E Mail « id theft fraud prevention

May 17, 2010

Staples Business Depot ID Theft Crime Stoppers/Internet Talk-Rexdale

Filed under: Legal Professional — Tags: 3 Ways, Crime Stoppers, Crimes, E Mail, Focus, Gang Prevention, Id Theft Prevention, Internet Crime, Irene, Queen, Staples Business Depot, Staples Store, Tor, Toronto, Youth Engagement — admin @ 4:33 pm

222TIPSCommunity asked:

Crime Stoppers / Internet talk with focus on ID Theft Prevention, Saturday Feb 28/09 at the Rexdale Staples/Business Depot store, 180 Queen’s Plate Drive, Toronto Thank you to Irene.. the store manager for organizing and promoting the event. Store tel# 416-749-9932 E-Mail: s012mgr@busdep.com “Trust and Text” Help PREVENT and solve crime together 3 ways to submit an anonymous tip to help police prevent or solve a crime anonymously: Talk: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) Type: 222tips.com Text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637) Appeals for information to solve cases: YouTube.com Youth Engagement YouTube.com YouTube.com Gang Prevention/Intervention Info: NoToGangs.org http

Lester

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August 13, 2009

The Top Five Ways To Protect Yourself From Online Fraud

Filed under: Security — Tags: Bank Cards, Bank Fraud, Banking Services, Card Id, Computer Software Programs, Credit Card Details, Credit Card Payments, E Mail, Finance Charges, Frauds, Fraudsters, Irregularity, Key Logging, Mail Fraud, Malicious Computer — admin @ 2:12 am

Stacey Beattie asked:

Susan Littlegate has been a victim of online fraud not once but twice. In September last year her debit card was used in bank fraud transactions in Brazil, on the over side of the world. Luckily her bank spotted the irregularity of the transaction and cancelled it. The second time she was simply online shopping when her bank card was refused. Upon checking her bank statement her balance had been wiped to zero – her card had been ‘cloned’ and her bank account emptied.

When these situations occur it can be devastating. After Susan’s second experience of bank card online fraud it took well over a month for her bank to retrieve the money, resulting in finance charges for her unpaid mortgage and credit card payments.

It begs the question: – “How would you manage a month with no access your bank funds”?

Rise In Online Bank Fraud

Online bank fraud is on the up and incidents in 2008 alone totalled a staggering £52.5 million in the UK alone.

Nearly 15m people in the UK use the internet for finance and banking services and the most significant rise in online fraud is when criminals take over someone’s bank account through card ID theft with losses up by 39% in 2008.

Online Fraud Tactics

Online fraudsters are known to use a device called key logging. It is software that tracks what you type in order to collect bank passwords and credit card details. These malicious computer software programs usually find their way onto a computer when a user clicks on an unsolicited e-mail.

Another fraud tactic is ‘Phishing’ where an email is sent pretending to be from your bank asking you to click on a link which will take you to a fake website identical to your own bank site and ask you to confirm your personal bank finance details.

‘Chip and pin’ bank cards were introduced by UK banks in 2004 and proved to be successful in lowering the amount of banking frauds but as online banking has

become increasing popular, with consumers taking advantage of the chance to bank from their armchairs, online bank fraud has started to rise again.

Protecting Yourself

Despite the large number of internet users many have no idea how to protect themselves online. In order to bank safe online it is essential you play your part in making sure you do not become a fraud victim.

Here are five online finance recommendations to help protect yourself against online fraud: -

1        One in four people do not carry out any checks to see whether a site is safe and secure before carrying out a transaction. It is essential that you stay vigilant and never relax your guard while shopping online or carrying out financial transactions. Free anti fraud software is available by McAfee to check whether a site is safe before you click on it. Make sure your firewalls are always turned on and you antivirus software is always kept up to date.

2        Always make sure you log out of sites when you have finished your shopping/transactions. If you stay logged in it means your financial details are available to others.

3        Don’t open emails from people that you do not know. Do not click on a link especially if it is in the email and it asks you for personal finance bank details. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of the email do not respond. Beware of emails which offer you a prize or a discount which requires you to choose a user id and password (as many people use the same details for many bank accounts and thieves will collect these details and try to use them). Any emails which have a sense of urgency or ask you for personal finance or bank details be wary of.

