scams

 

 

 

Archive 8

 
 


Millionaire Contest

There is a fraudulent email circulating, allegedly from The Oprah Winfrey Show, notifying you of your nomination for the 'Oprah Millionaire Contest Show.'

To participate, you are requested to mail your contact information such as full name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Verified contestants are then required to purchase airfare and a ticket to attend The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as complete a forthcoming contest form containing personal questions.

As a contestant you are then promised a seat for The Oprah Winfrey Show and asked to provide your responses to the personal questions for a chance to win a million dollars.

You should always be on the alert for unsolicited e-mails. Do not open unsolicited e-mails or click on any embedded links, as they may contain viruses or malware. Providing your personally identifiable information will compromise your identity!



Twist on Vehicle Sale Scams

The FBI is receiving reports of people who have been victimized while attempting to purchase vehicles through the Internet. The victims find attractively priced vehicles advertised at different Internet classified ad sites.

 
Most of the scams include some type of third-party vehicle protection program to ensure a safe transaction. The victims then receive convincing e-mails from the phony vehicle protection program, and are then directed to send either the full payment, or a percentage of the payment, to the third-party agent via a wire payment service.

No vehicles are ever delivered.

In a new twist, scammers are posing as members of the United States military. The fictitious military personnel in the scam have either been sent to a foreign country to improve military relations, or they need to sell a vehicle quickly and cheaply because of their upcoming deployment to either Iraq or Afghanistan.

You are advised to do as much due diligence as possible before purchasing vehicles advertised online.




Celebrity Scams

Scammers are capitalising on the recent media coverage of celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

You may receive an email claiming to have images, video and songs as a tribute to the celebrities. The attachments contain viruses and spyware onto your computer or removable drives if that is where you save them.  Another email variation contains a link to the images, video and songs.

Some of this malicious software [malware] is designed to steal personal information from your computer through accessing your files, or by monitoring your keystrokes [using keylogger software] and sending your credit card information and passwords back to the scammers.

Remember: DON’T open emails from people you don't know, and don't open attachments or click on links in emails from people you don't know.

 

Swine flu scams

Be on the look out for scammers trying to profit from the recent swine flu health threat.

Cyber criminals are sending billions of spam emails mentioning swine flu to trick people into opening messages. Spammers are exploiting the virus to sell fake pharmaceuticals or infect computers with malicious software.

Scammers have created fake websites to provide information about swine flu and to sell pills or survival kits. The scammers may also try to trick people into sending money or providing personal information.   

Remember not to open spam emails. You are also advised not to send money or to provide personal details to people you don’t know and trust.

 

Scam Email

Currently there is a spam e-mail being circulated claiming to be from the former CBP Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski. This follows several fraudulent emails recently that are trying to defraud you using the name and reputation of a federal government official to create an air of authenticity.

The content of this spam e-mail indicates the CBP has stopped a Diplomat who is carrying a consignment to be delivered to your residence. This consignment allegedly contains millions of dollars, which is stated to be an inheritance for you.

As is typical with these type of 'your chance to get rich quick' scams, this e-mail advises you that you will be permitted to access this inheritance once you have given the sender of the e-mail your personal information.

The U.S. CBP does not send unsolicited e-mails. You should not respond to unsolicited e-mails or click on any embedded links, as they may contain viruses or malware.

It is imperative that you guard your personally identifiable information such as date of birth, credit card numbers, social security number, and bank account numbers. Providing this information will compromise your identity.

 

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