For those of you who do not have an anti-virus program, you might want to check this out security vendors and download a program for your own protection. Personally, I have encountered trojans and viruses and, thankfully, haven't had a problem because of the anti-virus protection I've installed. Lately, I've had more attempts which have been reported to the FTC and, if needed, could become a lawsuit which I'd prefer not to act on unless absolutely necessary.
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Malware, short for "malicious software," includes viruses and spyware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud. Criminals create appealing websites, desirable downloads, and compelling stories to lure you to links that will download malware – especially on computers that don't use adequate security software
Don't click on a link in an email or open an attachment unless you know who sent it and what it is. Links in email can send you to sites that automatically download malware to your machine. Opening attachments – even those that appear to come from a friend or co-worker – also can install malware on your computer.
Download and install software only from websites you know and trust. Downloading free games, file-sharing programs, and customized toolbars may sound appealing, but free software can come with malware.
Talk about safe computing. Tell your kids that some online activity can put a computer at risk: clicking on pop-ups, downloading "free" games or programs, or posting personal information.
Finally, monitor your computer for unusual behavior. If you suspect your machine has been exposed to malware, take action immediately. Report problems with malware to your ISP so it can try to prevent similar problems and alert other subscribers, as well as to the
FTC.
How to Report Malware
If you believe your computer has spyware, the FTC wants to know.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint
To Avoid Online Scams:
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.
Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial information.
Don’t play a foreign lottery.
Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.
Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then wire money back.
Read your bills and monthly statements regularly—on paper and online.
In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight.
Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for medical treatments.
When considering an investment, remember that there’s no such thing as a sure thing.
Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with.
International scam artists use clever schemes to defraud millions of people around the globe each year, threatening financial security and generating substantial profits for criminal organizations and common crooks. Being on guard online can help you maximize the benefits of e-commerce and minimize your chance of being defrauded. Here are ten tips to help you avoid common online scams:
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know. That includes an online merchant you’ve never heard of — or an online love interest who asks for money or favors. It’s best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auction, consider a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Don’t send cash or use a wire transfer service. And don’t pay upfront fees for the promise of a big pay-off — whether it’s a loan, a job, or prize money.
Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial information, whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an ad. Don’t click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. The crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into sending money and revealing your bank account information. If you get a message and are concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card — or your statement — and check it out.
Don’t play a foreign lottery. First, it’s easy to be tempted by messages that boast enticing odds in a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you’ve already won. Inevitably, you’ll be asked to pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “customs duties” to collect your prize. If you send money, you won’t get it back, regardless of the promises. Second, it’s illegal to play foreign lotteries.
Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to someone who claims to be a relative in an emergency (and wants to keep the request a secret).
Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then wire money back, no matter how convincing the story. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You are responsible for the checks you deposit: When a check turns out to be a fake, you’ll be responsible for paying back the bank.
Read your bills and monthly statements regularly—on paper and online. Scammers steal account information and then run up charges or commit crimes in your name. Dishonest merchants sometimes bill you for monthly “membership fees” and other goods or services you didn’t authorize. If you see charges you don’t recognize or didn’t okay, contact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor immediately.
In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably don’t have the infrastructure to get help to the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting the money to finance illegal activity. Check out ftc.gov/charityfraud to learn more.
Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for medical treatments. Ask about research that supports a product’s claims — and possible risks or side effects. Buy prescription drugs only from licensed U.S. pharmacies. Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired or mislabeled — in short, products that could be dangerous. Visit ftc.gov/health for more information.
Remember there’s no such thing as a sure thing. If someone contacts you promoting low-risk, high-return investment opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, guarantees of big profits, promises of little or no financial risk, or demands that you send cash immediately, report them at ftc.gov.
Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with. Try to find a seller’s physical address (not just a P.O. Box) and phone number. With VoIP and other web-based technologies, it’s tough to tell where someone is calling from. Do an internet search for the company name and website and look for negative reviews. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.
For descriptions of specific scams, check out the email scams page.
http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/avoiding-scams.aspx
________
Malware, short for "malicious software," includes viruses and spyware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud. Criminals create appealing websites, desirable downloads, and compelling stories to lure you to links that will download malware – especially on computers that don't use adequate security software
Don't click on a link in an email or open an attachment unless you know who sent it and what it is. Links in email can send you to sites that automatically download malware to your machine. Opening attachments – even those that appear to come from a friend or co-worker – also can install malware on your computer.
Download and install software only from websites you know and trust. Downloading free games, file-sharing programs, and customized toolbars may sound appealing, but free software can come with malware.
Talk about safe computing. Tell your kids that some online activity can put a computer at risk: clicking on pop-ups, downloading "free" games or programs, or posting personal information.
Finally, monitor your computer for unusual behavior. If you suspect your machine has been exposed to malware, take action immediately. Report problems with malware to your ISP so it can try to prevent similar problems and alert other subscribers, as well as to the
FTC.
How to Report Malware
If you believe your computer has spyware, the FTC wants to know.
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint
To Avoid Online Scams:
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.
Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial information.
Don’t play a foreign lottery.
Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.
Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then wire money back.
Read your bills and monthly statements regularly—on paper and online.
In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight.
Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for medical treatments.
When considering an investment, remember that there’s no such thing as a sure thing.
Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with.
International scam artists use clever schemes to defraud millions of people around the globe each year, threatening financial security and generating substantial profits for criminal organizations and common crooks. Being on guard online can help you maximize the benefits of e-commerce and minimize your chance of being defrauded. Here are ten tips to help you avoid common online scams:
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know. That includes an online merchant you’ve never heard of — or an online love interest who asks for money or favors. It’s best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items through an online auction, consider a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Don’t send cash or use a wire transfer service. And don’t pay upfront fees for the promise of a big pay-off — whether it’s a loan, a job, or prize money.
Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial information, whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an ad. Don’t click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. The crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into sending money and revealing your bank account information. If you get a message and are concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card — or your statement — and check it out.
Don’t play a foreign lottery. First, it’s easy to be tempted by messages that boast enticing odds in a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you’ve already won. Inevitably, you’ll be asked to pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “customs duties” to collect your prize. If you send money, you won’t get it back, regardless of the promises. Second, it’s illegal to play foreign lotteries.
Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to someone who claims to be a relative in an emergency (and wants to keep the request a secret).
Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then wire money back, no matter how convincing the story. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You are responsible for the checks you deposit: When a check turns out to be a fake, you’ll be responsible for paying back the bank.
Read your bills and monthly statements regularly—on paper and online. Scammers steal account information and then run up charges or commit crimes in your name. Dishonest merchants sometimes bill you for monthly “membership fees” and other goods or services you didn’t authorize. If you see charges you don’t recognize or didn’t okay, contact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor immediately.
In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight. Pop-up charities probably don’t have the infrastructure to get help to the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting the money to finance illegal activity. Check out ftc.gov/charityfraud to learn more.
Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for medical treatments. Ask about research that supports a product’s claims — and possible risks or side effects. Buy prescription drugs only from licensed U.S. pharmacies. Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired or mislabeled — in short, products that could be dangerous. Visit ftc.gov/health for more information.
Remember there’s no such thing as a sure thing. If someone contacts you promoting low-risk, high-return investment opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, guarantees of big profits, promises of little or no financial risk, or demands that you send cash immediately, report them at ftc.gov.
Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with. Try to find a seller’s physical address (not just a P.O. Box) and phone number. With VoIP and other web-based technologies, it’s tough to tell where someone is calling from. Do an internet search for the company name and website and look for negative reviews. Check them out with the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.
For descriptions of specific scams, check out the email scams page.
http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/avoiding-scams.aspx
