By: Jim Dicken | Stay scam free during the holidays. Learn about new scams that are being used to get your money and even to access your computer.
The recent attack on Facebook using scam messages, reminded me that scams really increase during the holidays. Scammers depend on your having used your bank account, credit cards and other financial products to make purchases, loan money to relatives etc. They also know you are getting deliveries and things from relatives, as well as deliveries of online purchases.
This uptick in transactions tends to generate a lot of REAL email to your Inbox, but you must be aware of the fact that at the same time scammers are mass mailing emails with “Look Alike” logo’s and links in order to either get you to fill out information, or to download an attached file which will give you a form to fill out but also downloads a nice virus to your computer that is likely tracking your key strokes to your financial transactions
online—it might even give them access to your bank account.
There are some basic scams to watch out for:
1. New Scam
On the rise is a notice supposedly from UPS, Fed Ex, or another delivery service saying that a package was delivered and that the driver gave it to a person who met him at the truck. The email is long and convincing but in the end asks you to download a file. The file contains malicious content and is a scam. This scam is new but getting more and more prevalent. I have not seen it yet with real Fed Ex or UPS logos, but it is quite lengthy and appears legit. It is even written without broken English, unlike most of the Nigerian Scams which tend to have serious grammatical mistakes.
2. Credit Card Scams
You will get an email stating that your card was used, either in a strange location, or for some kind of outrageous purchase, like porn, or sex chat lines. The email may actually link to a perfect lookalike website. However if you check the link or the browser address bar, you will see that you are NOT on the website of the credit card company. Some of these scammers own web domains that sound like a real site. An example that comes to mind is CrditCardServices.com (Fictional non working site) or Security.CardServices.com or another sound or lookalike security company. NEVER EVER trust an email about security of your card. Go directly to the company website. Type the URL or web address into the browser bar. If there are issues you will find what you need when you log in. In some cases they will provide ONE link in the email to go to which is a fake, while other links actually go to the real company. The same scam might ask you to download a file so you can report the issue by mail. The file WILL contain a virus. No company will ask you to download and mail. ALSO Paypal.com and other sites like credit card companies will not ask you to use your password EXCEPT TO LOG ON. If you get an email with a link to the company do not click it. Like a broken record
I will say it again… LOG IN DIRECTLY using the browser OR your own saved link.
3. Bank Scams
You get an email saying that your account is on hold. This is basically the same exact scam as above only it says your bank has suspended your account online due to strange activity, or due to some kind of break in. The same issues apply here. Do not download a file or click a link. Use a saved bookmark and log in to your account.
4. Paypal.com and Ebay.com scams
Your account is suspended. Same old same old here. Only with the Ebay scams they will tell you that there is a question about your Ebay account or a sale you have made to a fictional person and it is being disputed. DO NOT CLICK the links even if they look like REAL Ebay links. Many times these links say one thing but go to another website. Most if not all browsers show you where a link is going either at the bottom of the screen or when you put your cursor over the link it shows where the link ACTUALLY goes. It might say http://www.security.ebay.com but go to a site on http://www.FAKE-WEBSITE.com/Ebay/disputes.html. The link looks legit, but does not go to a real EBay or Paypal site.
5. Nigerian Scams
You have inherited a fortune, a diplomat is waiting to deliver money, I work at a bank and there is an abandoned account I want you to (Illegally) say is yours. All of these scams depend on greed and play on the needs of people at the holidays. Trust me, if you do not know the person, it is a scam. If you do know them it is likely their email account has been hacked. Call them in person.
6. Work At Home Scam
With unemployment at new highs this scam can ruin someone who is in a very precarious place financially. It might even cost you your home or marriage. You get a great email saying that you can work at home. All you have to do is process checks. Problem is they want you to use your account. The checks they send you bounce and you are left owing the bank a ton of money. They can also ask you to open an account for this specific business, but rest assured your name is on the account and YOU will be held responsible for any and all checks that bounce.
6a. Sub Scam of this is the Mystery Shopper
They will send you two checks that appear to be either postal money orders or certified checks. I have actually had someone send ME both of these. They tell you to deposit the money, go to a specific store and make a purchase, and then send whatever is left over to a third address via Western Union. The checks or money orders are no good and you are out what you spent, and what you sent on. There may be a more plausible reason for sending money on, but any time you get a check, or postal money order I guarantee if they ask you to move money it is A SCAM.
You can view some actual scam letters at http://www.scam-email.com along with other scams and information about other scams floating around the internet. You can check on postal money orders at the Post Office website, there is also a phone number to call where you can read off the numbers and the Post Office will tell you if the amount on the check is legitimate. Most of these are legitimate checks, only the amount has been changed and the post office will come after you for the money.
7. JUST IN
Something new I got in the mail today. Another scam that is sort of new but basically uses the same lures and methods as above is an email from a Government Agency telling you… Kindly View Attached Letter Payment Notice From The Department of The U.S. Treasury. There is no message and no information just the download. I will guarantee you that it is NOT from the Treasury. Treasury, IRS, and other agencies use either the US Postal Service or an agent at your door if the issue is one of law or past due debts. If the government owes you money they will send you a mailing that is certified. If they have a check for you either they will have it for you at the Government Office or will have used the U.S. mail to deliver it. If you get a letter telling you to come to an office, check the address of that office against the local phone book. If it does not match call the office and report the matter.
The basic rule of all the above is DO NOT DOWNLOAD any file sent by to you by a person you do not know, and question files sent by people you do know. Call them and ASK them if you have been sent an email with a file attached. NEVER click on a link provided in an email, use direct entry into the browser bar. NEVER give your password or use it on a link provided in an email. If you follow these basics you should avoid 90% of the scams out during the holidays.
Mpwpinoy 
Be very careful of the scams that are going around. These guys are out to steal your wallets!