Home > Technobuddy > Archives > 2007 > September > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s a scam and it’s legal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The most dangerous security threat in most homes isn’t a virus, it’s not spyware, nor is it some flaw in your computer’s operating system that opens the door to hackers. It’s you.
An example of this can be found at the link here.
To make things worse, this scam is at least arguable legal (there are parts of it that are illegal - but the main tool used in the scam is legal … you can read the story to see what I mean).
Here’s how it works. The Web page offered something free - it could even deliver on the promise - in return for personal data. So you’d fill in your name, e-mail address, maybe even your mailing address. And true to the promise you get the free item and the Web site operators got your information. So there’s no deception here.
In return for your ‘free’ gift the Web site operators have information that - at best - can be sold to spammers. At worst, gosh knows what will be done with it. But it’s valuable information - hey, it’s a list of guilible people. What a gold mine.
To add insult to injury, the information the scammers collected was posted on a public Web site for anyone to see.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: Crime
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Comments
By Terri
September 4, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
So THAT’s how those SOBs got my e-mail address. Now I need to figure out why they think I want Viagara.
By Concerned Consumer
September 4, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
I hope that is not true of the AJC. I had to “register” in order to log on to the AJC. Do they sell that information to others?
By Ex-Northerner
September 4, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this
Beware that all those ads on TV hawking websiteS that will make you rich, or at least $5000 a month, where actors say they made mega-bucks while doing nothing at home are not only asking you to become spammers but are also among those websites that grab your info and sell it. There is no quick road to financial security other than hard WORK!
By Somer
September 4, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this
I still don’t understand how folks think they will get something for nothing. I get pop up ads all the time. The most popular one is when a picture of a well known A-list celeb will pop up. For a free gift all you have to do is name the celeb. I never respond because I know the free gift isn’t worth the risk of identity theft that will ultimately follow.
Every day I get a call from a claim center trying to reach me to give me my free gift. I don’t even answer. You have to be totally stupid to think that someone is just going to give you something for nothing. I am sure it’s a gift that I will have to pay the taxes on and that will require my credit card.
By Scamdex
September 4, 2007 8:47 PM | Link to this
Where’s the link?
Check any websites by searching on scamdex.com
By art
September 4, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
People can say what they want to about AOL. I’ve been using it since it had another name back in the 1980s. Their anti-spam software and pop-ad blocks are superior. I have hardly any spam on a monthly basis (well, about 10 total).
Technobuddy is right. If somebody asks you for information instead of the other way around, caveat emptor.
By abba
September 4, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe this is even a topic for discussion.
anyone who gives their personal info out in any type of pop up window, really the internet in general these days, should EXPECT that info to basically become public knowledge.
By r
September 5, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this
I have two email addresses; one for friends and family, the other for online transactions that I rarely check.
Also, use AdBlock!
By Sundown
September 5, 2007 6:49 PM | Link to this
I submit one of my email addresses that can be deactivated whenever I choose, plus my mailwasher blacklists spam, and I don’t give accurate information to sites that require a first or last name, or postal/zip code. If it asks for finantial info and there is not an option for “prefer not to disclose” that site won’t see me again no matter how appealing they try to be.