“Just The Facts, Ma’am, and Only the Facts!” March 25th Class Follow Up

Topic: Cyber Crimes The following websites and follow up information were provided by Scott Augenbaum- FBI Dept. of Justice.

-Reporting Internet scams: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/e-scams

Telemarketing Fraud

When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.

Here are some warning signs of telemarketing fraud—what a caller may tell you:

“You must act ‘now’ or the offer won’t be good.” “You’ve won a ‘free’ gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges. “You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.” You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully. “You don’t need to check out the company with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency. “You don’t need any written information about their company or their references.” “You can’t afford to miss this ‘high-profit, no-risk’ offer.”

If you hear these or similar “lines” from a telephone salesperson, just say “no thank you” and hang up the telephone.

Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud:

It’s very difficult to get your money back if you’ve been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember:

. Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply. . Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true. . Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations. . Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items. . Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment. . Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. “What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?” . Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered. . Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached. . Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision. . Don’t pay for a “free prize.” If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law. . Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are—the kinds of financial information you will and won’t give out on the telephone. . Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor. It’s never rude to wait and think about an offer. . Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly. . Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons. . Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties. . If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance. . If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.

For More information: - Telemarketing Fraud Targeting Seniors http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud

Smartphone Users Should be Aware of Malware Targeting Mobile Devices and Safety Measures to Help Avoid Compromise10/12/12—The IC3 has been made aware of various malware attacking Android operating systems for mobile devices. Some of the latest known versions of this type of malware are Loozfon and FinFisher. Loozfon is an information-stealing piece of malware. Criminals use different variants to lure the victims. One version is a work-at-home opportunity that promises a profitable payday just for sending out e- mail. A link within these advertisements leads to a website that is designed to push Loozfon on the user’s device. The malicious application steals contact details from the user’s address book and the infected device’s phone number.

FinFisher is a spyware capable of taking over the components of a mobile device. When installed the mobile device can be remotely controlled and monitored no matter where the Target is located. FinFisher can be easily transmitted to a smartphone when the user visits a specific web link or opens a text message masquerading as a system update.

Loozfon and FinFisher are just two examples of malware used by criminals to lure users into compromising their devices.

Safety tips to protect your mobile device:

When purchasing a smartphone, know the features of the device, including the default settings. Turn off features of the device not needed to minimize the attack surface of the device. Depending on the type of phone, the operating system may have encryption available. This can be used to protect the user’s personal data in the case of loss or theft. With the growth of the application market for mobile devices, users should look at the reviews of the developer/company who published the application. Review and understand the permissions you are giving when you download applications. Passcode protect your mobile device. This is the first layer of physical security to protect the contents of the device. In conjunction with the passcode, enable the screen lock feature after a few minutes of inactivity. Obtain malware protection for your mobile device. Look for applications that specialize in antivirus or file integrity that helps protect your device from rogue applications and malware. Be aware of applications that enable geo-location. The application will track the user’s location anywhere. This application can be used for marketing, but can also be used by malicious actors, raising concerns of assisting a possible stalker and/or burglaries. Jailbreak or rooting is used to remove certain restrictions imposed by the device manufacturer or cell phone carrier. This allows the user nearly unregulated control over what programs can be installed and how the device can be used. However, this procedure often involves exploiting significant security vulnerabilities and increases the attack surface of the device. Anytime an application or service runs in “unrestricted” or “system” level within an operation system, it allows any compromise to take full control of the device. Do not allow your device to connect to unknown wireless networks. These networks could be rogue access points that capture information passed between your device and a legitimate server. If you decide to sell your device or trade it in, make sure you wipe the device (reset it to factory default) to avoid leaving personal data on the device. Smartphones require updates to run applications and firmware. If users neglect this, it increases the risk of having their device hacked or compromised. Avoid clicking on or otherwise downloading software or links from unknown sources. Use the same precautions on your mobile phone as you would on your computer when using the Internet.

If you have been a victim of an Internet scam or have received an e-mail that you believe was an attempted scam, please file a complaint at www.IC3.gov. TBI website posts cyber crime alerts: http://www.tbi.state.tn.us/cyber_crime/cyber_crime.shtml

FRAUD ALERT!

DEBT COLLECTORS CLAIMING TO WORK FOR TN Bureau of Investigation The TBI has become aware of an organized criminal enterprise that has been calling people both inside and outside Tennessee from a series of numbers in the 901 area code. The callers claim to be state law enforcement officers and use the threat of criminal prosecution to extort money from potential victims.

In some cases, the person called received a loan; in others, the call was random. An investigation has revealed that the calls are coming from outside the United States, so TBI cannot currently recover any money sent to this group.

IN ALL CASES, THESE CALLS ARE FRAUDULENT. TBI agents do not serve as debt collectors, and would always appear in person with proper identification before requesting a particular action. http://www.deletepredators.com/Internet_Tips/

www.lookstogoodtobetrue.com

Other Helpful websites: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2013/02/creditreport.shtm http://www.justice.gov/criminal/cybercrime/