Anna's Safety Belt
~~ Anna
Morvee
SCAMS:
Don't Be the Next Victim
Whenever
there is a disaster, natural or manmade, it brings out all the ugliness.
The tragedies on September 11, 2001 brought out some of the worst.
As you've
read in the paper or seen on TV, the security experts are warning of scams
and cyber attacks. Many of the scams involve sending emails to
potential victims asking for donations for disaster relief and victim's
funds. They may take on a name that sounds official and resembles a
well-known organization such as the Salvation Army or the Red Cross. They
may ask you to donate money in the email and tell you where to send it or
they may have a web page set up that looks professional where you fill out
information, including your credit card.
There
are a few things to look out for that will red flag a scam:
1.
No contact information. If there is, it's bogus.
2.
Asking for your credit card number, birthday or social security number.
3.
Pleading and begging. Helping organizations don't beg or plead, nor do
they act on weaknesses and vulnerable times.
What
can you do if you get a scam email?
It
is a federal offence and should be reported to the
FBI.
On
September 10th, 2001, the FBI issued a statement before the Senate about
fraud against the elderly and those that are ill. They mentioned several
tactics that scammers use, including the computer as ways to victimize.
You can read that information
here.
There
is also a Parents Guide for Internet Safety for Children you can read or
download here.
The
National Infrastructure
Protection Center (NIPC) is a government department that alerts and
takes incident reports about cyber attacks and other threatening actions
that can or have been aimed at critical points in the United States. I
bring this up because it is a great resource to check when you hear about
a warning through email or through the media.
There
are also other sites on the web that can offer a great deal of information
on how to protect yourself.
ScamBusters
is a clearinghouse of information on all known scams and they offer a free
newsletter to keep you updated. There is also a great deal of
information on "emergency relief funds."
If
you DO want to help,
there are many resources available to you.
Helping.org
is a clearinghouse for information on what you can do to help.
So
before you dig into your pocket and donate to an organization, make sure
you know who you are donating to and make sure they are legitimate.
Anna Morvee has been
researching computer viruses and other Internet safety issues for over
five years. She now spends most of her time educating the public
about these things. She is also the Co-Founder and Managing Editor
of A Peace of Life,
a site devoted to helping those that have suffered any kind of
abuse. |
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