Internet scam alert

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Ooo...

I received an e-mail this morning purporting to be from Lloyds' bank, saying they needed me to reconfirm my security information.

You hear about these things but you never expect to be a victim.

I called my bank right away, and they had me forward the e-mail to their fraud investigation unit. I got the impression I was the first to report it, and that it was a possibility my bank's security had been breached.

I was planning to do some online banking this morning, but now I'm not at all sure I shoud.

<shiver>

If you ever, EVER get an e-mail asking you to "reconfirm your security information", or asking for your PIN or other bank information, report it to your bank RIGHT AWAY. Probably wouldn't hurt to pass it onto police as well. DO NOT EVER click on the "click on this link" in such a message, even if you're curious and want to see what's on the other end. It's a good way to become a victim of identity theft and fraud.
 

katw_03

New Member
Thank you TD

I have been getting a message a day about
updating my Pay Pal account. I read somewhere
someone was scamming people for their personal
identification. How do you know if it really PP?
 
They will call you by your real name, not Dear, Paypal User. This happened to my gf and she did a update for "Ebay", but later on I found it was a fake. Had to change the following:

Password
User ID
Credit Cards
Banking ID/Password

Anything that deals with account, then you best change it.
 

Amos Stevens

New Member
Thanks TD..safe bet is not to release any personal info online..call using the old fashioned telephone or even better the old fashioned pony express
 

Lollipop

Banned
I know I say stuff about my son, but he is really good to me! When I first started playing on the computer he told me alot of do's and don't's!
Which has help me alot!!
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
kat said:
I have been getting a message a day about
updating my Pay Pal account. I read somewhere
someone was scamming people for their personal
identification. How do you know if it really PP?

If you have a PayPal account, you should be able to access it without going through a third party.

If you have an account and someone is suggesting you update it through a third party, it's a scam.

Report it to the PayPal administrators IMMEDIATELY. And if you do have an account, now might be a good time to change your password, directly on the PayPal account site.
 

Lollipop

Banned
TDWoj said:
If you have a PayPal account, you should be able to access it without going through a third party.

If you have an account and someone is suggesting you update it through a third party, it's a scam.

Report it to the PayPal administrators IMMEDIATELY. And if you do have an account, now might be a good time to change your password, directly on the PayPal account site.

I have a Paypal account, I kept getting message asking for all kinds of info!
The bank I have my house loan at was doing the same!
I contacted them both and was told never respond they would call me!
It does pay to be careful! I think I will change my password!
Thanks TD, alot of people don't know all of this! :)
 

kickingbird

candle lighter
There are numerous 'net scams going around - lots of phoney banks wanting to "re-confirm" your personal info, PayPaL, eBay, etc. NEVER NEVER NEVER respond to such emails. Think about it - all such places already have your info! They don't need you to confirm anything. The link in the phoney emails is also phoney. Simply delete such emails and never respond to them in any way, shape or form. Banks do NOT contact you via email!
Another internet hint for protecting your privacy - be cautious who/what you give your email address to - most often it is sold and once the spammers get ahold of it you'll receive all sorts of garbage. Keep several different email addresses, one for financial, one for family/friends, one for chat, one for subscriptions, etc. Then you'll have a good idea exactly where your email was sold if you receive spam.
If you have kids, make double sure they know exactly what NOT to reveal on the internet, not only in chat rooms but to subscriptions, movie, music and media places - they are notorious for selling info to "partners" and then those "partners" sell it to spammers, etc. Kids should always check in parents before giving up any personal or family info to anyone.
BTW, those phoney emails are called "phishing" (not related to the band!). Don't take the bait!
 

ORANGATUANG

Wildfire
Hey TD..if in doubt rub it out...I still get lots of crap by e-mail and i just delete it i have no intention to open any...
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
ORANGATUANG said:
Hey TD..if in doubt rub it out...I still get lots of crap by e-mail and i just delete it i have no intention to open any...

It should be reported, though. Especially since where they got my e-mail address could represent a breach in security in a supposedly secure site.

Report first; delete second.

The problem lies in the fact that most people will do exactly as you suggest - just delete it without reporting it. Trouble is, that doesn't get the authorities on the trail of the bad guys, and so the bad guys flourish.

"Evil triumphs when good men do nothing."
 

Lollipop

Banned
TDWoj said:
It should be reported, though. Especially since where they got my e-mail address could represent a breach in security in a supposedly secure site.

Report first; delete second.

The problem lies in the fact that most people will do exactly as you suggest - just delete it without reporting it. Trouble is, that doesn't get the authorities on the trail of the bad guys, and so the bad guys flourish.

"Evil triumphs when good men do nothing."


I will do that from now on! I have been like Heather, just delete them!
Thanks
 
Hello I got the same email from my bank barclays. i phoned them and they asked me to send them the email i had received so they could send it to their fraud unit.I didn't send eney of my details to them but it makes you wonder if online banking is as safe as its supposed to be. god bless . sheila
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
That was the right thing to do. First, knowing that your bank - or any bank, or other organisation, for that matter - would not e-mail you asking you for your personal banking information, and second, contacting your bank and sending them the e-mail so they can get their fraud unit onto it right away.
 

kickingbird

candle lighter
"Online banking" is just as safe as having an old fashioned checkbook account - if you have an account, a drivers license, a payroll check - anything - your identity can be stolen. Best one can do is always pay very close, daily attention to your account balance, credit card transactions and statements, unusual mail or lack thereof, and always, always SHREAD every piece of paper with any personal info on it. That includes those catalogs with your pre-printed name in them; take those pages out and shread them before throwing the magazine away - esp if you recycle. Thiefs will also dumpster dive to get personal info. Getting your credit report and watching it is a good idea too. The main thing is to pay attention.
 
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