Top 3 Scams you need to be aware of

Considering the extensive use of the Internet and how the Internet community is being troubled by online scams, it is only prudent that we take closer look at the most vicious scams to put a lid on them. Each of these scams operates differently and has different motives making it difficult to wipe them out completely, but better information about them can help you prevent them from penetrating your space.
 
1.    Nigerian 419:
It is a perennial number one dubious for duping people into believing that they will get a share of money that scammers claim is trapped in some country. They may contact you through emails and ask for money and bank account details to transfer the money. If you get deceived, they will rip off your money and then disappear.

2.    PayPal:
In the urgency to do away with an unessential item, people fall for this scam. The buyer usually is a scammer who not only shows keen interest on the item, but is willing to pay more than the asking price. He is mostly from a foreign country and may hold a fake PayPal account or not at all, which for the seller’s distress comes to light only after the item has been delivered.
 
3.    Free Trial:
Free trial version of a product to save money? Think again, because this scam ensures you end up paying much more than even the full version of the product. The scam begins with users not cancelling the trial version as cancellation notice is mentioned in an obscure fashion to avoid their notice. They are then billed on a monthly cycle. There is also the danger that they may misuse your banking information you shared with them.

TIPS : Protect Yourself from Cyber Frauds

Tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud:

• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) e-mail.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
• Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. Scan the attachments for viruses if possible.
• Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.
• Always compare the link in the e-mail with the link to which you are directed and determine if they match and will lead you to a legitimate site.
• Log directly onto the official website for the business identified in the e-mail, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail. If the e-mail appears to be from your bank, credit card issuer, or other company you deal with frequently, your statements or official correspondence from the business will provide the proper contact information.
• Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if the e-mail is genuine.
• If you are asked to act quickly, or there is an emergency, it may be a scam. Fraudsters create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly.
• Verify any requests for personal information from any business or financial institution by contacting them using the main contact information.
• Remember if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

E-Mails Containing Malware Sent to Businesses Concerning Their Online Job Postings

Recent FBI analysis reveals that cyber criminals engaging in ACH/wire transfer fraud have targeted businesses by responding via e-mail to employment opportunities posted online.

Recently, more than $150,000 was stolen from a U.S. business via unauthorized wire transfer as a result of an e-mail the business received that contained malware. The malware was embedded in an e-mail response to a job posting the business placed on an employment website and allowed the attacker to obtain the online banking credentials of the person who was authorized to conduct financial transactions within the company. The malicious actor changed the account settings to allow the sending of wire transfers, one to the Ukraine and two to domestic accounts. The malware was identified as a Bredolab variant, svrwsc.exe. This malware was connected to the ZeuS/Zbot Trojan, which is commonly used by cyber criminals to defraud U.S. businesses.

The FBI recommends that potential employers remain vigilant in opening the e-mails of prospective employees. Running a virus scan prior to opening any e-mail attachments may provide an added layer of security against this type of attack. The FBI also recommends that businesses use separate computer systems to conduct financial transactions.

For more information on this type of fraud and prevention tips, please refer to previous public service announcements at the links below:

    * http://www.ic3.gov/media/2010/CorporateAccountTakeOver.pdf
    * http://www.ic3.gov/media/2010/WorkAtHome.pdf
    * http://www.ic3.gov/media/2009/091103.aspx

Anyone who believes they have been a target this type of attack should immediately contact their financial institutions and 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 IC3 also uses complaint information to identify emerging trends and patterns.

Source : http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety

Scammers now devising iYogi Scam to get access to your personal data: Beware

From booking airline tickets to doing research, from academics to music, you name it, and the Internet is the go-to source for everything. The beauty of the Internet is that you get access to a vast pool of resources which the pre-Internet generation might never have even dreamed of. However, the downside of an all-powerful and omnipresent Internet is that it is now playing into the hands of unscrupulous elements who device malicious scams to dupe you, a prime example being the iYogi scam.

