
that may offer to sell you software to remove the infection, or scam your
computer and remove it for you. The costs vary but generally fall in the
range of $30 -50.
However the scam arises if you
purchase the software as it doesn't work. When you download it, you may even
receive malicious software as part of the download. This software may try to
steal personal information and passwords, or it may install 'ransomware'
that makes some of your data unavailable until you pay a fee to receive the
unlock code.
It has been reported that there are over 16, 000 varieties of these
scareware programs who are trying to extract your money or personal
information.
You may receive this scareware in
various ways that can include a message offering what appears as a
legitimate update for software on your computer [such as a Flash player], by
clicking on fake links in emails, Google ads or hijacked web pages.
The end result is the same however
– you receive a warning with the option of a download. To complicate the
problem, even if you suspect it is a fake message, trying to escape can be
difficult. If you close the warning window, you may activate another one, or
worse, you may not be able to close the browser window or use your back
button!
To prevent finding yourself in
this situation:
• Ensure you have quality
internet security software that is updated regularly
• Ensure you schedule regular
scans of your computer, and if you think you have been infected, run a
full-system scan
• Don't click on pop-ups that
claim your computer is infected, or accept offers to scan your computer to
check it for viruses. Don't click on the 'no' option in the pop-up box – use
the 'X' in the top right corner, or if it doesn't work, right click on the
program icon in the taskbar and choose close. Failing that, simultaneously
press Control-Alt-Delete keys that will bring up the Windows Task Manager
and then select the browser and choose 'end task'.
Ponzi Schemes
The recession is causing a sharp rise in the number of
Ponzi schemes. This is due mainly to low
interest rates for investors causing them to look elsewhere for better
returns, and also workers losing their jobs and receiving a payoff from
their employer and then looking to invest that money.
In a Ponzi scheme, potential investors are attracted by
promises of very large returns or dividends over a very short period of
time, due either to skill of the investor, or the secret nature of the
investment.
And according to the Better Business Bureau, there are at
least 23,000 of them being promoted online in YouTube videos!
The returns are repaid, at least for a time, out of new
investors’ principal, not from profits. This can continue as long as new
investors line up with cash, and old investors don’t try to withdraw too
much of their money at once.
A few people invest in the scheme, then as news of the
offer spreads, more investors are drawn in. Usually there is no actual
investment involved, contrary to your understanding, just money being
shipped in from new investors to pay the earlier ones.
The scam will continue for as long as payments are
regularly made to 'earlier investors' to provide credibility. Those
fortunate few are known as 'songbirds' since they sing the praises of the
scam to others.
The goal of the scheme is to keep investors from knowing they are being
cheated for as long as possible, so more investors can be lured in.
The scheme can only continue for as long as new gullible investors can be
found.
Red Flags of Investment Scams
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It offers high rewards with little or no risk, or
'safe' or 'risk free', or 'guaranteed results'
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You are advised to take up the offer immediately or
you will lose the opportunity
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You have been selected from a small group for a
'private' offer
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There are few, if any details of the person or
company making the offer
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The offer arrives via unsolicited email [spam] and
promises huge results with no risk. Remember brokers and traders aren't
going to give away good tips for free
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An offer to share 'inside' information along with
pressure to invest before you can do any research
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