FBI Warning About Economic Stimulus Checks Scam
The FBI web site* posted this Press Release on May 8th:
*Go check out the web site. They have all kinds of links to excellent and interesting information!
Press Release
FBI Warns of Phishing Scam Related to Economic Stimulus ChecksThe Federal Bureau of Investigation warns consumers of recently reported spam e-mail purportedly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which is actually an attempt to steal consumer information. The e-mail advises the recipient that direct deposit is the fastest and easiest way to receive their economic stimulus tax rebate. The message contains a hyperlink to a fraudulent form which requests the recipient's personally identifiable information, including bank account information. To convince consumers to reply, the e-mail warns that a failure to complete the form in a timely manner will delay the issuance of the rebate check. One example of this IRS spam e-mail message is as follows:
"Various forms of online fraud continue to proliferate on the internet and people should take the appropriate precautions to protect themselves," said Special Agent Richard J. Kolko, FBI National Press Office. Please be cautious of unsolicited e-mails. It is recommended not to open e-mails from unknown senders because they often contain viruses or other malicious software. It is also recommended to avoid clicking links in e-mails received from unknown senders as this is a popular method of directing victims to phishing websites. If you have received an e-mail similar to this, please notify the IC3 by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov. More information on scams is also available on www.fbi.gov and www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com. ### |
*Obviously after May 10th there will be new 'scam Spams' phishing for fresh victims.. BE SMART! - [TR]
In other news:
- Be sure to get the monthly Microsoft Windows Updates today. Get the details on what's included this month from the "Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for May 2008". There are 3 updates marked Critical and 1 Moderate. The vulnerabilities involve a bunch of Microsoft products, including things like Microsoft Word, Windows Live OneCare, Windows Defender, and Windows XP.
I'm still collecting interesting and helpful web sites to tell you about, and one of them I just found is "Mouse Print". Here's how they describe their site:
”mouse print” is the fine print in advertising, in a contract, or on a product label, often buried out of easy sight. In the worst cases, the mouse print changes the meaning of, or contradicts the primary claims or promises being made. Sometimes, the catch is not even disclosed. In other cases, the fine print is merely an unexpected surprise for the reader. Fine print is not inherently illegal. But, advertisers are not safe from false advertising claims merely because an ad discloses the truth in some minimal manner.
The website, MousePrint.org, turns advertising on its head by focusing on an ad’s asterisked fine print footnote rather than the headline. It also examines the often overlooked small print on product labels and contracts. A new ad, product, or contract is featured every Monday. The goal is to help educate the public about the catches or “gotchas” in disclaimers, and to encourage advertisers to abandon the motto, “the big print giveth, and the little print taketh away.”
MousePrint.org, like its sister sites, Consumer World and MrConsumer, are consumer education sites produced by consumer advocate, Edgar Dworsky (aka “MrConsumer”).
Contact: edgar(at symbol)mouseprint.org
Remember to visit the Secunia site for reports on some of the latest vulnerabilities, and while you're there, go to their Online Software Inspector scan page (click "Scan Online" in the top of the left column) and have it check your computer's software to see if you need updates for many of the most popular software programs (and Windows Updates).
That's only some of what's going on, but I'm done for today. There have been some reports and presentations lately that have even some of the jaded security pros concerned, so stay tuned..
Until then, remember to THINK before you click on that link!
