| Fishing on the Internet has come a long way. | | | | the only remaining heir, is trying to escape. |
| However, we TechWeb junkies like to call it | | | | If you help him, he will give you lots of |
| Phishing. What I am talking about here is not | | | | dough! Right on! "Please e-mail and tell me |
| going after your ordinary, everyday catch. | | | | of your decision. I am ready to pay you 25% |
| Yet a fine catch it indeed may be to those | | | | of the money [$45.5 Million] for your help, |
| thieving bandits if they can lure you into | | | | 5% shall go for expenses you might incur |
| giving up your personal and private | | | | during the transaction. The remainder [70%] |
| information. Trickery is vast and common on | | | | shall be mine."Ok, ok, I am convinced; here |
| the World Wide Web. Beware, I say, | | | | is my private bank account, my SSN, DL# and |
| beware!Email schemes, called "phishing" or | | | | address. Please tell me what I need to do |
| "carding", attempt to trick consumers into | | | | next. Are they for real? Seriously though, if |
| disclosing personal and/or financial | | | | people didn't fall for these types of stunts, |
| information. The emails appear to come from | | | | there wouldn't be so many floating around. |
| legitimate companies with whom consumers may | | | | Identity theft has become more and more |
| regularly conduct business. I have seen scams | | | | rampant in this techno traveling world.Again |
| appear to come from such noteworthy | | | | I say, beware.Many of these email schemes |
| corporation as AOL, Earthlink, Paypal, eBay, | | | | contain links to "look-alike" websites that |
| or major credit card issuers. Often times the | | | | are loaded with actual trademarked images. |
| email threatens termination of accounts | | | | The websites then instruct consumers to |
| unless consumers update billing | | | | "reenter" their credit card numbers, social |
| information.Phishing comes around in all | | | | security numbers, bank PINs, or other |
| forms. How many of you have had some Nigerian | | | | personal information. If consumers actually |
| Prince that just inherited 35 million US | | | | provide the information requested, the data |
| dollars offer to share it with you for one | | | | goes to scammers, not the legitimate company |
| reason or another? How many of you have | | | | whose name is on the site. Thereafter, the |
| received an e-mail supposedly from your bank | | | | data is often used to order goods or services |
| that for "security reasons" requests you to | | | | and/or to obtain credit in the name of the |
| click a link that takes you to an online form | | | | consumer and potentially, steal your |
| to fill out, requesting all your personal and | | | | identity.Again, I say, beware!Rule for the |
| confidential information about your bank | | | | road:If you receive a precarious e-mail |
| account?A word to the wise: there is no | | | | asking you for personal information, chances |
| Prince in Nigeria that needs your help, and | | | | are it is a scam. It is better to be safe |
| your bank will never ask you for that info in | | | | than sorry.By Greg Richburg |
| an e-mail!The latest Internet scam appears to | | | | |
| come from the South African Department of | | | | Netricks, Inc.All past articles written by |
| Mining. "Resources and we are in dire need of | | | | Greg Richburg are available at Please |
| a foreign partner to assist us in the receipt | | | | address article suggestions to: Greg Richburg |
| and investment of US$15,500,000.00..." All | | | | is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and |
| they request is a secure place to deposit the | | | | the owner of Netricks, Inc. a network |
| lump sum on US territory, and you will gain a | | | | consulting, web design and hosting company |
| large piece of the pie. WOW, what a | | | | located in Fresno, CA.Visit Netricks at |
| deal!Another I received comes from Johnson | | | | Richburg also runs KlickCommerce, anInternet |
| Mgabe, the son of the leader of the Republic | | | | based marketing system for Ujena brand |
| of Zimbabwe Agricultural Commission. His | | | | clothing. See for details. |
| father has just been assassinated, and he, | | | | |