Power Ideaz

By Pinaki Ghosh

In this section I am producing some of the legendary Phishing mails, exactly as they came, to make you aware of the nature of Phishing mails and as such, alter you. Here is a phishing mail in the unchanged form, claiming to be from PayPal.

Pay Pal Scam 1: Updating Records

Dear Valued PayPal Member,
During our timely schedule account maintenance and verification unfortunately we have detected a slight error in your billing information on one of the files with PayPal.
Such things might occur due to the following problems:
- Any recent changes in your personal information like the change of address
- Our inability to verify the option of payment that you have selected which may be because of an internal error within our processors.
Therefore your account has been temporarily suspended. We need you to confirm your identity so that you can regain full privileges of your account.
However, the failure to update your records will result in account suspension.
In case it is not completed by July 20, 2007, we would reserve the right to terminate all privileges of your account indefinitely, as it may have been used for fraudulent purposes.
We thank you for your cooperation in this manner.To confirm your identity please follow the link below:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_login-run
Thank you for your patience in this matter.
PayPal - Customer Service
Please do not reply to this e-mail as this is only a notification. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered.

By Pinaki Ghosh 
According to Peter Hildreth, New Hampshire’s Director of Securities Regulation and President of NASAA, “Today we have an ideal climate for fraud! Millions of new investors, many of whom expect unrealistically high returns, are looking for places to put their money. At the same time we’re living through an Internet-driven technology revolution that is a boon to investors and con artists alike.”
Eric Clark, the Secretary of State, Mississippi, has made a report on the top ten online investment scams in order to caution the internet users from the happenings.
According to Clark, “Securities fraud costs Americans billions of dollars each year; I know Mississippians just like me are investing for their retirement or their children’s education. But all of us need to be careful and watch out for these scams.”
The list has been worked upon by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA).
The following is a list of the most spoken about Top Ten Scams, ranked in an order of seriousness or prevalence:
1) Internet fraud:
The scamsters or the frauds that log on to the web to “pump and dump” small stocks, peddle bogus offshore “prime bank” notes and perpetrate fraudulent pyramid schemes comprises of the first internet scam. Most of the states have certain programs that supervise the web for such fraud and conduct Internet “Surf Days.” The web world is like a city with good people and also bad people, and the people wanting to invest need to be a little extra careful about taking the advice from the people they do not know. Do not invest on the basis of a “tip” on the web without indulging in any independent research. You might not have the slightest hint about who’s offering you the not wanted help.

