The Last Straw?

By Guy Bunker | February 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment 

Guy Bunker

Nigerian 419 scams continue and this time it is a high-profile government official who is the subject of the attack. Of course we have seen these scams before and we will no doubt see them again… you have to wonder if the people who broke into the email account knew who’s it was… if they did, then did they really think that Jack’s friends would believe that Jack would have been left all alone in Africa and in need of money…?!?!

Perhaps more seriously, it is time for people to look at the passwords they use and ensure that those they chose are ‘strong’ rather than weak. So, don’t use spouse, children, pets names, don’t use mother’s maiden names or dates that can be readily found on the Internet. A little bit of thought will go a long way to ensuring that your account is not broken into – and your reputation put at risk.

Scams TNG: Impersonating The Authorities

By Guy Bunker | January 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment 

Guy Bunker

What happens when everyone knows your scam… you get a new one. Nigerian fraudsters are well known for their 419 scams whereby you can be conned out of a large amount of money (if you are foolish enough to believe the story to begin with)… but in this case, the next generation of fraud has occurred. The person fell for the original scam, but was then contacted by ‘the FBI’ to be told that it was a scam, only to be scammed out of even more money – as they weren’t the FBI after all.

Impersonation is a big problem (and always has been) and we trust people, especially those with badges and uniforms too much – without necessarily verifying their identity properly. Their default reputation, or rather their jobs’ default reputation is what gives them an air of authority and therefore put us off our guard. So whether it’s a policeman or even just someone reading a meter, it pays to take a close look at their credentials – and if you are unsure find another way to verify they are who they say they are. For meter readers, you can always ask for them to come back another time and check with the utility company that they are an employee. For others, you can ask for a telephone number or look it up yourself and get verification. As for the FBI… well, I would expect the US Embassy would probably be able to verify (or not) whether they are real.

As one scam becomes well known, another arises… and as that is reported as being successful, so more people will try it… just be careful about whether people are who they say they are, whether it is on the Internet or online.