Consumer alert! » Internet hoaxes

FBI sees online threat to law, PR firms

Charles Slat — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:39:24 +0000

The FBI believes that law firms and public relations companies might be the target of hackers who use forms of social networking to bypass a firm’s online security measures.
Called “spear phishing,” the hackers are using messages with malware attachments that are designed to get computer users within the targeted companies to open the attachment by luring them with subject lines or messages that appeal to the recipients specific business interests. Opening a message launches a self-executing file and, through a variety of malicious processes, attempts to download another file.
Once executed, the malicious file attempts to download and execute http://d.ueopen.com/srhost.exe. Any traffic associated with ‘ueopen.com’ should be considered as an indication of an existing network compromise and addressed appropriately, the FBI says.
The malicious file does not necessarily appear as an ‘exe’ file in each incident. On occasion, the self-executing file has appeared as other file types, e.g., ‘.zip’, or ‘jpeg.’

Beware bogus swine flu remedies on Web

Charles Slat — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:33:18 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration has found that the Web is being used to sell bogus products claiming to prevent or cure the swine flu.
They advise consumers to use extreme caution when considering purchasing drug products over the Internet.
To learn what the federal agency found and the dangers involved, click here.

One-cup coffeemakers subject to recall

Charles Slat — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:42:54 +0000

Senseo 1-cup coffeemakers sold at a variety of major retailers are being recalled due to a problem that can cause them to burst and burn consumers. Details and a photo are here.

State shutters Web-based credit union

Charles Slat — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:12:19 +0000

Michigan’s Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation has ordered an entity claiming to be a Pennsylvania-based credit union called “Firststar Credit Union” to stop doing business because it appears to be fraudulent.
OFIR officials believe Firststar, through its website, www.firststarlendingservices.com, is posing as a legitimate credit union and may be attempting to steal consumers’ money and identity. The fraudulent financial institution, which advertised in Michigan newspapers, is encouraging customers to apply for loans by providing upfront payments and personal information.
OFIR contacted Godaddy.com, the Firststar website host, and the website has been shut down.
Consumers can contact OFIR toll-free at 877-999-6442 to find out if a bank or credit union is a legitimate financial institution.
The agency urged consumers to develop a face-to-face or personal relationship with a financial institution before entering into a business contract. Prior to opening an account at an Internet bank or credit union, consumers are encouraged to call OFIR or check out information on legitimate depositories on OFIR’s website, www.michigan.gov/ofir.
To find or verify a federally insured state-chartered credit union in Michigan, visit: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/fis/ind_srch/CreditUnion/Search.asp.
To find or verify federally insured credit unions across the country, visit the National Credit Union Administration at: http://www.ncua.gov/indexdata.html.

Oprah “millionaire” e-mail is bogus

Charles Slat — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:52:13 +0000

The FBI is warning about a fraudulent e-mail circulating that promises tickets to the Oprah Winfrey show and a chance to will a million bucks.
Details are here.

FBI warns of Internet vehicle sales scams

Charles Slat — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:14:42 +0000

The FBI is warning that Internet vehicle sales scams are increasingly invoking the names of U.S. armed services branches to swindle unsuspecting consumers.
More and more Internet vehicle sales are a variety on the excess funds/wire transfer ruse that persuades someone to buy or sell products and wire money to a third party.
Sellers of non-existent vehicles are presenting themselves as members of the service who have to sell a vehicle quickly because they are being sent overseas.
Here’s the FBI press release describing how the swindles work.

Computer worm revisits Facebook users

Charles Slat — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:30:42 +0000

Members of Facebook and other social networking systems are seeing a recurrence of a computer worm that started showing up in December. It appears as a message from a friend and has a clickable link.
For advice on how to avoid it, read this.

Blog battles computer bugs

Charles Slat — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:35:09 +0000

Consumers Union, the non-profit group that publishes Consumer Reports magazine, has launched badwarebusters.org, a new blog that meant to limit computer viruses, spyware and other “badware” that might infect computers or e-mail.
It allows visitors to post comments about problems they’re having or provide feedback to those having problems. Looks like it’s kind of a “Neighborhood Watch” program aimed at short-circuiting cyberspace viruses.

No, you didn’t win the Postcode Lottery

Charles Slat — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:55:08 +0000

A reader sends along this bogus e-mail that’s been making the rounds. He fears with the economy in the dumper, desperate people will be tempted to respond to this message, which appears to be one of those scams designed to capture personal financial info:

National Postcode Lottery
Attn: Winner
We bring to your notice the winning letter from Nationale Postcode Lottery
{United Kingdom Promotion Company} held on the 12th of October, 2008 through
Internet ballot System among 10,000 Microsoft users.
Subsequently, your email address attached to ticket number 24.2.6.37.15.45 won
contract sum of 800,000.00 Pounds ,winning number 100364,ref number 00786.We
request you to pay serious attention to this notification by contacting the
claims department with claim information and procedures of claim.
Mr. Williams Brown
Email: unityfinan@sify.com
Congratulations once again from our members of staff and thank you for being
part of our promotional program.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Stefian Smith
National Postcode Lottery

No, you probably wouldn’t get e-mail from FBI

Charles Slat — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:02:36 +0000

A spam e-mail claiming to be from FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole is currently being circulated indicating that the recipient is the beneficiary of a large sum of money, which they will be permitted to access once fees are paid and personal banking information is provided. The appearance of the e-mail leads the reader to believe that it is from FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole.
This e-mail is a hoax, the FBI says. Do not respond.
It’s the latest in a series of scam e-mails given the appearance of legitimacy through the use of pictures of FBI officials, seals, letterheads, and/or banners.
These frauds claim to be from domestic as well as international FBI offices. The typical types of schemes utilizing the names of FBI officials and/or the FBI are lottery endorsements and inheritance notifications, but can cover a range of scams from threats and malicious computer program attachments (malware) to online auction scams.
Consumers should be wary of any unsolicited e-mail referencing the FBI, Director Mueller, Deputy Director Pistole, or any other FBI official claiming that the FBI is endorsing any type of Internet activity.
The FBI urges consumers to guard their personal information and account information carefully, and never give any personal, credit, or banking information in response to unsolicited e-mails.
If you received a suspicious e-mail, file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.