Email scams

Computer Care: Beware of costly email scams

By Arthur Glazer
glazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: August 20, 2011 1:00 a.m.

Computers are getting faster as prices drop. Facebook dominates the Internet and email scams from Nigeria and various mystery lotteries continue to fill my spam box.

I receive about a dozen of these notices each week. The most recent stated I had won $350,000 in the Blackberry Online Promotion.

Not only do I not own a Blackberry device, but it is supposedly a raffle draw, or a lottery. Don't you have to purchase tickets in a lottery before you can win it? Obviously not everyone asks themselves that question, because many do respond.

I also regularly receive emails from the Minister of Finance in Nigeria, announcing my winnings. They must be constantly replacing the minister, because I can't help but notice, each email lists a different minister.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of people falling for the Nigerian scam is steadily increasing. In 2005, more than 55,000 people lodged complaints, up three times the amount from 2003. Following that rate, the number today would be just shy of a million.

The FTC also states that the number of people who actually file complaints is low, compared to the amount that are suckered into the scheme. People are simply ashamed to come forward. According to authorities, only 15 percent of fraud victims report their losses.

The U.S. Secret Service may also get involved with combating these crimes, but will not investigate unless there is a monetary loss of at least $50,000.

The Nigerian Scam 419, as it is called, is the third most lucrative Nigerian industry, generating more than $5 billion in the past 20 years. It got its name "419" from the Nigerian criminal code that deals with the crime.

Advance-fee fraud is another name for the Nigerian scam. This is a crime that asks for money up front in order to get more money. You pay a fee, and usually more than one, to procure you winnings - or not.

Scams evolve. The advance-fee fraud is similar to an older "Spanish prisoner" scam, where in exchange for money to bribe prison guards, a wealthy prisoner is promised a share of supposed treasure.

The reason so many of us continue to see these scams is because the scammers are getting enough responses to make it worth their while. You wouldn't think they would keep sending those emails year after year, but sending spam costs the spammer nothing.

Hypothetically, let's say they send a million emails (usually more) and 10 people respond. Each is suckered out of a mere $5,000 (usually much more). The Nigerian reprobate just made $50,000 sitting at his desk sending email.

More realistically, they may send 10 million emails, which follows with 100 respondents. That yields $500,000. Now that makes it worth sending those emails.

Similar email schemes involve work-at-home scams where you would take in money for a company and forward it to them from your account. You would then supposedly be compensated for it. Again you lose, as their checks ultimately bounce.

Another trap is charity scams. They tug on your heart strings asking for donations for accident victims, missing children, national disasters and so on. If you are solicited by a group for money, ask them questions before you agree to anything. Find out who they are. Ask if they could call you later or is there a call-back number? They will most likely hang up on you at that point.

A study by the Dutch firm Ultrascan shows last year advanced-fee scams resulted in losses more than $9 billion. Since they began about two decades ago, more than $41 billion in losses have been reported.

We recently got a phone call from supposed reps from the IRS (even though caller ID said Kingston, Jamaica) telling us we were winners in an IRS lottery. My wife joyously shouted to me that we had won and played along momentarily before she asked the silver-tongued miscreant if his mother knew what he did for a living - and then hung up.

We knew someone who was sucked into a similar scam. She was educated and intelligent. After going through tens of thousands of dollars, she maxed out her credit cards to these guys and ultimately had a stroke.

Those who fall for the scams are from all different areas of life demographically, having one thing in common: the greed of wanting or needing quick money.

To avoid becoming a victim:

- Don't succumb to pressure to respond quickly.
- Don't give money to a cause you don't fully understand.
- Ask where and with whom the firm is registered.
- Request written information.
- Do your own research about the company.
- Ask that information be sent to a financial adviser.
- Don't provide or verify any personal information.
- When in doubt, hang up or don't reply to emails.

If you have been victimized, forward appropriate written documentation to the United States Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20223.

