Bank scam’s becoming more frequent

Scams targeting your account information are getting more frequent. The ones I have seen are in the forms of emails, phone calls, or text messages informing the recipient that their account has been suspended and they will need to call a customer service number. Once they have you on the line they will want you to verify all your account information so they know it is you. Unfortunately on the other end is a scam artist probably in some apartment half way across the country with all your private information. They will say they are from a local bank in your area, in my case Bank of the Cascades and will just start contacting anyone in the area. In my case I don’t even bank at the Bank of the Cascades but they figure if they send it to 10 people they will catch 2. Here is a recent text I received:

“Bank of the Cascades alert: your card has been DEACTIVATED. Please contact us at 541-647-1133 to REACTIVATE your card.”

The only thing we can do is to alert your local police department and the bank you have received the text about. Some people can lose a lot of money before they can be shut down so pass it on to everyone you know.

Top 5 tips to recognize a lottery scam

We all dream of winning a lottery and and living in the lap of luxury, in swoops in the scam artists! Many of these scams play off our dreams, and promises us an insiders chance of winning these fictitious lotteries, for a price. First and foremost lets get this straight, there is no way of improving your chances of winning a lottery, you have the same odds of winning as anyone else and those odds are usually astronomical. We are emotional creatures and that’s what these scammers live off of. some of these scams will offer you a better chance of winning a lottery or say that you have already won in some magical way, then they will need money up front from you to process your payment or need your bank account number to set up an account with the lottery. Many of these scams contact you through your email account (which can easily be acquired no matter how careful you are), phone number, or postal mail. If you have already been scammed you should contact your local law enforcement, your financial institute, and the US Federal Trade commission (FTC). Here are some tips to help you recognize lottery scams and an example letter.

1. You have been contacted even though you have never entered a lottery.
2. NEVER GIVE MONEY UP FRONT OR ANY OF YOUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
3. Research the lottery you have been contacted about and make sure they have a physical address and a land phone line(not a cell phone).
4. Don’t let your emotions overrule your common sense.
5. Never trust any email, phone call or postal mail from anyone you don’t know.

Sample letter:

MEGA LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL website: www.megalottery.com

INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION/PRIZE AWARD DEPT.

REF Number : MLI/231-ILGI0431/04
BATCH Number : EAPA/15/096/PTNL
TICKET Number : 20511465897-6291
SERIAL Number : 472-971103
LUCKY Number : 8-66-97-22-71-64

RE : WINNING FINAL NOTIFICATION

Sir, Madam

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the Lottery Winners International programs held on the 29th of April 2004 Your E-mail address attached to Ticket number 20511465897-6291 with Serial number 472-971103 drew lucky numbers 8-66-97-22-71-64 which consequently won in the 2nd category, you have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of US$ 1,500,000.00 (One Million ,Five hundred Thousand United States Dollars).This is from a total cash prize of USD$15,000,000.00 Million shared among Ten International Lucky Winners in the Category A ( Plus )+ . CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Be informed that your documents have to pass our authority to obtain a clearance, which shall be attached to your Document in readiness of the subsequent onward transfer into your nominated bank account with 24 hours of completion of the authentication. Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your winning information very confidential until your claims have been processed as the Beneficiary Certificate Ownership Winning Notification, Stamp duties and re-activation of Account of your prize /money remitted in readiness of the subsequent onward transfer into your nominated Bank Account is completed

This is in conformity with the latest transfer regulations signed by the Organization / Netherlands Government since this is part of our Security protocol measures to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants. All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from over 100,000,000 Companies and 200,000,000 individual email addresses and names from all over the world, through the aid of our insurance Company www.ballonetsl.hq3.com

This promotional program takes place annually. We hope you will take part in our next year USD$45 Million International lottery. To file for your claim, please contact our /your fiducial agent MRS CATHERINE BLAKE the DOLLAR ACCREDITED PAYMENT AGENT
TEL: +31-650-470-334
FAX: +31-650-470-334
Email : cathyblake@winning.com

NOTE: That all winnings must be claimed not later than 30th of MAY 2004. After this date all unclaimed funds will be included in the next stake. Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.

Finally, we call on you to make sure that you note every letter clearly as stated for we will not be held responsible should there be any complications in this transaction due to laxity on your part. So you are to expedite action in claiming of your funds, for delays will compel us to disperse your funds, in other words, we shall divert your funds as stated above. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and mistakes, Kindly remember to quote your reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.

Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once more from our members of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program.

Yours truly
Mr Harry Herman
Lottery Coordinator

Online Pharmacy Scams

Have you ever received an email boasting of great prices from an online pharmacy? Buyer beware! Many times these pharmacies operate outside of the U.S. and can take advantage of the lack of consumer protection laws. Many times these pharmacies will offer prescription drugs without a prescription, or offer to get you a prescription from one of there own doctors. The problem occurs when the drug you have received will be diluted, poor quality, medications that have been tainted, or are different drug all together. Some of these websites will start ripping you off by asking for a small membership fee, and some very personal secure information. With the prices for prescription drugs skyrocketing it is not a surprise that we would all look for better prices, but lets not forget that some deals are to good to be true! Here is a list of things to look for when using an online Pharmacy:

1. Make sure there is a physical address and phone number for the Pharmacy.
2. They boast of “No doctors prescription needed”,” or we will obtain one for you”.
3. Prices are unbelievable low.
4. Uses spam emailing.
5. Always check the credit card processing page has a https in front of the page address (the S stands for Secure and it must contain the S).

New FBI scam going around.

If you ever received a letter from the FBI on official looking letter head with the director of the FBI on it wouldn’t you think it was real. Maybe not but scam artists rely on the odds. If they mail out a thousand letters they may get back two responses and thats all they need. On the FBI’s scams and warnings page they give examples of how they are being used to target victims. Some of them involve claims of lottery winnings or of large inheritance (they will ask you pay the taxes and fees upfront). They also use letters and emails to extort money from the recipient claiming to be official FBI business. Feel free to contact the FBI by submitting an online inquiry, or at their contact page. The site also has scam alerts and a list of things to watch out for.

Even your bank can get scammed.

Check your bank statements, credit card statements, and medical statements!

Find a certain time of the month to check all your statements. You may be surprised to find things that were purposely charged to your accounts and some that may have accidentally been charged to your accounts. Remember that your medical bills are subject to fraud and accidental over charges. Many people do not question these accounts and not only do they affect your pocket but can increase insurance premiums for everyone. Unfortunately some of our medical professions are subject to making mistakes just like the rest of us. If you monitor your accounts every month you will find mistakes from time to time, and if gone uncorrected can become reoccurring fees out of your pockets. Another good reason to check your accounts is to see where you are spending money and can be a big help in budgeting.

Beware of get rich quick scams and pyramid schemes

The way these get rich quick scams work is by getting you to give them your money. Basically you buy their program and they will teach you how to rip other people off. Its kind of like the add in the paper that says send me 5 dollars and I will send you the secret to making a million dollars. The secret is to put a add in the paper saying send me 5 dollars and I will send you the secret to making a million dollars. Sadly the target market for get rich schemes and pyramid schemes are the poor, the elderly, or people who are already in debt. And if you want to make money on a pyramid scheme you should start one yourself, otherwise you are just making money for other people. These are examples of common schemes:

1. Buy real estate for pennies on the dollar.
2. Wealth building seminars.
3. Risk free stock market schemes.
4. Muli-level marketing (pyramid scheme).
5. Secret ways to make money that no one knows about.
6. Psychic tips or betting tips.

Here are examples of phrases to run from:

1. Get in at the top.
2. Send us money and we will help you make money.
3. Business opportunities “they”  don’t want you to know about.
4. I made $10,000 dollars in 30 days, you can to.
5. Make money from home.
6. Want to make millions working part time?
7. If I can do it so can you.
8. You don’t need any education.

Remember the scam protectors golden rule; if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is.

What to look for on e-mail viruse’s

I. Emails from people trying to infect your system and steal your friends’ email addresses for spam

I.1 Pictures of Osama Bin Laden hanging or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s suicide note I.2. Email from your system administrator or other familiar sender that says your email could not be delivered, or some similar statement.
I.3. Email with subject “Against!” or “Revenge”
I.4. Email with subject Re_ and body with animals or foto or other subjects

II. Emails from people trying to steal your identity (and your money)

II.1. Update Your Billing Information (from eBay)
II.2. Your account at eBay has been suspended
II.3. Your account at Wells Fargo has been suspended
II.4. Notification of US Bank Internet Banking
II.5. Attn: Citibank Update

III. Emails from people trying to fool you into hurting yourself or your friends and coworkers

III.1 Subject: “jdbg” Virus: how to detect and remove.

Information Technology