Identity thieves are out there, waiting to use your own computer to steal your identity from you. Fight back against cyber crime and don't let them take advantage of you. It's time to take your online security into your own hands. It is my hope that by sharing my own experiences with identity thieves and other online predators trying to get my information I will help someone else learn to spot such underhanded tactics before they are taken advantage of.






Fishing for information



I was emptying out junk mail today since some bastard automated program decided my domain name (not this one) made a great one to send bulk spam notes from. In the process of deleting things I got to deleting older stuff I had not got around to and I found this little bit of stupidity nestled down in the old messages.


Subject: FUND RELEASE.

FUND RELEASE.

Attn:Sir/Ma,

We the international Remittance Department of Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) Duly contacted you in respect of transfering of your fund to you.

Meanwhile,you are hearby advised to Re-confirm your full banking details to enable us facilitate the transfer of your fund to you between the next 48 Banking hours ok.

BELOW ARE DETAILS NEEDED.

1) Account Name:

2) Account Number:

3) swift Code:

4) Name of Bank:

5) Contact address of Bank:

6) Expected Amount:

N.B As soon as your banking details has been confirmed by us your fund shall be transfered to you immediately ok.

Waiting for your Banking details.

Thanks.

Head of Remittance Dept.


Yeah, like I am just going to send you all my information and let you empty out my bank account and get a new identity courtesy of me. No way dude!

Just delete these kinds of mass e-mailed things people, they’re just fishing for information and looking for people they can rip off.









Yes! The Nigerians are repenting!



I got this in the e-mail today and had a good snicker over it. First was the request to notify the sender that I had received it. I don’t think so, you don’t need my confirmation that you found a good address to SPAM people.

So, what are them Nigerians up to?


Subject: CONTACT THE PAYING BANK FOR YOUR PAYMENT


FROM: AMBASSADOR BABAGANA KINGHIBE
DATE 12th SEPT 2007
SECETARY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.
RE: AVAIL YOURSELF THIS OPPORTUNITY.

ATTN: HONOURABLE BENEFICIARY,

I am honourable AMBASSADOR BABAGANA KINGHIBE; The new secretary federal government of Nigeria of Office of the Presidency. I have being directed by His Excellency, The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria UMAR MUSA YAR ADUA, who took seat of power as the new PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLICE OF NIGERIA to bring to your notice that this new Government understands your Plight, the disappointment you have suffered in the past to get your Contract /inheritance fund paid to you. Due to what we described as selective Payment and incessant demand of excessive fee by some unscrupulous and corrupt erstwhile officials in charge of Foreign Contract/inheritance payment in the past.

we are sorry for what you have gone through in the hands of fake Government officials that have been cheating you fraudulently, do not worry your problems now is solved as this new Government will not take that any more, so treat with urgency.

In view of the determination and commitment of this new Government to Ensure that every outstanding contract/inheritance debts are settled, But to our greatest dismay, despite all the effort made last year by past Government to ensure that most beneficiary receive their payment, record still show that a lot of Contractors/inheritance beneficiaries did not receive their payment due To their inability to settle some outstanding up-front obligation to the Federal Government.

Based on this, the President, UMAR MUSA YAR ADUA has approved the sum of US$1.8Billion Dollars in this year’s budget for the settlement of These outstanding debts.You are advised to contact SALEH G. SALEH (Director, Computer/ Telex Dept) FIRST INLAND BANK PLC, for the immediate release of your Overdue Contract/inheritance payment. However, we wish to inform you that you have been short-listed among The TEN contractors/beneficiaries that will benefit from the US$1.8 Billion Dollars Approved by the president, all you need to do is to contact the director Computer/telex dept to inform you how you will receive your fund Immediately. Do whatever you are told to do to enable you receive your money; we are Sorry for the delay you might experience.

CONTACT THE BANK FOR YOUR PAYMENT:SALEH G.
SALEH:first.ad_inlandbankplc@yahoo.dk

Sincerely Yours,
AMBASSADOR BABAGANA KINGHIBE.


Okay, so let me see if I got this right, they have it set up where if I will only contact them and provide everything they ask from me with no questions asked they will immediately give me my cut of US $1.8 billion? I’m one of only ten people that can take advantage of this great deal with no questions asked? Hmmm…. I’m afraid I have a question. How stupid do these people think I am?

No, I’m not going to contact the bank of whatever for unpaid inheritance/contract payments. This is one of them cases where they are looking for people wanting to slip through the paper shuffle and get in on a good deal. All you need is my bank information? Kewl!

How soon can you empty my account? When can I expect my good name to take a nose dive down into bad credit that ain’t even mine? The list of things that I can expect goes on into worse things, but you can bet that nowhere in that list is a ten percent cut of US $1.8 Billion.

No, the Nigerians are not repenting, this is just another in a long line of scams that should be pegged to that area of the SPAM index.