Posted on 09/25/2004 8:46:25 AM PDT by John Robertson
What is "net angels," or www.netangel.com?
I think there are two issues here - credit card (or checking account) fraud and computer security. I don't see the problem in addressing both issues since they can be related if you conduct any money transactions online.
I guess I'm assuming since the business calls itself "net angels" that it is some internet-related business, meaning the fraud originated with getting his bank account number online. I could be wrong.
And if you don't think spyware can find account numbers you've stored in your PC, I think you are mistaken. I don't pay any bills online because I don't trust that my account information isn't being read or made available. If I don't open up the path for people to access my bank account, unauthorized users can't get into it.
Who to contact if you suspect fraud: (web sites with info)
www.sec.gov/enforce/complaint
www.vam.fbi.gov
www.ifccfbi.gov - internet fraud complaint center
www.worldwidescam.com/ - world wide scam listings
www.stockdetective.com/ - self policing
Look for the little lock icon at the bottom or top of your Internet browser screen. When the
padlock icon shows locked then Credit Cards and other financial transactions are protected
Download this .pdf file on internet fraud..
http://www.phoenixhecht.com/PDF/InternetFraud.pdf
The problem is that it's distracting bafflecrap. There is no gold mine or file of banking account numbers on my personal computer that has some record of all of my transactions online. The gold mine is in the general security of the companies you deal with, and that risk is there no matter how you use your card, whether is it over the phone, at the store, or over the internet. It is ~their~ records that are the gold mine, not your own machine. Internet security and firewalls save you from viruses and worms that are general hassles, but those hassles have to do with harm to your computer, not your bank account.
Now that's just bull crap. There was no mocking going on, and I mentioned FireFox in my LAST sentence. I didn't say he MUST use it and I didn't mock him in any way for not. I merely offered a technique that I use to keep this spy crap off my machine in the first place.
Fact is most spyware enters a machine when using MicroSoft Internet Explorer. This spyware can send CC#s and debit card #s back to the malicious/dishonest person who sent them. No doubt CC and debit card numbers are handled by the kid at the gas station and there is a possibility for theft there too. I never said there wasn't. There's not much one can do about that. However, one CAN be proactive and take precautions on ones computer, and that is all I was talking about. True, a NAT firewall is probably not a concern in this instance, but whenever discussing securing a computer I think it is a good idea to mention all the parts.
Now that's just bull crap.
To: John RobertsonUmmm. lemme guess. You're using MicroSoft Internet Explorer and NO firewall software. Am I right?
FDIC doesn't cover fraud.
FDIC protects account holders from the bank. It kicks in if the bank goes under. So unless your bank goes into receivership, FDIC is not apllicable.
I thought it was UK? Is it also GB?
DOH! I forgot about that post. But I wasn't reallly mocking, I was merely inquiring so as to confirm my suspicions. But I can see how you might interpret that as a mock, so I'll give you one half of one "I'm sorry".
OK then.... :~) see my 63 for why talk of firewalls and browsers in this circumstance distracts from being helpful in the same way that it would distract for me to speak of good locks on the door and a handy sidearm to keep this thievery from happening again.
I was just trying to be helpful, not a distraction. If you want to believe that spyware on individual computers is not transmitting CC #s and debit card #s back to theives, you can believe that. However there's tons of info out there to the contrary.
OK. There are plenty of good reasons for firewalls and safe internet habits. SOme real, some imagined.
Here is the report I got after running Sheilds Up:
Attempting connection to your computer. . .Shields UP! is now attempting to contact the Hidden Internet Server within your PC. It is likely that no one has told you that your own personal computer may now be functioning as an Internet Server with neither your knowledge nor your permission. And that it may be serving up all or many of your personal files for reading, writing, modification and even deletion by anyone, anywhere, on the Internet!
Your Internet port 139 does not appear to exist! One or more ports on this system are operating in FULL STEALTH MODE! Standard Internet behavior requires port connection attempts to be answered with a success or refusal response. Therefore, only an attempt to connect to a nonexistent computer results in no response of either kind. But YOUR computer has DELIBERATELY CHOSEN NOT TO RESPOND (that's very cool!) which represents advanced computer and port stealthing capabilities. A machine configured in this fashion is well hardened to Internet NetBIOS attack and intrusion.
Unable to connect with NetBIOS to your computer. All attempts to get any information from your computer have FAILED. (This is very uncommon for a Windows networking-based PC.) Relative to vulnerabilities from Windows networking, this computer appears to be VERY SECURE since it is NOT exposing ANY of its internal NetBIOS networking protocol over the Internet.
If anyone is looking for an excellent and easy to use firewall, I highly recommend Armor2Net. It's free to use for 30 days and only $19.99 to purchase a license.
Go to the FTC website and click over to identity fraud. Good info.
I had sort of the reverse thing yesterday. Two weeks ago I wired $1000 from a mutual fund to my checking account. Never received. Sender says everything went OK. Bank says they never saw it. It's in electronic nether land. My checking account had $43 in it and the next check would have bounced -- thank God for letting me check it when I did. Starting a trace Monday.
Yes...the FDIC does cover loses due to fraud.
I believe with my online bank - if you notify them promptly if any unauthorized activities - they restore the funds. I never go more then 2 or 3 days without logging in to check.
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