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The Internet Industry Association Security Portal is supported by many
of the leading security companies. We use these and other information to
provide regular alerts about threats. Current warnings are summarised here.
They are reviewed daily and regularly updated. Michael Jackson malwareThe most common message circulating currently is watch out for all of the malware attached to emails and other threads linked to news about Michael Jackson's death. There is a lot of it about. eBay scamI received an intriguing email this morning (28 June) which looks real good
but is an obvious scam. It was inviting me to make contact with an eBay seller
for a product I was supposed to have bought.
Everything looked genuine - the correct letterhead - the Respond button but it
was missing two very important clues.
Firstly eBay to prove that it is a genuine email ill always use your eBay 'user name'. Also eBay messages from seller do not have a an obvious scam URL.
If you looked closely it was ebay.corn.au not com. Also mesages from sellers
include their user name such as this username[
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Harry Potter fans beware According to Sky News Cybercriminals are planting links on blogging
websites to tempt eager punters to watch the soon to be released
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for free.
Sky have said that clicking the link opens a new page where the Potter
potty are apparently just a press of the mouse away from an early premiere.
You are then asked to download and install a "streamviewer" in order to watch it.
This will download "malware" which secretly records personal information
such as passwords, and bank card numbers. Don't fall for this evil trick delete it. Just for a laugh! Haven't seen one of these for absolutely 'yonks' Had to load it up just to
demonstrate that there are still people out there trying the real historic
Nigerian email scam - this should be in a museum. Hello,
I work in a managerial position in a well respected security company, with
a head office in Accra Ghana I am contacting you because of an urgent
business transaction that I want to do with a trusted foreigner, I got your
email informations through the Ghana's Chamber f Commerce and industry on
foreign business relations here in ccra-Ghana though I havent disclose this
deal to anybody. On the 25th of November 2003, the sum of $41,500.000 was deposited with my company where i work , disguised as a family heirloom in a trunk box,
this is not the only time that corrupt government officials uses the services of
my company to ship their ill gotten wealth abroad or secure it for future use.
I took exceptional note of this deposit because it was large and as the man at
the helm of affairs then, I got to know the man behind the deposit,
Late President Gnassingbe Eyadema who died on February 2005.
The reason for my contacting you is that I checked and found out that the deposit
is still intact and nobody has asked for it, and I know that nobody will ever ask for it, I am the only living soul who knows the true identity of the depositor,
no other personcan retrieve the deposit except the person can produce
the codes combination which was given to the depositor, the way we
operate is that if the depositor wants to retrieve his deposit, he will
instruct the company in writing and give his codes and if the manager
confirms the code, the deposit will be released at once to the person,
no name or identification is needed. If you accept to work with me, I will give you the instruction letter
to send to my company and also when the company asks for the codes,
I will give them to you My Best regards. Mr.mark Sports investment scam SCAMwatch is warning consumers that sports ‘investment’ schemes are just
another form of gambling and are often outright scams. Don’t be fooled
by the sales spin – hey are a fast way to lose your money.
These schemes are also known as sports arbitrage, sports betting,
sports wagering, sportstipping and sports trading and are marketed as a risk-free way to increase your wealth. Salespeople claim that they have techniques to capitalise on different
odds offered by different bookies and present graphs showing extraordinary returns.
The schemes usually involve purchasing prediction software or entering into a betting syndicate nd sometimes include a subscription to a tipping service. The ACCC receives numerous complaints about these schemes. Common stories are that: - the software isn’t delivered or doesn’t work
- money disappears from betting accounts without any bets being made on your behalf
- money cannot be withdrawn from the syndicate
- the betting tips are taken from public sources like local newspapers
- the company aggressively demands more money
- the company cannot be contacted about problems or refunds.
These claims of extraordinary returns sound too good to be true because they are! Ask yourself: If these systems produce a guaranteed, risk-free profit, why is
the company selling the scheme instead of simply using it to make millions themselves? The ACCC has produced a new Sports investment scam fact sheet to highlight
the tricks used to convince you that these schemes are legitimate investments. You can also review Sports 'investment' schemes a fast way to do your bucks
for information on a recent multi-agency initiative targeting these businesses. Warning signs - You receive an unsolicited offer to participate in an 'investment' opportunity that sounds too good to be true.
- The opportunity promises guaranteed or impressive returns for little to no risk.
- You are unable to access money paid into the scheme or have difficulty contacting the company.
- You receive numerous reasons to explain why the scheme is not working as promised.
Protect yourself - Get-rich schemes don’t work! The only person that benefits from get-rich schemes is the scammer.
- Do not agree to offers or deals straight away: tell the person that you are not interested or that you want to get some independent advice before making a decision.
- Do your homework – just because a company has a professional looking website and is registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission does not make it trustworthy.
- If you receive unsolicited emails, delete them immediately!
Report You can report the matter to the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502 or report a scam through the SCAMwatch website.
You should also warn your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours about the scam. Beware of tax scamThe Tax Office is warning people to be wary of a fraudulent email being
circulated that claims to offer a refund from the Tax Office. The email uses the Tax Office logo and the words ‘Tax refund online!’ in the subject
heading. There may be more variations to this subject heading and text. The email asks people to click on a link which directs them to a bogus Tax Office
website and asks for credit card and personal details. Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said anyone who receives the email should
delete it immediately. “The Tax Office never sends emails asking people to provide personal information
including credit card details.
“People should always be wary of unsolicited emails claiming to be from the Tax Office.
“As an extra precaution we recommend you type internet addresses directly into your internet
browser rather than clicking on links embedded in emails,”
Mr D’Ascenzo said.
These websites are often set up in multiple jurisdictions making them difficult to trace and
to effectively shut them down.
If people have entered their credit card information on the website, they should immediately
report it to their credit card provider. |