If you have to send money to win money, there is something wrong with the picture - and you don't want to be in it.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Bogus AntiVirus and Registry Apps

Computer Care: Beware of phony anti-virus apps; they're really malware

By Arthur Glazer
glazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: August 6, 2011 1:00 a.m.

Not all is what it seems when it comes to programs for your computer. There are so many rogue applications circulating the Internet now that one is sure to end up on your browser or in your inbox.

XP AntiVirus has been around for years and is still an active example of malware. Yes, you read that correctly. It is not an anti-virus program. It goes under various names including Windows AntiVirus, Vista or Win 7 AntiVirus and others.

In the past few months, I have removed more of these infectious programs from clients' computers than genuine viruses. Sure, there are still viruses out there, but malware is running a close race.

These so-called utilities will not clean your system, but will clean your wallet. They exist only to get your credit card number.

There are many types of bogus apps, some in the form of registry cleaners and system optimizers. They look like Windows utilities having the same color swatch or the shield that Microsoft uses for security issues. If you look closely though, there is no "About" button and no company name on the utility.

There's also the absence of an "X" on the upper right of the app to close it down. You can only scan or purchase. The "Close" or "Continue" buttons are greyed out so you can't click on them.

ThinkPoint is a similar rogue utility. It scares you into thinking your system is corrupt. After careful scrutiny, you'll see the only button you can click is "Safe StartUp." The "Normal StartUp" is greyed out.

They also want you to buy a nonexistent program.

These non-apps sneak into your system by intimidation. You are told of imminent system failure if a scan is not run or the app is not purchased. Don't fall for it.

You may be told there are 87 Windows registry errors that need to be fixed or removed immediately to continue. The fact is, once you see those warnings it's too late. You're already infected. It's not errors that need removing; it's that program.

It is not the job of Windows to report infections to you. If you have not initiated a scan, either manually or via a schedule, but scan results are reported to you, beware.

Often, the more you try to do something, the worse the situation gets. Each window you close yields another in an endless cycle. I've seen screens literally covered in pop-ups, severely limiting the ability to navigate. Safe Mode offers an alternative access to your system and may be the only option of repair for the lay person.

Beware of phony websites offering links to utilities and of redirects and hijacks. Make sure you end up where you ought to be, not at a similarly spelled site.

When you see links to downloads, they should come from reputable websites like cnet.com or download.com. They may also come from the author of the program. Scrutinize the source.

Avoid unknown websites; they may be full of infectious programs. Stick with name-brand sites you know or have been referred to by reputable sources.

If you get an email from an unknown sender with a link to a website or a program, don't click on it, no matter how enticing it may appear. You may also see links on Facebook, one of the largest sources of malware.

Should you believe your computer is infected, first do a full scan with whatever security utility you have. Then, if you don't have Malwarebytes on your system, download it and perform a full scan.

Use of a full-featured Internet security program is better than just a dedicated anti-virus utility. As stated, there are much more than viruses out there. You need to have the proper defenses installed.

The use of CCleaner and Spyware Doctor alone will not offer comprehensive protection for your system. Although both good programs, they need to be supplemented, just as an antivirus utility needs to be supplemented with a good spyware/malware utility.

Having the app installed is not good enough. Be sure the app itself, as well as its definitions, gets updated regularly.

Create a schedule to have it run. Let it scan your system while you're having dinner or sleeping (if the PC is left on).

Use applications that provide real-time protection. If you attempt to access a bogus site, those apps will advise you that it is not what it appears to be and block it.

Although many free apps like ones offered by AVG and Avast provide adequate protection, they lack all the bells and whistles that the paid versions offer.

It is important to note that only one anti-virus program should be installed on a system. You can, however, install multiple apps for protection against malware, including spyware, pop-ups, Trojans, key loggers, rootkits and the like.

Keep in mind that although it is good to be protected, too many programs running at startup that boot with Windows will tend to slow the system down.

That's another issue — and another column.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.