Security Information |
|
Avoiding Scams: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
A week or so ago, I received an inquiry from a man in Indonesia about buying multiple copies of certain items on my website. I immediately suspected fraud, so I explained that I only had one piece of each. The man, who wrote impeccable English, said that was fine. I asked why he wanted to buy so much money's worth of jewelry (it was around $250). He said it was for his wife and daughters. He then asked if he could email me the billing and shipping info instead of using the catalog. I told him the catalog was better, since it was more secure, and figured if he was a scammer, it would be too much work for him. No such luck. He was unusually together. He placed an order for the same items he had asked about (most scammers forget). I started allowing myself to feel happy about such a large order and the money that would bring. At the same time, I started researching shipping to Indonesia, as well as fraud protection, and found that a) Indonesia is second only to Nigeria in credit card fraud levels, and b) jewelry is prohibited to ship to Indonesia. Per suggestions on another site, I asked the customer for a CVV number, the bank listed on the credit card, and the customer service number on the card. He sent me the CVV and customer service number. He also said he had just received a diamond ring sent to him, so he didn't think the prohibition existed. Today I started checking. I called the customer service phone number he gave me; it was for a Canadian bank, and the number didn't belong to one of their cards. The fishy smell grew stronger. I then contacted an American bank to find out where the number originated. They gave me the runaround for a while until someone there gave me the number for Visa International, 800-847-2911, since the card number started with a 4. Visa International told me which bank to call. When I finally got to the right bank, and told them I was a merchant checking on fraud, they confirmed my suspicions. The card was at an American address, and it had no other suspicious charges on it. I asked if there were any tiny charges, like for penny amounts. Indeed there were. This part is important! In Indonesia, they are very sophisticated; one of the ways they get credit card numbers is to run random computer-generated numbers with expiration dates until they get some that go through. They put through charges for tiny amounts that people won't bother to contest, and if the charge goes through, they know it's good. So do watch out for penny amounts showing up on your credit card bills. I asked the woman to check the CVV number as well, and she said it did not check out. So the charge would not have gone through anyway, but I feel better having checked, even if it took way too much time. Lesson: the scammers are getting more sophisticated all the time. They can also read materials on the internet that give warning signs about scammers. So they are trying to avoid some of the more obvious signs. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Author Susan Midlarsky of Aspiring Arts handcrafts jewelry with stones that harmonize well and are beneficial to the human body, color combinations that are connected to refinement, and sometimes offerings from nature. She has also recently started making glass beads; you can see her progress at her online blog. Susan loves the magical glow people feel upon finding a piece of jewelry that is exactly right for them.
MORE RESOURCES: US State Department issues worldwide security alert due to potential for attacks on LGBTQ people and events KCCI Des Moines 'Blow the whistle': Indiana's top election official spends $35k on security guide mailings • Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana Capital Chronicle Canada security intelligence chief warns China can use TikTok to spy on users, CBC reports Reuters Canada Violence in New Caledonia subsides slightly as France sends reinforcements for security The Associated Press House Passes Israel Security Assistance Support Act | House Committee on Appropriations - Republicans House Appropriations Israel Resists Grand Bargain as U.S. and Saudis Work on Security Pact The New York Times International Community Meets to Discuss the Future of Nuclear Security International Atomic Energy Agency U.S.