2) Investment seminars:
The people who invest must know about the seminars that are very costly and where the self proclaimed gurus imply that you can quickly get rich!
By luck, some people do tend to get rich. But if one may observe usually they’re the ones taking the seminars, making the money from the admission fees, and selling their books and audiotapes. An Idea that works to promote oneself! The seminars that are marketed through the media such as the newspapers, radios and TV ads and “infomercials” on cable television too have the capability to get some people in their favor. Just recently the promoters have started their own colloquium and tutorials that promise to turn the investors into a successful stock “day traders.” The day trading, more similar to gambling than investing, is inappropriate for the vast majority of investors.
3) Affinity group fraud:
The people from the closely knit religious, political or ethnic groups are often the target here. The frauds from the same religion, ethnicity or political orientation target them. The crooks that seek to misuse the natural trust of the common people like us. The targeted media advertising is used to recognize the people who can be easily fooled. Most often this works with the offers of employment or mere financial advice. To explain better take an example of the California’s Asian communities that have been wronged by scammers luring them in the foreign exchange investments which are bogus. Most typically the promoters steal the money and absolutely no reserves are made.
4) Abusive sales practices:
The entire State and other securities regulators have been working on and also report progress in the fight against “microcap” stock fraud by suspending, barring and criminally prosecuting brokers who specialize in the manipulation of low-priced securities. But none the less the investors need to be on a constant vigil and should hang up on cold callers.
5) Telemarketing fraud:
The new “boiler rooms” or the high-pressure telephone sales operations are unlocked most of the time, and they sell the illegal or the fraudulent investments. The advertisers try to make the most out of the headlines—from the fears over the Year 2000 problem to the Asian currency crisis or breakthroughs in computers or biotechnology. In one way the weak investors can try and protect themselves by using their telephone answering machine to screen their calls and not even answer solicitations by the much irritating salespeople.
6) Promissory notes:
The growing area of fraud and the notes that are supposedly “insured” and backed by real assets are better known as the promissory notes. In fact, they are backed only by often worthless promises to repay. They tend to give you the high interest rates also to the investors who may be trying hard to get the income from the money market funds or also the certificates of deposits. The investments are sold by the life insurance agents that are lured by the high commissions, and most of the times even they know nothing about the promoters also of the savings beyond what they have been told. Sometimes, the agents do not know much about what has been licensed as the security brokers with the state securities regulators to sell these notes. In most of the cases, the notes must be recorded with the regulators. The multi-state investigations which also have been exposed to a number of the promoters of these notes state that there have had problems with the regulators of the past. Most notes that are questioned are on the behalf of companies which do not even exist. In any case if the companies are legal, investors should realize that the reason these notes are being offered directly to small investors is because banks and venture capitalists have refused to invest in the companies.
7) Viatical investment scams:
The most wanted and the hottest new investment product and at the same time extremely risky, “viatical contracts” are usually the interests in the death benefits of terminally ill patients such as AIDS and cancer victims. The patient who is insured gets a percentage of the death benefit in cash, supposedly to improve the quality of their lives in the last days. The investors get a part of the entire amount of the death benefit when the insured succumbs into his ailment; this is only once a fee is paid off to the viatical investment broker. Because of such reservations in stating as a terminally ill person would die, these investments must be considered extremely exclusive.
8) Entertainment fraud:
The con artists or the frauds zero down on the investors hoping to hit it on a big by purchasing a piece of the next big ship like “Titanic.” Leaving aside the movies and investment vehicles include the cable television shows, video games and other such entertainment products.
9) Ponzi/pyramid schemes:
Almost always in style, these cheat by promise on high rates of return to the investors, but the only people making a profit are the advertisers which send them in motion, at the expense and out of funds from later investors, and those who end up losing their money when the house of cards inevitably caves in.
Illegal franchise offerings:
The State that has now taken the strict action relating to the inadequate information and fraud involving franchise investments, often marketed at business opportunity and franchise trade shows where promoters target people attracted by the prospect of owning their own business.

By Pinaki Ghosh

Work-at-Home Scams
The Bait:
What works here are the advertisements which lure the audience with the steady income in turn of minimal labor — in the medical claims processing, envelope-stuffing, craft assembly work, or other jobs. The ads here use some one liner like: Fast cash, minimal work, no risk and also the advantage of working from home when it’s convenient for you.
The Take:
The amount of time or the hours are not mentioned but only the nature of the work to be done. After you put in your individual time and money, soon after you’re most likely to find your promoters who in turn refuse to pay you, claiming that your work isn’t up to their quality standards.
Your Safety Net:
Whenever you commit any money to anyone, try and find out the nature of the work that you will have to fulfill, or whether you will be paid a salary or work on commission, or also who will pay you, when you will get your first paycheck, the total cost of the program — including supplies, equipment and membership fees — and what you will get for your money. Try getting some advice from a professional lawyer, an accountant, a financial advisor, or another expert if you need it, and check out the company with your local consumer protection agency, not only where the company is located, but also where you live.
You can forward work-at-home scams to spam@uce.gov

