You may all like to be on the alert for folks using these simple but devastating methods of online fraud.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5187518.stmSome criminals are now using net phone systems in a bid to make their come-ons look more legitimate and convince people to hand over useful details such as credit card numbers, bank account details or personal information.
The scam has been dubbed "vishing" because, like phishing, its practitioners pose as banks and other financial institutions but use Voice over IP (Voip) technology.
One recent con spotted by security firm WebSense put an 0800 number in an e-mail message spammed out to users asking them to call and update their bank details.
On calling the number users hear a recorded voice asking them to enter their account number using the phone's touch pad.
Anti-virus firm Sophos has also come across a combined e-mail and phone scam aimed at net payments service PayPal which also asks people to phone to update or confirm their account information.
Secure Computing has found a more sophisticated scam that avoids e-mail altogether. Instead the criminals behind this scam have programmed computers to dial a long list of phone numbers and play a recorded message to anyone that answers.
The recorded message warns that a person's credit card has been used fraudulently and asks them to enter their card number. Significantly, those responding are also asked for the security number found on the rear of the card.
The scam is lent legitimacy because net phone technology makes it easy to fake the number someone is calling from.
I hope you spread the word about this activity folks, I get annoyed when old folks especially are targeted in this manner
