Internet Scams Hit Even Idaho Falls
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Internet scams have been around for a long time. I remember a news report I saw on one of the major networks about two or three years ago that exposed how one internet scam was run. Recently I am receiving more and more emails that appear to be people fishing for gullible soles who would fall for their internet scam, and it occurs to me that others in southeast Idaho are likely being approached as well.
The first question that usually comes to my mind when I receive any type of spam email, is “how did they get my email address?” I did some research on this a while ago and found that several methods are used to collect email addresses, including purchasing lists (your address could be added to a spam list any time you fill you an online form requesting your email address), web harvesting (a program that crawls the internet searching for people who posted their email address online) and chain-letter harvesting (you know, when you’re asked by your mom to forward this great internet story to everyone you know… eventually those emails could end up in the hands of a spammer). Then, of course, there is the viruses that take over your computer without you knowing it and send out emails to everyone on your contact list.
After a scammer has their list of email addresses, they usually send the same invitation to all. There are all sorts of scams out there. Some will try to appear to be your bank asking you to update your information, and providing you with an internet link to a page that “LOOKS” like your bank’s website, but is actually a fake page set up to collect your login information.
Then there are the ebay scammers who offer a ridiculously low price for that 65 inch plasma tv that you drool over. And don’t forget the foreigner in Cambodia whose wealthy great uncle just died but they need someone from the US to help transfer the funds, and for your help they’ll give you a portion of the inheritance.
Scammers are getting more sophisticated and there are reports of organized crime getting involved in the practice. And why not, when the thief is on the other side of the world – nameless and faceless, they’re hard to catch?
But not always! I few years ago I read a great story about a reverse scam – where an obvious scammer was taught a lesson. I love it when creeps get what’s coming to them. It’s a great story. You can read about it here: (warning: long, and some language may be offensive to some readers)
With internet scams on the rise, please share:
- What internet scams are hitting your in box right now?
- Have you ever been scammed on the internet?
- Have you ever lead a scammer on, or turned the tables on a scamming creep?
- And what do you think the government should be doing to address the growing trend of international internet scammers?
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Comments
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0 Having just received a lovely scamspam letter today in response to what had appeared to be a normal classified for a rental in Hawaii, this is very fresh in my mind.
Years ago I read an account of a fellow who decided to Scam Back, leading his Nigerian Scammer on a long and arduous farce which the Nigerian Scammer cooperated with in his efforts to steal. It was one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever heard.
Here is a link about Scambaiters, for those who want to have fun getting even:
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0 0 Here is direct link for those who want to learn the ins and outs of scambaiting, or just have a look at The Trophy Room, a collection of images of Scam Artists duped into holding ridiculous signs, etc. :
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0 0 Those scammers! They really think most of us are that gullible? HA! I’ve had a few scams in my Emails, and this is what I do. I write them back, telling them that I think the offer is very nice and sounds good, and that I can’t wait to invest. Then I tell them I am only willing to give them the money for the investment, if they meet me at the nearest airport, as soon as my “so called” flight arrives, as I would like to meet the person, to calm any fears I may have. This dosen’t always work, but sometimes it does. To bad for them I’ve never showed, and instead, informed the athorities in that area, (if I feel there is something illegal going on, that can be proved, in accordance to the laws in that area), of such a scam, that would merit summons of the athorities to that meet, that would “supposedly” take place. Ten arrests out of 43 pepole have been made. I love it! Now who’s the gullible one?
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0 0 Moonshine, they would love to publish your accounts at 419eater.com!
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0 0 ISU is under constant Phishing attacks for e-mail account passwords. The large student population is an easy target and the size of the e-mail infrastructure makes it easier for the compromised account to hide. A reminder to everyone, no helpdesk will EVER ask for your password in an e-mail or over the phone…er if your does it is time to find a new school/job 
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0 0 I got scammed once when I bought videos from a knockoff website (had the same name and look as a well respected commercial site, but had a URL of .org instead of .com…and I failed to notice that).
I still do everything online but I’m a bit more careful about making sure I’m buying from a reputable site.
I get phishing email constantly, but I have good spam filters for my email so I usually don’t see them.
Some on other comments on this site have mentioned having one particular ‘load as you go’ kind of card to use to make purchases, along with an email address that is specific to those ubiquitous site registration requests for email addresses.
I have fears of opening Pandora’s Box in suggesting the government should “do something” about the internet scammers…I’d prefer that we remember ‘caveat emptor’ and keep the government’s big mitts off the internet…
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0 0 I think alot of the scams are originating outside of our jurisdiction.
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0 0 Perhaps this should go elsewhere but it’s been my observation that those most vulnerable to internet scams are generally those who are not up to par with computers and the internet overall.
So here is a list I’ve created to hopefully help some of you with preventing assaults on yourself and your machine.
1. A lot of HTML based emails may look identical to Ebay, your bank, etc. But you can check the links left by simply mousing over the link, for example CLICK HERE when moused over, may leave an address of http://youare.abouttoenter.a-scam.com and not the address of any legitimate company. If that doesn’t work, right click on the message box and hit “view source”. This will show you the internet link it’s taking you to. Do not respond to spam mail as it only lets them know that they have hit a legitimate email address and then you’ll really get bombarded. And of course, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Turn ON your PHISHING FILTER.