If you are yet to come across the iYogi scam, don’t get misled by the mention of iyogi in the scam. For, it is the scammers exploiting the name of the company to fulfill their perverse needs without the consent and knowledge of the company. Also, iYogi is just one of the many establishments exploited by these scammers; you must by now be familiar with the charity scam where the perpetrators impersonate themselves as some reputed charity organizations and solicit money and other help. One reason why scams like the iYogi scam flourishes is that users sometimes don’t bother to do the background check of the organization mentioned in the e-mail, especially when it bears all the designs of a well-established company. The iYogi scam has been thriving on the ignorance of users and if you are well informed you can avoid it. Let me share my mother-in-law’s horrible encounter with these scammers.

My mother-in-law is a retired school teacher, and is very active on the Internet. For her, the Internet means the world and something that keeps her going. An active member of many online forums like forums for the elderly people, for animal rights, human rights violation and a couple others, she also has a close group of friends that she communicates on the Internet. So, if the Internet is down even for a day, it is enough to make her go crazy. It so happened that this guy, calling himself a technician, and representing himself as a representative of iyogi, one day called my mother-in-law and started claiming that her system is infected and that if it is not fixed immediately, it will be permanently damaged. It was sufficient to make her panic. Seizing the opportunity, the guy said that he can fix the problem but that he needs to have remote access to the system. And for that he needs her to go to a certain site and download and install specific software on the system. By this time, the guy was having a firm hold over her senses and convinced her to do as he wanted. Actually, she had no prior experience of such a situation and since the guy was also claiming to be a representative of iyogi, she thought that there were few reasons to suspect his bona fides. But, after the remote connection was established, and the technicians worked on her system, she had a lot of heart burn and tragedy. Many files on her system were missing and the computer became almost inoperable. Even some of her profiles were compromised. For, as we found out later, the guy was not associated with iYogi and remote tech support was the last thing on his mind. It was a case of iyogi scam, which is increasingly targeting unsuspecting and elderly people.

When we approached iYogi, they categorically denied having anything to do with the iyogi scam saying that they follow strict moral and ethical policies. We too found no evidence to prove otherwise. They though showed genuine concern that malicious elements are using the company’s name to harass and rip off people. Making it clear that they don’t make cold calls, it has urged people not to entertain remote tech support from people identifying themselves as iyogi technicians until and unless their credentials are verified.

In fact, to raise awareness among Internet users about the perils of Internet scams and to provide users tips on how to avoid these scams, iyogi has been publishing iYogi scam alerts and iYogi fraud alerts for quite some time now. You can get to know a great deal about the latest and most malicious scams out there like online software scam, iyogi scam, online video scam, online dating scams, and inheritance scams through these alerts. It can be a good way to understanding the modus operandi of the scammers that will help users like you and I stand in good stead.

If you have any questions or doubts about the services offered by iyogi or about the iYogi scam, sharing them on the iYogi complaints form (the company has its own complaints form) would be a good idea.  This way you can seek a direct clarification from the company regarding any activity that you feel suspicious about and that involves the company’s name.

Dos and don’ts when an imposter lends at your door representing himself as an iYogi technician:

• Before going too far into the discussion, figure out who you are dealing with. Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions you want to be sure. 
• Don’t let him control the conversation. It is the most conducive scenario for him to manipulate you. If he is too smart for you, take help of a responsible and intelligent friend. 
• Where did he find your number and how did he know that there is problem with your system? Let him explain.
• Study his offer, whether he is offering too much for too little. If yes, it is sure sign of danger. Immediately shut shop!
• If he is asking you to download programs from unheard of sites, or sites that are not dependable. Stop. First check his bona fides.

Remember, the premise ‘Prevention is better than cure’ equally applies to iYogi scam!

Top Five Online Scams

Here's a list of the Top 5 scams and schemes you're most likely to find on internet.

1. Auction Fraud
The setup: Online auction fraud accounts for three-quarters of all complaints registered with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (formerly the Internet Fraud Complaint Center). There are many types of eBay chicanery, but the most common one is where you send in your money and get nothing but grief in return.

