The Internet Patrol

New Version of 419 Scam Aimed at Lawyers

The Internet Patrol — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:19:15 +0000

This is very interesting - an advance fee fraud scam aimed specifically at lawyers. In this twist on the classic Nigerian 419 advanced free scam, instead of the scammer being the “widow of a deposed dictator”, the supposed damsel in distress is a woman whose “divorce was finalized here in Japan”, and she “wants to retain your professional service.” … [visit site to read more]

The Western Union Money Transfer Scam Spam

The Internet Patrol — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:05:15 +0000

There is a new Western Union money transfer scam spam making the rounds. It thanks you for “using Western Union Money Transfer”, and gives you a fake confirmation receipt transaction number (”control number”) - in our case the Mone Transfer Control number used was 1629752260. The spam includes an attachment that is an HTML file named something like “WU account.html” - don’t open it! … [visit site to read more]

How to Stop SMS Text Spam and How to Report SMS Txt Msg Spam

The Internet Patrol — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:17:46 +0000

If you’re being plagued by cell text message spam (cell txt msg spam) like this one we received from 702-541-4047 - “Do you have $20,000+ in CREDIT CARD DEBT? Our national program REDUCES it by HALF! Reply “DEBT” to see if you qualify! (cuturdebts.com-optout,reply:out)” - you’re not alone. (What is SMS? Short Message Service SMS service is a way to send short text messages directly to a cell phone). The problem is that those unwanted SMS messages that you see as cell phone spam, the sender sees as an SMS campaign. Those rude SMS text messages - often anonymous SMS text messages - are bulk SMS messages sent by the SMS sender as a text message advertising campaign (often facilitated by free SMS text message services). Sending SMS text messaging spam is illegal in most states, but figuring out how to go about reporting spam received on your cell phone can be tough. Here’s how to submit your spam that you receive via SMS message to the right authorities, as well as how to stop it. (Bonus: The elusive Verizon customer service phone number!) … [visit site to read more]

Looking for Jobs Online? Doing a Local Job Search? How to Tell if a Job is a Scam (and How to Report a Job Scam)

The Internet Patrol — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:13:12 +0000

You can do a local job search just by searching for “jobs in my area”, or search for jobs such as for all USA jobs or even international job opportunities by using one of the job search engines such as “Monster Jobs”, or by frequenting job websites or job posting boards. You can use a country-specific job finder, such as Canada’s HRDC Job Bank (it should really be HRSDC, as it stand for “Human Resources and Skills Development Canada”), or a system-specific job site, such as www.usajobs.gov, which lists all U.S. Federal jobs. You can even just search “I need a job” followed by your location, and come up with a job listing of job openings, complete with job descriptions, in your area. The problem is that job search websites and job listings that list jobs online can’t always distinguish a great job opportunity from a scam. There are many job scams on Internet job boards, such as the Yahoo job scam and the Craigslist job scam, and specific job scams such as the home job placement scam (while it’s possible to find a legitimate no fee work at home job, and other paid internet jobs, it’s very hard to tell the legitimate work at home jobs from the scams). Then there are the not-quite-scam jobs, such as the so-called “Primerica job scams”. So, how to tell if a job is a scam? Here’s how. … [visit site to read more]

Creation of .xxx Domain, .god Domain and .gay Domain Being Considered by ICANN this Week

The Internet Patrol — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:31:14 +0000

You’ve probably already heard of the .xxx domain that has been proposed, rejected, re-rejected, and reconsidered, but did you know that there are also a .god domain and a .gay domain being considered? The .xxx domain was first proposed - and provisionally approved - back in 2005, and then was rejected in 2006 and 2007, primarily as a result of lobbying by conservative and religious groups; now it’s being reconsidered. Interestingly, the .god domain, which has had considerably less press, was first proposed as far back as 1995, and has been in the public awareness since at least 2000. The .gay domain is among the newest of proposed TLD (Top Level Domain) offerings (actually “gTLD”, which stands for generic Top Level Domain), although not the only new one (consider New York City’s request for a .nyc domain) - all of which are being considered this week as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) meets in Nairobi. … [visit site to read more]

Microsoft Issues Security Advisory for Security Hole in IE6 and IE7

The Internet Patrol — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:16:44 +0000

Microsoft has issued a security advisory (#981374) for a vulnerability in Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6) and Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7) that could allow someone to remotely execute code on your PC - that is, to remotely operate your computer. … [visit site to read more]

LifeLock Lawsuit Over - Settles Deceptive Advertising Claims with Feds for $12million

The Internet Patrol — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:48:42 +0000

LifeLock, the company that offers identity theft insurance, has settled a lawsuit with the FTC after the Federal Trade Commission sued LifeLock for deceptive advertising claims. Life Lock says that they were happy to settle the suit because the suit was based on facts that are two years old, and no longer applicable. … [visit site to read more]

Maine, San Francisco Contemplating Requiring Radiation Warnings on Cell Phones

The Internet Patrol — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:07:00 +0000

What is the truth about cell phones and radiation? While many will tell you that the jury is out - and others will tell you that there is no (conclusive) evidence - many feel that cellphone use presents a health risk in electromagnetic (ionizing) radiation, particularly for children. The reality is that short term studies have found no correlation between cell phone radiation and health problems such as cancer, however the other reality is that there are no long term studies (say, of greater than 10 years) yet, as it is only relatively recently that cellphones have been so commonplace. Of course, the cell phone industry says there is no risk - but that’s what the tobacco industry said too. Now the state of Maine is contemplating requiring cell phones to carry a warning label. … [visit site to read more]

Fake Amazon Cancellation Email Hides Canadian Pharmacy Spam Links

The Internet Patrol — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:39:05 +0000

Not content with sending fake Amazon confirmation emails, the outfit sending out the Canadian pharmacy spam is now sending out fake Amazon.com order cancellation emails, too, claiming that your Amazon order has been cancelled. “Amazon.com - Your Cancellation (0046-68878-96071)” says the email’s subject (although the “order number” may change) - but of course the link to check “ORDER INFORMATION” really takes you to a Canadian pharmacy spam site, hawking Viagra, Cialis and the like. In the example below, the fake cancellation contains links to http://www.dinnerinperu.com/quadratical, which redirects to http://weightbreezy.com, which is a Canadian pharmacy spam site. … [visit site to read more]

Amazon Cancels All Affiliate Accounts in Colorado after Passage of New Online Sales Tax Law

The Internet Patrol — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:48:44 +0000

Colorado Amazon affiliates got the news this morning - Amazon has cancelled all Amazon associate (affiliate) accounts for all affilliates who are based in Colorado. The move came after the passage of Colorado law HB 10-1193, even though - as we read it - the affilliate language was removed from HB 10-1193 before it was passed! … [visit site to read more]