I get downright nostalgic about the hackers of old. Back when the Internet was new for home users, young hackers would gleefully deface websites, break into corporate computer networks and try to outdo each other at how much mischief they could cause -- looking for fame among their contemporaries.
That sounds pretty good compared to what's going on today.
Nowadays, computer crooks -- many of them highly skilled and professionally trained -- aren't out to impress. Fame is the last thing they want. Instead, they hide their identities and try to outdo each other finding new ways to steal your money. They're doing one heck of a job at it.
Today we'll look at ways to defend yourself against the new breed of computer criminal.
We won't spend time on schemes that should be obvious or that have been talked to death. After all, if you really think a banker in Ghana has selected you at random to split $834 million, there's little I can do to help. Nor will we talk about phishing. You should know by now not to click on a link in an e-mail that says your bank, or some store, wants you to fill out a form giving all your personal information, passwords and bank account numbers.
Instead, we'll look at some schemes that are a bit less obvious.
A new home for your money
Crooks find homes that are on the market -- either for sale, or for rent -- and use those legitimate ads to craft fake ones. These fake ads list the same house but lower the sale or rent price to grab your attention. Then the crook waits for responses.
What happens next varies. In some cases, personal information is taken from those who respond and that's used to steal an identity. Other times, the crooks ask for deposit money upfront. Either way, it's possible to be fooled. The fake ads use real property, so since these are places you can drive by and see -- it's easier to get taken in. The secret here is to be sure the person offering the property can show you around inside the home. And, before any of your money leaves your bank account, make sure you really know who the person is.
Crooks get best end of bargain
The Internet has always been a great place to find bargains. Most of us have used that fact to our advantage. Legitimate websites offer incredible savings, and that's the basis for the next scam: Crooked online stores that offer amazingly low prices for merchandise they'll never ship.
Over the past few years, there has been a growth in sites like these -- and they have the lifespan of a house fly. A new online store will appear, offering prices that are crazy low. They'll take in as much money as they can in a few days or weeks, then disappear.
I know it's corny to say, but if something seems too good to be true, there's a good chance it's not true. Be suspicious of items priced way below what seems possible. Be especially leery of online stores that do not provide mailing addresses or phone numbers. And, as should be true even when you order from a reputable merchant, use a credit card that gives you protection if your ordered item never arrives.
Sites like these should be criminal
Sadly, the poor state of the economy has set the stage for schemes that hover in the gray area between illegal and unethical. Let's look at two that thrive on the Internet.
Work at home -- Even decades ago, there were print ads for various programs that allowed a person to work from home. In almost every case, the only money to be made was by the jerks behind the ad. These work-at-home scams now litter the Web with all the money still flowing toward the scammers.
You'll find sites offering either training or leads to jobs -- maybe taking customer service calls, or transcribing documents at home. Some of these sites are really slick, with what seem to be endorsements from legitimate organizations or testimonials from satisfied customers.
But in almost every case, the ploy is a simple one. Those who inquire eventually end up paying money to the firm making the offer. It may be for a franchise fee, or a book that teaches you how to do something, or maybe an online training course.
While there are ways to run a business or work independently from home, you probably won't hear about them based on an e-mail or a website. Any new business has to struggle for survival, especially these days, but those that succeed will be started by people who have existing skills that are in demand.
Get out of debt instantly -- The Internet is dotted with firms offering what must seem heaven-sent to folks suffering financially: "Get out of debt instantly."
In many cases, these firms offer bankruptcy as a solution. In others, they offer debt negotiation services. While there are legitimate firms and nonprofit organizations that offer true help, many others just help themselves to the very last bits of already depleted bank accounts.
If you're in financial trouble, get advice from a reputable CPA or lawyer -- not from some stranger with nothing but extravagant promises.
Your low-tech defense system
Avoiding frauds and scams online requires using one of life's most uncommon virtues: Common sense. If an offer sounds unbelievably good, approach it with the presumption that you should not believe it.
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