2. When entering anything online, check the privacy policy. Many companies basically state that their privacy policy means they are giving your email out to anyone who asks for it thus leaving you vulnerable to spam, assaults on your machine, etc. Leave a yahoo, or other generic account, not your primary email account, that can catch all of your spam for you if you insist on entering some of these. When in doubt, don’t open an email. If the email looks suspicious and it asks you to open anything, don’t. This is a good rule of thumb for anything on the computer, when in doubt, don’t.
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0 0 UPDATE: when you receive microsoft updates, antivirus updates, spybot updates and/or Adaware updates, DO UPDATE. Many of these are security updates. Just be sure that what you are updating is a legitimate source. Consider the number of viruses and new spams and scams created every day, even the best filters can’t work if they are not updated.
Joe, I hope you consider these links relative to the thread and don’t edit them.
–Always have an anti virus AND firewall for your machine. Most come with email spam filters if you buy the right product like the Internet Suite. I prefer Norton but McAfee is also good and recognizing they aren’t cheap, if you can’t afford these, try AVG I’ve heard really good things about this. http://anti-virus-solution.com/avg/index.asp
–free (donations accepted) Download SpyBot Search and Destroy and run at least once a month. Don’t forget to update regularly. http://www.spybot.info/index2.html
You can download AdAware for free, run this at least once a month. http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
These last three items will help prevents bots, trojans, worms, and viruses from invading your computer and rendering you helpless to post here. I hope they help cuz we’d miss you.
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0 0 I agree with Mr Eagles comment regarding your Visa to make online purchases. A few months ago my visa check card number was used to purchase some obscene material online without my knowledge. My bank contacted me immediately to inquire about the charges. They were quickly removed and I was issued a new card.
That’s one thing I have to give The Bank of Idaho props for: They have incredible customer service. I used to be a long time customer of Bank of America until I moved to Idaho. Bank of America always nickel and dimed me to death and never offered me the level of service that the Bank of Idaho has. They’re definetely one of the better banks I’ve delt with over the past 25 years. Their customer service is second to none and they go out of their way to contact me if anything seems “out of the ordinary”. Last year I took a trip to California and within 2 hours of using my Visa check card in that state, they contacted me to make sure it was really me using the card. Although Visa is really good about consumer protection, Bank of America never offered me the level of professionalism and customer service the way that Bank of Idaho has, and for that I am grateful.
In regards to spam this is how I handle it:
I have three email accts. One for work (which is used for work only) one for online purchases and one specifically for family. The one I use for family only I’ve never receieved spam. But that’s because we don’t forward jokes, chain letters or attachments to each other. (I can’t stand chain letters to begin with and automatically delete them without opening) You know the ones I’m talking about…..usually a sob story of some sort or some type or a “friends forever” letter telling you to forward this email to 10 friends and you’ll receive and unexpected windfall. (yeah right!)
As for my online purchases and bill pay email acct: I do tend to get spam with this one, but the way I have my email acct set up is: unless the companies I deal with email address is in my address book, the spam will automatically go right into the junk folder to be deleted. And if I do shop online, I only use well known established sites they already have a good reputation.
To avoid becoming a victim of a scam or virus, just use a little common sense and you shouldn’t have a problem. Eagle and Hmmm both posted some very good suggestions. Follow them and you’ll be fine. Like noted above, if something looks suspicious or is from an unfamiliar email address, don’t even bother opening it. If it’s really that important you’ll be contacted by phone or snail mail anyways, so don’t take the chance.
(ditto on the AdAware prog)
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0 0 I thought I was smart enough not to fall for a scam but one recently got me hook, line, and sinker. Beware this could happen to you.
I was at Walmart and had just got done shopping and these two young girls, both probably in their 20’s, were near my car. Both girls were attractive and showing lots of cleavage. They told me their car had broken down and asked me for a ride to down the street to the Auto Zone near Skyline. Sure, why not I thought since it was hot and it wasn’t too far out of the way.
So one of the girls gets in the front seat and the other in the back. Its really hot and I offered both girls a water bottle. The one in the front seat start rubbing the water bottle all over her face and then over the exposed skin on her chest. I give them the ride and when we get there the girl in the front seat is telling me how nice I am for giving it to them. She leans over and give me a hug and then kisses me on the forehead making sure to push my face towards her cleavage. She and the other girl then leave. Only afterwards did I realize that while the first girl was giving me the hug the other was lifting my wallet out of my pocket. Since this happened to me last Monday, I’ve had my wallet stolen on Tuesday, twice on Wednesday, once on Friday, three times on Saturday, again today, and I think it will probably get stolen again tomorrow. Don’t let this happen to you too.
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0 0 anonymous, I am ROFL…….you got me, you had me all the way to the end………..
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0 0 How do I go about getting MY wallet stolen? Please share your secret with me.
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0 0 Are there roving hordes of ‘hot’ men also running around I.F. stealing wallets and rubbing water bottles over their “exposed skin”……….??? If so, where?
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One way to help protect from online scams is to try to use your Visa card for purchases. Visa has a good reputation for favoring the consumer. I understand that you can usually get your money back from a scam if you report it in a reasonable timeframe if you’ve used your Visa card.