Latest internet scams are CPA and car billboards-FBI IC3

Fake messages from certified public accountants (CPA) and companies promising payments for using victims’ cars as nomadic ads are the latest Internet scams making the circle, according to the FBI’s Internet crime complaint center.

The FBI’s IC3 and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) said a scam in which sufferers receive a malware-laden e-mail supposedly from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that intimidates termination of accountant’s licenses. The spam campaign from aicpa.org intimidates termination of the spam receiver’s license for filing counterfeit tax repayments for their clients. The email gives a link to view the complaint. Receiver’s were advised to give feedback within a specific period of time and intimidated with possible termination of their accountant licenses if they failed to do so.

FBI’s IC3 analysis these scams and found that the emails were shoving out a Black hole exploit kit holding a Trojan redirector. It was also found that the IP addresses used in the campaign have been occupied in large volumes of Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) action from the same botnet and appear to have originated from Brazil.

Another recent scam statement to IC3 involves assures of payment for advertising a company's banner on a victim’s private car’s while they go out. Although there are genuine offers for such advertising, said IC3, those scammed reported that they had replied to online ad postings regarding the opportunity. The online posting presented an easy way to make extra income by permitting businesses to advertise their logo on the complainant's individual vehicle through a vinyl decal or "auto wrap," said ICE3. The scammers utilize big corporation names like Coca Cola, Carlsberg beer, Monster Energy drink, Red Bull and Heineken Co.

The employment offer was completely fake, said IC3. Those who fell for the scam get a check or money order for more than the assured amount, it explained. They were directed to cash the check and wire the difference to a third person, who was supposed to be the graphics designer to pay for the rate of the design. The checks and money orders changed out to fake and the criminals, IC3 alleges, converted fraudulent checks and money orders into undetectable cash, leaving the victim accountable for the bank's losses.

Latest scams target cell phones

Now scammers are targeting the cell phones to phishing. The most recent method involves a bogus Verizon bill and a computer pathway that, if taken, could let scammer to steal your identity. Commonly the scam “smishing” transmitted by cellphone let to click the link for claim the offer from cell phone or credit card companies that is not genuine. The Criminals try to harvest your financial and personal information as well as user names and passwords. Don’t click on any illegitimate links.

Like this scam the new Verizon scam, have designed the e-mail to look exactly like a genuine message. We can find by looking at the URL link provided. If anyone gets an e-mail or text message asking them to click on a link to claim a prize or pay a bill should not click that link.

Alexander told that he would always report emails when he feels it is suspicious. He told that he will not follow a link; he will directly go to that site. He also encouraged customers to make sure the sites they go to when paying bills or giving other individual information are secure. If that site is secure, they usually use a padlock icon to show they are secure. In addition, computer and cell phone users can use malware programs to protect themselves.

Scammer in the name of Microsoft

A Bethlehem woman e-mailed me regarding a call she'd attended at residence one night. In that call one man told that he was with Microsoft, and her computer had been corrupted. How, she asked? Do you play games, the man questioned? No. Do you email? Yes. Do you surf the Internet?

The caller never got the opportunity to make whatever sales pitch he had, because the woman's husband told her to get off the phone, because it was a scam. I'm sure that if she'd remained on the line, the caller would have offered some line about being able to fix the "corruption."

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a caution message about fake calls from Microsoft, saying they appear to be an attempt to gain remote access to your computer so they can cause all kind of misbehavior.

Tips to keep you safe from Online fraud

Online scams continuously evolve to reveal popular actions in the news. They're successful, because a scam is not physically attacking a computer, rather fooling the user into clicking on a fake link. They use spam, malicious websites, email messages and instant messages to trick people into revealing confidential information, such as bank account username, password and credit card accounts. 

According to the recent Norton Cybercrime statement, more than 868,206 New Zealanders fall victim to cybercrime in 2010, suffering $288.2 million in direct financial losses. 

Scammers may utilize email to ask for personal information and direct recipients to reply through malicious websites.

Look out for scammers using emotional language, scare plans or urgent needs to entice recipients to reply.

Phishing sites can look like genuine one, because they tend to use the copyrighted pictures from genuine sites.

Memorize that fake messages are often not personalized and badly written. Think before click any offer advertisement or request any offer through mail. If it looks as genuine, it probably is.

Norton has several free and premium products that can help protect against online scams.

The Norton Snap QR Code Reader protects your mobile device from online attacks by warning you of dangerous QR codes and blocking insecure websites before they load on your device. 

KEEP SAFE: Top tips to avoid an online scam:

• Install security software and keep it up-to-date.
• Change your password frequently.
• Think before you click on links or attachments particularly shortened URLs.
• Don't provide personal or financial information online.
• Educate children about online safety and support them to report anything doubtful.
• Never reply to emails or claiming to be from banks or financial organization.