4        It is advised that you change your online bank password every 60 days. All sites that you have an account with will let you easily change your password usually by following a very simple and quick set of procedures. Changing your password regularly will help limit the accounts exposure and misuse, meaning less danger of online fraud. To make your password harder to guess use a mixture of upper case, lower case and number (as long as you can remember it!).

5        Stay in control of your money. The Eclipse prepaid MasterCard is a great way to do just that. The Eclipse card is not a credit card so you do not need to worry about debt or fraud and it is not debit card so it is in no way linked to your online bank account. You are not able to borrow money; you simply can only spend what you have loaded onto the card, meaning you are completely

in control of your money. As it is not linked to your online bank account it means people will not be able to fraudulently carry out any activities with your personal banking details. It literally takes seconds to top up your card either using your phone, wire transfer or online banking. You can also use cash to top up at the post office, Paypoint or using a top up pack.

Anyone in the UK who does fall victim of online fraud will have their money reimbursed as long as they have acted with ‘reasonable care’ and not in a fraudulent manner. If you do fall victim to online fraud there are many places where you can get help and advice, including: -

http://www.apacs.org.ukhttp://www.cardwatch.org.uk/

http://www.eclipsecard.co.uk/eclipse_card/Online_security

Frank

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May 28, 2009

How do I block spam and marketting eMails?

Filed under: Spam & Bulk Mail — Tags: Block Emails, Block Spam, E Mail, Id Theft, Money, Telemarketting — admin @ 5:04 am

king’e asked:

I get close 20 or more eMails per day. they take alot of time to sort out the important ones and 4/5ths of them are people trying to sell me this or that.I feel there is a network passing the e_mail around among some people who scammed me money in telemarketting. Is this a kind of ID theft? How do I get out without having to change the eMail address?

Gladys

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May 12, 2009

Gaming, Social Sites and Other On-Line ID Theft Threats

Filed under: Law — Tags: E Mail, Easy Prey, Facebook, Free Digital Camera, Friends On Line, Law Enforcement Officials, Line Communities, Line Id, Line Identity, Pop Ups, Security Issue, Serious Security, Thief, Ups, Young Kids — admin @ 10:45 am

Lisa Carey asked:

Law enforcement officials have entered on line chat groups and showed up at ball parks to show young kids how something as simple as a photo with a team uniform can lead child stalkers right to their ball field. The public has a heightened sense of protecting children on-line but adults are often just as easy prey when it comes to fraud and identity theft.

What are some other types of On-Line Identity Theft Threats

Pop Ups at Gaming Sites- You’ve Just Won!

It’s easy to get comfortable on your favorite gaming site. It’s hard to resist when a pop-up tells you that you’ve just won a free digital camera, an iPod or a gift card to a popular store if you just simply fill out this claim form. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. At best, you’ll be asked to buy something else to qualify what’s worse, it may be an identity thief. Identity thieves can use the same technology other marketers do and once you fill out the registration form, they can use your information to get credit cards, mortgages or utilities.

Spearphishing in E-mails- Important Notices

Spearphishing is a method of con in which consumers receive what looks like a very legitimate e-mail from their bank warning of a serious security issue and asking customers to type in their log in and password to rectify this breach. Regardless of how professional and insistent the e-mail appears, don’t do it. If a bank becomes aware of a security issue you will be notified by mail, not e-mail. If this is an identity thief that is spearphishing, following through will give them access to wipe out your bank account.

On-line Communities -So Many Friends

On-line communities are very popular and can be a lot of fun. While you may “feel” that you’re interacting with just a few people, remember that Facebook, for example, has over 80 million active members.

Tips to Avoid Identity Theft in On-Line Communities

1. Never give out your birthday. It seems simple and fun to get all those good wishes but your birth date combined with other information can open the door for identity thieves to come into your life.

2. Be very careful of the photos you post. Is your house number showing in the background? Remember the example above about team uniforms? This would also apply to work uniforms. Look at each photo and think, what can this tell someone about me?

3. Never let your phone number be exposed. Using a reverse search, your phone number also gives away your address. Most people wouldn’t post their phone number on a profile page but it is easy to be lured to in a community chat.

The world-wide web opens a lot of doors for work and fun but remember there’s no “eraser” on the internet pencil. Be very careful about e-mails or promotions you respond to and what you share on profile pages and on discussion boards because you can’t take it back and identity thieves are all ears.

Mildred

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