2. Phishing Scams
The setup: You receive an e-mail that looks like it came from your bank, warning you about identity theft and asking that you log in and verify your account information. The message says that if you don't take action immediately, your account will be terminated.

The risk: Your account information will be sold to criminals, who'll use it to ruin your credit and drain your account. According to Gartner, phishing scammers took consumers (and their banks, who had to cover the charges) for $1.2 billion in 2003.

3. Nigerian 419 Letter
The setup: You receive an e-mail, usually written in screaming capital letters that starts out like this:
"DEAR SIR/MADAM: I REPRESENT THE RECENTLY DEPOSED MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE FOR NODAMBIZIA, WHO HAS EMBEZZLED 30 MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIS STARVING COUNTRYMEN AND NOW NEEDS TO GET IT OUT OF THE COUNTRY..."

4. Postal Forwarding/Reshipping Scam
The setup: You answer an online ad looking for a "correspondence manager." An offshore corporation that lacks a U.S. address or bank account needs someone to take goods sent to their address and reship them overseas. You may also be asked to accept wire transfers into your bank account, then transfer the money to your new boss's account. In each case, you collect a percentage of the goods or amount transferred.

5. "Congratulations, You've Won an Xbox (IPod, plasma TV, etc.)"
The setup: You get an e-mail telling you that you've won something cool--usually the hot gadget du jour, such as an Xbox or an IPod. All you need to do is visit a Web site and provide your debit card number and PIN to cover "shipping and handling" costs.

Source: pcworld.com

Facebook: Win free iPad Promotion Scam

If you received any email saying that you have won an iPad from a "hotmail" account, it is a scam. Also note that scammers may fake any email account, including name@facebook.com, or something similar.

All the names used in the email are FAKE; Here is an example for the same:

On Thu, Oct 15, 2011 at 8:33 AM, James **** <palm****@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hello Friend,


My name is James ****, Chief technology officer of Facebook. We have recently partnered up with the apple company for a one-time promotional event today; we are giving away complimentary Apple iPads to randomly selected individuals who have been fortunate to be chosen as one of our newest winners for today. We randomly selected users from our systems database and you have matched with our latest drawing.

 We have partnered up with Apple Inc to advertise their hottest product yet, the Apple iPad. Once again, we are running this promotion for one-day only. All you need to do is CLICK HERE to go to our web site made for this promotion and key in your email to receive yours for free. Simply make sure you enter your email so we can locate our records to ensure that we have reserved one for you. That is it!

Congrats on winning a free Apple iPad2. In case you have any question or concerns, feel free to e-mail me back. However, you should claim your free iPad 1st to ensure one will be set-aside for you before the deadline ends. We do understand that you may possibly not receive this email until after the deadline, but, we suggest you check out the website and enter your email to see if we still have yours on hold, which we often-times do because others have not claimed theirs in time.

James
CTO, Facebook

Fake Scam Steve Jobs Charitable Foundation

If you received an email from "Steve Jobs Charitable Foundation", it is a scam. The email, written in poor English, asked for donation to help young web coders. There is no such "charitable trust".

Other scams in the past 2 - 3 weeks after Steve Jobs death include an announcement about giving away free iPads in remembrance of Steve Jobs. The main objective to this scam is to drive traffic to the website, and when you click to such links you’ll be asked to fill surveys online to get free iPad.

It is not uncommon for criminals and cyber-crooks to take advantage of title-grabbing events to spread their creations and affect the maximum number of victims possible in a short period of time.

These scams work by tricking users into visiting websites where they are told they have won a valuable prize, such as an iPad, an iPhone or apple products. Obviously, the unsuspecting victim will never get the prize, but rather a series of costly spam messages. In addition, malicious websites like these leverage geo-location data to display messages in different languages depending on the user's location.

Please stay away from such scams like Fake Steve Jobs Charitable Foundation Scam. Have safe internet browsing and stay away from such scammers online.

Good Luck