-Ukraine Security Entanglement Risks Forever War The American Conservative Security Alert: Worldwide Caution - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Indonesia US Embassy and Consulates in Indonesia Palo Alto Networks and IBM to Jointly Provide AI-powered Security Offerings; IBM to Deliver Security Consulting ... IBM Newsroom Now armed with AI, America's adversaries will try to influence election, security officials warn The Associated Press Sean 'Diddy' Combs Allegedly Paid $50K to Obtain Hotel Security Footage of Cassie Assault: Lawsuit PEOPLE Women are worried about their financial security. That may affect the 2024 presidential election CNBC Nuclear security through the eyes of the Co-Presidents of ICONS 2024 International Atomic Energy Agency Security video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016 Washington Times Appropriators Lead Israel Security Assistance Support Act | House Committee on Appropriations - Republicans House Appropriations IBM Selling Cloud Security Software to Palo Alto Networks in Broader Cyber Strategy Shift The Wall Street Journal Security footage calls into question Anchorage police account of fatal shooting Alaska Public Media News Security Council Secretary: ‘Not an Inch of Armenian Land Ceded to Azerbaijan’ Armenian News by MassisPost TikTok is a threat to Canadians' data security, CSIS chief warns Bennington Banner Canada Releases Defense Policy Update to Boost Security Department of Defense NATO and Economic Security: A Political Oxymoron or Inevitability? CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies Identity Management and Information Security News for the Week of May 17; Exabeam, Saviynt, VAST Data, and More Solutions Review Amazon security guard tries to kill unsuspecting boss before he's shot dead in gunfight with police: 'He almost executed me' New York Post EXCLUSIVE: Two students uncover security bug that could let millions do their laundry for free TechCrunch New Survey Finds a Paradox of Confidence in Software Supply Chain Security Security Boulevard Fox News Poll: Abortion, economy, and border security are top deal-breakers in 2024 elections Fox News Putin has ditched his paranoid security chief. Here are 5 of the wackiest things Nikolai Patrushev has said. POLITICO Europe See cops working security at Tacoma grocery stores? Here’s why and what policies allow Tacoma News Tribune OWASP dep-scan: Open-source security and risk audit tool Help Net Security Endpoint Security and Network Monitoring News for the Week of May 17; Alkira, Preamble, c/side, and More Solutions Review Opinion | Is TikTok Chinese ownership a U.S. national security issue? Come on. - The Washington Post Opinion | Is TikTok Chinese ownership a U.S. national security issue? Come on. The Washington Post Diddy Seen Physically Assaulting Cassie in Never-Before-Seen 2016 Hotel Security Footage Entertainment Tonight RSA Conference 2024: AI and the Future Of Security Security Boulevard UN sexual violence envoy pulls out of Security Council briefing on Hamas hostages The Times of Israel The New U.S. Strategy on Global Health Security Think Global Health Multnomah County Signs $40 Million Contract for Armed and Unarmed Security at County Facilities, Including Public ... Willamette Week An inspector general warned the Justice Department of gaps in its security clearance appeals process Government Executive 7 months since Oct 7, UN Security Council holds first meeting entirely dedicated to Israeli hostages in Gaza All Israel News Fintech giant Flutterwave loses ₦11 billion to security breach Business Insider Africa PKI-Based Passkeys Lead The Way For A Passwordless Future Security Boulevard FCC proposes BGP security measures Network World May 17: IDF fighter jet carries out rare strike on target in West Bank city of Jenin The Times of Israel Votiro Keeps Up the Momentum in 2024 Security Boulevard The Best Home Security Systems of 2024 Security.org The situation concerning Iraq - Security Council, 9628th meeting Welcome to the United Nations 'Abnormal' security video, Google Drive led to Stephan Sterns' arrest in Madeline Soto case, documents show WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando Brothers Indicted for Stealing $25 Million of Ethereum in 12 Seconds Security Boulevard Cybersecurity Insights with Contrast CISO David Lindner | 5/17/24 Security Boulevard JLOTS, an obscure Army-Navy capability, arrives in Gaza NavyTimes.com Making Safety and Security Intrinsic to School Design Campus Security Today The Dell API Breach: It could have been prevented Security Boulevard Yemeni security forces deploy in Aden as anger simmers over lengthy power outages The Associated Press U.S. Security Cooperation with Ukraine - United States Department of State Department of State Response to CISA Advisory (AA24-131A): #StopRansomware: Black Basta Security Boulevard |
RELATED ARTICLES
