By Kim Komando

Small phishing attacks don’t receive much publicity. And the scammers’ use of personal information to hook you increases trust. So, small, targeted attacks are often more lucrative than large ones.

Criminals can pull information about you from public sources, or someone may be tricked into disclosing it. Either way, it is used to tailor the messages.

You won’t see a long list of recipients in targeted attacks. You may also notice a difference in the sender’s address. Criminals used to spoof e-mail addresses. Spoofing is a quick, easy way to cover tracks. But spam filters can spot questionable e-mail addresses. Criminals now create new accounts with reputable providers. Or, they hack users’ e-mail accounts. This helps criminals get past spam filters.

People who do business with large financial institutions are still prime targets, but clients of small or regional institutions are also targeted, along with those of ISPs and alumni organizations.

Phishing messages generally request your personal information. They may also instruct you to install a fake security update or a malicious browser plug-in. Do that, and kiss your personal information goodbye.

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2009-01-01-phishing-attacks_N.htm 

~Sandy G.

FROM CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM

Promises of prize money are made, but there’s a catch

The phone call sounds official, and to many, convincing. “Hi, I’m calling from the Federal Trade Commission to tell you that you have won $250,000…”

You have to hand it to these scammers — they really have chutzpah.

The newest con involves a call from someone who claims to work for the Federal Trade Commission to inform you that you have won a lottery or sweepstakes. To receive the prize, all you have to do is pay the taxes and insurance. The caller asks you to wire money or send a check for an amount between $1,000 and $10,000.

What should you do?

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY:     http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/10/ftc_impersonation.html

~Sandy G.

Commission says scammers taking advantage of woes in financial markets

FROM MSNBC

E-mail scams that “phish” for personal information may increase amid the current financial crisis, the Federal Trade Commission warned consumers Thursday.

Separately, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said it has received numerous reports of a fraudulent e-mail that appears to be from the government agency. Its subject line reads, “Funds wired into your account are stolen.”

“Scammers are taking advantage of upheavals in the financial marketplace to confuse consumers into parting with valuable personal information,” the FTC said in an advisory note on its Web site.

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY:   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27103548/

~Sandy G.