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FBI
List of top Internet Scams of 2009
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According to the FBI and the IC3 Web site, the “popular
scam trends for 2009” included hitman scams, astrological
reading frauds, economic scams, job site scams, and fake
pop-up ads for antivirus software.
From the report, here’s a look at the top Internet scams
of 2009:
Fake Pop-up Ads for Anti-Virus Software
One of the truly nasty scams involves pop-up ads for rogue
anti-virus software. Victims reportedly receive ads warning
them of the existence of threatening viruses and/or illegal
content allegedly found on the victim’s computer. When victims
click on the fake pop-ups, malicious code is downloaded.
Victims are directed to purchase anti-virus software to
repair their computers, but in some instances this resulted
in viruses, Trojans, or key loggers downloaded onto their
computers. Attempts to contact the anti-virus software companies
were unsuccessful. The IC3 says that users who see these
unexpected antivirus pop-up warnings should shut down their
browsers or their computers immediately and then run an
antivirus scan to see what's going on. The FBI says these
scammers have made more than $150 million in the past year.
Hitman
The online “hitman” scammer who threatens to kill recipients
if they do not pay thousands of dollars to the sender, is
still sending out thousands of emails. Two new versions
of the scheme began appearing in July 2008, the FBI said.
One instructed the recipient to contact a telephone number
contained in the e-mail and the other claimed the recipient
or a "loved one" was going to be kidnapped unless a ransom
was paid. Recipients of the kidnapping threat were told
to respond via e-mail within 48 hours. The sender was to
provide the location of the wire transfer five minutes before
the deadline and threatened bodily harm if the ransom was
not received within 30 minutes of the time frame given.
The recipients' personally identifiable information was
included in the e-mail to promote that appearance that the
sender actually knew the recipient and their location, the
FBI said. In some instances, the use of names, titles, addresses,
and telephone numbers of government officials, business
executives and/or victims' personal information are used
in an attempt to make the fraud appear more authentic, the
FBI stated. Victims of this e-mail are typically instructed
to send the money via Western Union or Money Gram to a receiver
in the United Kingdom.
Economic Stimulus
A down economy is the opportunity for fraud. This one involved
unsolicited calls regarding fraudulent “government stimulus
money.” IC3 received numerous complaints from victims receiving
unsolicited telephone calls with a recorded message. The
recorded voice message reportedly sounds very much like
President Barrack Obama discussing alleged government funds
available for those who apply. Victims are warned that the
offer is only available for a limited time and are instructed
to visit the Web sites www.nevergiveitback.com or www.myfedmoney.com
to receive their money. These sites require victims to enter
personal identifying information after which they are directed
to a second page to receive notification of eligibility.
Upon completion of an online application and payment of
$28 in fees, victims are guaranteed to receive a large sum
of stimulus money, but they never do, the FBI said. The
Federal Trade Commission also warned of these scams. In
July it opened Dubbed “Operation Short Change,” the law
enforcement sweep announced today includes 15 FTC cases,
44 law enforcement actions by the Department of Justice,
and actions by at least 13 states against those looking
to bilk consumers through a variety of schemes, such as
promising non-existent jobs; promoting overhyped get-rich-quick
plans, bogus government grants, and phony debt-reduction
services; or putting unauthorized charges on consumers’
credit or debit cards, the FBI said.
Astrological Reading
The FBI said this familiar scam has resurfaced in which
a victim receives spam or pop-up messages offering free
astrological readings. The victim must provide his/her birth
date and birth location to receive a free reading. After
receiving the reading, the victim is enticed to purchase
a full reading with the promise that something favorable
is about to happen. The victim pays for the full reading
but never receives it, and most attempts to contact the
“Professional Astrologer,” via email, return as undeliverable,
the FBI said.
Job Site
Hand-in-hand with the economic scams were the at-home and
survey scams related to online job sites. With work-at-home
scams, victims fall prey to fraudulent postings for a variety
of positions, ranging from personnel managers to secret
shoppers. Victims are lured into providing the fraudster
with personal identifying information with promises of above
average hourly wages or several hundred dollars per week.
Some victims are promised the hardware and/or software equipment
needed to perform the job. These sites can be so convincing
that victims are oftentimes scammed into cashing checks
or money orders that they receive; then redistributing a
portion of the funds by way of their personal check, cash,
money orders, or wire transfers to a third party. In survey
scams, fraudsters post ads for participation in a survey
regarding employee/employer relationships during the current
economic crisis. Those who apply are required to send a
copy of their payroll check as proof of employment. After
sending the copy, the victim never hears from the fraudster
again; however, the employer’s account is drained of thousands
of dollars by way of fraudulent checks, the FBI said.
Conclusion
The Houlton Police Department encourages residents to be
diligent in the protection of their personal information.
Do not give out personal information over the phone or via
the internet, such as social security number and credit
card numbers. If an offer seems to good to be true it most
likely is. Any lotteries or prizes that claim to be won
but require "processing fees" to be paid up front
are most likely scams.
Please contact the Houlton Police Department if you have
received phone calls or e-mails reference to these scams
or others. Pass this information onto friends and family
to allow them to become more informed and less likely to
become a victim of a scam.
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