Hacking Threats and Protective Security The 1998 Data Protection Act was not an extension to, but rather a replacement which retains the existing provisions of the data protection system established by the 1984 legislation. The Act was to come into force from 24 October 1998 but was delayed until 1st March 2000. Personal Firewalls for Home Users What is a Firewall?The term "firewall" illustrates a system that protects a network and the machines on them from various types of attack. Firewalls are geared towards keeping the server up all the time and protecting the entire network. Online Shoppers, Beware of a New Scam Beware of a New Scam Aimed at Bargain-HuntersTrying to buy something cheap is absolutely natural--and online crooks set traps for unwitting bargain-hunters. On April 6 Panda Software warned Internet users of a new particularly brazen scam aimed at stealing confidential information. Free Ways to Tackle Threats to Your Computer Protect Your PCHaving problems with your pc?Do your kids, family or friends fill it with all the stuff they find on the internet?Your computer, just like your car, needs to be serviced regularly to keep it running efficiently. You wouldn't fill your car up with petrol from an old rusty can with a layer of dirty water on the bottom, so you shouldn't allow your pc to be treated that way either. Protection for Your PC - Painless and Free! Viruses, Bugs, Worms, Dataminers, Spybots, and Trojan horses. The Internet is a veritable minefield of things that can invade your PC and affect it's Security and Performance. Message Board Security Problems Security leaks can be a big problem for any site using a message board. Hackers can actually use your message board to go in and change things on your site. Lets Talk About Antivirus Software! Nowadays more and more people are using a computer. A lot of them use it at their work place, but an increasing number of computer users have also discovered the need to have a computer at home. 6 Ways To Prevent Identity Theft These six ways to prevent identity theft offer you valuable tips against the fastest growing crime in America today. In 2004, more than 9. Internet Scams: Dont be a Victim As the number of people using the Internet as an integral part of their daily life grows, it is inevitable that the number of Internet Scams will grow. Unfortunately there are many forms of scams but in this article we will look at three of the most prominent. Backup and Save your business! There you are busily typing away on your PC or yourLaptop, and all of a sudden the strangest thing happens.The screen goes black, extinquished like a candle in thewind. Spyware Attacks! Windows Safe Mode is No Longer Safe Many of us have run into an annoying and time-consuming error. With your machine running goofey you decide to run a scan for trojans and spyware. How to Get Rid of New Sobig.F Virus? As you know, this time the virus under the name Sobig.F has wreaked quite havoc! No doubt, many of us have suffered from this recent virus outbreak. Identity Theft - Beware of Phishing Attacks! "Dear Bank of the West customer", the message begins. I've just received an e-mail message, purportedly from the security department at the Bank of the West. Five Excellent Indie Encryption And Security Solutions You Have Not Heard About 1. Geek Superherohttp://www. A Painless Plagiarism Solution A crowded marketplace can lead to unethical webmasters using underhand techniques to get ahead of their competitors and online plagiarism is one of the easiest.I had worked hard on the copy for my sales page at Watch Live Football (http://www. How Spyware Blaster Can Protect Your Computer From Harm By browsing a web page, you could infect your computer withspy ware, ad ware, dialers and hijackers. These, unwelcomeguests, are some of the fastest growing threats on theInternet today. Remove Rogue Desktop Icons Created By Spyware If you have used a Windows machine for a while, whether it's Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows 98, you're sure to have noticed desktop icons appearing from out of nowhere. How can icons mysteriously emerge on your Windows desktop?1. SPYWARE - Whos Watching Who? I am in the midst of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. "The basis of optimism is sheer terror. Consumers: Shop Online and Get Information Safely Do you really have to know how feeds work? Not really. But you do need to understand how they can benefit you as a consumer or as an information seeker. Reclaim Your PC from the Internet Spies Viruses are, however, not the only malicious software programs out there. The newest addition to the evil software family is the so called Spywares and a good anti-virus program or firewall is not enough to safeguard against these clever programs. |
home | site map |
© 2006 |