Weight Loss Claims
The Bait:
These Weight Loss Claims commit a revolutionary pill, patch, cream, or other product that will result in weight loss without diet or exercise. These products lure and block the absorption of fat, carbs, or calories; others guarantee permanent weight loss; and at the same time suggest that one would lose lots of weight at a lightening speed.
The Take:
These are nothing but ideas that indirectly take over your senses. An immediate hope takes place in a persons mind. Nobody thinks that there’s nothing that is present via email which can be worn or applied to ones skin which can cause any kind of weight loss.
Your Safety Net:
The experts also know for a fact that the most reliable way to cut the fat is to munch on a fewer calories and also gain any kind of physical activity so that you are capable to burn more energy.
To set a goal to lose about a pound in a week is achievable. Most of us, which means that one, have to cut about 500 calories in just a day, by eating a variety of nutritious foods, and exercising regularly. As the lifestyle changes, the weight loss is expected. You can have a conversation with your health care provider about some nutrition and exercise plan which can suit your lifestyle and metabolism.
You can forward your weight loss emails to spam@uce.gov.
Cure-All Products
The Bait:
The mails which actually try to prove that a product is a “miracle cure,” a “scientific breakthrough,” an “ancient remedy” — or an instant quick and effective remedy for a large number of ailments or diseases. These normally announce the very short accessibility, and also require a payment which has to be cleared off in advance, and that also offers a no-risk “money-back guarantee.” The case histories or testimonials by some vague people or doctors which claim to have the amazing results are not at all uncommon.
The Take:
There is no absolutely no item for consumption or nutritional supplement that can be sent through emails and which can prove the claims to shrink tumors, cure insomnia, cure impotency, treat Alzheimer’s disease, and prevent severe memory loss right. This usually deals with the remedies of the diseases; that the companies make claims which follow the FDA’s pre-market testing and review process required for new drugs.

Your Safety Net:
When trying to evaluate any of the health-related claims give it a skeptical thought. If possible consult any of the health care professionals before buying of any “cure-all” packs which claim to find a wide range of ailments or also that offer some quick cures and easy solutions to the much serious illnesses. Frankly speaking, the cure all, cure none formula works here.
You may forward spam with miracle health claims to spam@uce.gov.
Check Overpayment Scams
The Bait:
What can look like a net to trap you can be a response to the ad that you’ve posted or any of the online auction posting, offering to pay with a cashier’s, personal, or corporate check. The so-called buyer (or the buyer’s “agent”) makes up a valid reason for writing the check for more than the purchase price, and can also ask you to wire back the difference once you have deposited the check.
The Take:
You lose just in case you deposit the check. Mostly the checks that are issued are counterfeit, but definitely they are good enough to dupe the unsuspecting bank tellers; and if in any case they bounce, you must pay the entire sum.
Your Safety Net:
Do not agree to a check for any amount which is more than your selling price. Do not succumb into any situation even if it tempts you. You can ask the buyer to give you the check for the purchase price. If the buyer gives you the incorrect sum, return the check. In such cases do not send the merchandise. If you are the vendor who accepts payment by check, you can ask for a check which is drawn on your local bank, or a bank with your local branch. This way, you can also personally make sure that the check is ultimately valid. If this cannot be done call the bank from which the check was drawn and by using the phone number from directory assistance or an Internet site that you know and trust, not from the person who gave you the check. Find out whether the check is totally valid.
You too can forward the check overpayment scams to spam@uce.gov and your state Attorney General.
Also, you can find contact information for your state Attorney General at www.naag.org.

By Pinaki Ghosh

‘Hacking’ is a concept known by most of the people who log on to the internet. Hacking is a crime! By simply punching some codes, one can get a copy of the passwords and then in turn misuse the account that belongs to someone else. These spoofs hamper the safety of the internet users. Generally people wanting to explore the possibilities of getting into someone else’s account indulge themselves in these hacking tactics. But this is also a way of misusing the information. People who indulge in these crimes are known as Hackers. Usually the hackers hack the computers of big companies and leak the important information.  Hackers normally are not differentiated from the crackers, who are the people who get the unauthorized access to any of the restricted computers. The security of the computers is hampered due to the hacking that takes place. Most of your important information is leaked out due to the hackers. If most of your files are deleted or blocked by the hackers, you cannot access your own PC. This is when we end up saying “My PC has been hacked!”
Just as to protect your PC from such cases, you can install the firewall that can help you and protect you from the existing hackers to a certain extent.

I will continue my series on hacking, phishing, viruses and all other online threats, and how to protect yourself. I shall discuss later who ar ethical hackers and how they can be helpful.