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Apr 16
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Beware of Scams

I’ve had a lot of jobs recently due to scam emails infecting computers and laptop due to this threat

‘Locky’ ransomware scam hits tens of thousands of Australian computers

Please beware of any links in emails

If in doubt don’t open them

Never give out passwords over the phone or in an email

Always question why they need this information

Don’t forget they’re good at what they do and will sound very convincing

Hang up is the simple solution

Aus post scams:

There’s a variety of ways online attackers may attempt to gain your personal or financial information, or exploit you for financial gain.

Please be aware that Australia Post will never:

Ask you to click on an email link to print off a label to redeem your package
Email or call you to ask for personal or financial information including password, credit card details or account information
Send you an email asking you to click on an attachment
Email you to reconfirm your physical mailing address by clicking on a link
Call or email you out of the blue to request payment

If you receive any suspicious emails, please:

Delete them immediately
Do not click on any links or attachments

You receive a call from someone claiming to be an Australia Post employee or a staff member from a post office. The caller advises you that Australia Post has been unsuccessful in delivering a parcel to you and redelivery can be arranged after you make a payment.

The payment amount may vary and the scammer may ask for payment in a number of ways such as credit card or international wire transfer.

Australia Post does not make calls like this, and they should be ignored.

march-scam

Phishing attacks are a common form of attack used by cyber-criminals to trick users to disclose sensitive, personal or financial information, including account credentials, for fraudulent purposes.

A phishing attack involves the use of a website set up by criminals to look like the website of a well-known organisation, such as an Australian financial institution or government agency. The aim of these attacks is to defraud or steal personal information from the victim.

The purpose of a phishing email is to encourage the reader to click on the web link, login and provide their personal information.

Phishing web sites often appear identical to the legitimate website except:

the web domain and URL will be different to the legitimate organisation
there is no padlock in the address bar or an incorrect placement of the padlock on the page
content often contains spelling and grammar mistakes
it has an invalid digital certificate

Phishing emails often try to create a sense of urgency by saying:

“your account will be closed down unless you log on”
“a large sum has been debited from your account – you need to provide your account details to confirm the charge is incorrect”

How to protect yourself

The tips below can help to protect your personal and financial security from fraud and scams.

Emails

Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails – delete them straight away.
Do not click on any links in a suspicious email, or open any attached files.
Don’t rush in. Resist the urge to “act now” despite the tempting offer. Once you turn over your money, it’s unlikely you’ll see it (or the product or service you’ve paid for) again.
Be careful when clicking unsubscribe on an email. Spammers may use the ‘unsubscribe’ button to validate your email address, resulting in even more spam.
Never pay for a “free” gift. If you receive an offer asking you to pay for a free gift or prize, put it in the trash – “free” means free.
Use up to date and comprehensive antivirus software.

Mail

Secure your mailbox with a lock and make sure your mail is regularly collected.
Shred or destroy personal and financial mail before you throw it away.
When going away on holidays, arrange for someone to clear your letterbox or arrange a mail hold. (For added security, we recommend the use of a private post office box.)
If you’re moving home, advise your bank and other important organisations immediately and organise a mail redirection to make sure letters still find you at your new address.
If you suspect your mail is being stolen or a mail redirection application has been made without your permission, contact Australia Post immediately.

Personal details

Never enter personal, credit card or bank account details on a website if you’re not certain it is genuine. Always check the website address as scammers create URLs that look remarkably similar.
Never send your personal, credit card or bank account details through an email.
Keep your passwords and PINs safe and don’t share them with anyone.
Check your credit card and/or bank statements regularly for suspicious transactions.
If you accidentally provide account or banking details to someone suspicious, you should contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Phone calls

If you are in doubt about the authenticity of a call, don’t commit to anything. Instead, hang up and call the company directly. Never use contact details provided by the caller – find the number through their website or the White Pages.
If a bank or any other organisation phones you, don’t provide your personal details or any account or credit card numbers. Instead ask for their name and a contact number. Check with the organisation in question before calling back.

Financial

Only send money to people you know and trust.
If money has been transferred into your bank account from an unknown source with instructions to send it overseas, call your bank immediately. It’s possible this money has been stolen from another bank account.
If you receive a request via email from a friend or family member who says they’re stranded while on holiday and need you to transfer money to them, call or contact them to verify the request is genuine.
Shred all documents containing personal information, such as credit card applications and bank statements.

If something sounds too good to be true

It most likely is

Please be careful

If in doubt ask someone you know or contact me

I’m happy to offer advice and keep you safe on the internet

howard@home-computing.com.au or 0457585540