I might well consider retiring based on the latest email to land in my inbox informing me I’ve won the yahoo lottery and am now the beneficiary of one million sterling. Wow! And the amazing thing is I didn’t even enter the lottery. All I have to do is supply my bank account details, together with my address and interestingly the also want a copy of my passport and driving license. The address is an English one so I guess if I didn’t know better what could I lose by replying?
The answer: My identity and probably every last penny I own.
This latest offer comes on top of the two I received recently: one telling me I won the Coco Cola Olympics 2012 lottery and the other one telling me a long lost cousin might have left me money. This is just a sample of the scams currently circulating the internet and replying or engaging with them can cost you a fortune. Below I’ve outlined some of the more prevalent scams. In all cases the advice is not to engage in any way with the scammers.
Scam No 1. Fake Calls From Microsoft or Anti-virus Company.
This particular scam begins with a telephone call from an individual telling you that Microsoft or some other company has detected a problem with your computer. The scammer will try to scare you and perhaps may suggest you are virus infected, your computer has been hacked, or some other problem which in may cases leads people to follow the scammers instructions.
Fact: Neither Microsoft nor any other anti-virus or software company will ever contact you by phone to tell you that you are virus infected or have been hacked.
Action: If you receive one of these calls simply hang up the phone. Do not engage with the scammer. Remember he does this for a living and is well used to conning people.
Scam No 2. Free Anti-virus /System Checks On The Internet.
This is probably the most lucrative scam out there and I’ve seen cases of people conned out of 80 euro, and more by these people. It begins with you downloading so called free anti-virus or free system health checks and ends with fake messages telling you your machine is virus infected, hacked, cracked and just about to explode!
Action: Call me (preferably!) or another professional computer technician and get expert help or you’ll end up with a disabled machine.
Showing posts with label internet scams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internet scams. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Friday, September 24, 2010
Latest Internet Scams
Latest Internet Scams
This month’s article deals with two of the latest internet scams and how you can avoid getting stung by them. Both scams outlined are active and in use within Ireland.
Scam No 1 – Email From Someone You Know In Trouble
This scam is delivered via email and is an attempt to get you to wire money to a relative or friend in trouble. The Subject will be URGENT HELP!!! And will appear to be from someone you know. Here is an extract from one such scam email.
I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, I’m sorry i didn't inform you about my trip, I had a trip to the SPAIN and a bizarre thing happened to me. I was mugged at a gun point last night, it happened at the park of the Hotel were i lodged but thank God i wasn't hurt, all cash, credit card and cell-phone were stolen off me...but luckily for me i still have my life and passports with me, I was able to make contact with the Police and i was directed to the Embassy, but they seems to be taking things too slow.
I need your help so urgently.. My flight leaves pretty soon but i am having problems sorting out the hotel bills I need a quick loan to get things fixed out here, I promise to refund as soon as i get back home.. Please reply asap. So i can tell you what to do and how to get the money to me.
Hope to read from you soon.
Carmel
Action: Delete this email when you receive it and if you recognize the name it is a good idea to let them know that there is a good possibility their pc is infected and needs to be checked by a qualified technician.
Scam No 2 – Unsolicited Phone Call Offering To Fix Your Computer
The caller will claim to be from Microsoft or some other fairly well known computer company and will tell you that your computer has been identified as having a problem, being the source of a virus or some other defect. The caller will offer to connect and repair the machine over the internet. Once connected they will secretly infect the machine with a virus or spyware and then solicit payment.
This scam can result in you paying out hundreds of euro before you realize you’ve been scammed.
Action: Hang up the phone, turn off your computer and seek professional technical assistance immediately as there is a possibility your pc security has been compromised.
Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981. He can be contacted above for advice and repairs.
This month’s article deals with two of the latest internet scams and how you can avoid getting stung by them. Both scams outlined are active and in use within Ireland.
Scam No 1 – Email From Someone You Know In Trouble
This scam is delivered via email and is an attempt to get you to wire money to a relative or friend in trouble. The Subject will be URGENT HELP!!! And will appear to be from someone you know. Here is an extract from one such scam email.
I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, I’m sorry i didn't inform you about my trip, I had a trip to the SPAIN and a bizarre thing happened to me. I was mugged at a gun point last night, it happened at the park of the Hotel were i lodged but thank God i wasn't hurt, all cash, credit card and cell-phone were stolen off me...but luckily for me i still have my life and passports with me, I was able to make contact with the Police and i was directed to the Embassy, but they seems to be taking things too slow.
I need your help so urgently.. My flight leaves pretty soon but i am having problems sorting out the hotel bills I need a quick loan to get things fixed out here, I promise to refund as soon as i get back home.. Please reply asap. So i can tell you what to do and how to get the money to me.
Hope to read from you soon.
Carmel
Action: Delete this email when you receive it and if you recognize the name it is a good idea to let them know that there is a good possibility their pc is infected and needs to be checked by a qualified technician.
Scam No 2 – Unsolicited Phone Call Offering To Fix Your Computer
The caller will claim to be from Microsoft or some other fairly well known computer company and will tell you that your computer has been identified as having a problem, being the source of a virus or some other defect. The caller will offer to connect and repair the machine over the internet. Once connected they will secretly infect the machine with a virus or spyware and then solicit payment.
This scam can result in you paying out hundreds of euro before you realize you’ve been scammed.
Action: Hang up the phone, turn off your computer and seek professional technical assistance immediately as there is a possibility your pc security has been compromised.
Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981. He can be contacted above for advice and repairs.
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