LinkedIn Passwords
LinkedIn has been hacked and their passwords have been st0len. There are details here.
Usually, I keep my passwords pretty random and unique, but mine must be one that they thought could get them into my Google Account. I didn’t, as I got this e-mail from Google.
Someone recently tried to sign in to your Google Account, xxxx@xxxx.xxx. We prevented the sign-in attempt in case this was a hijacker trying to access your account. Please review the details of the sign-in attempt:
Thursday, June 7, 2012 9:38:32 AM GMT
IP Address: 188.158.25.46
Location: Tehran, Iran
I didn’t trust the e-mail, but logged in manually to Google and changed my password. Incidentally, when I logged in, Google informed me of the suspicious activity.
So it does look like there is some hanky-panky going on.
So login to all your important accounts, where your e-mail address is used as login in any way and check things out.
Commenting on Television and Radio Programs
I like to comment on BBC programs. But increasingly programs are expecting you to comment via Facebook. Which I won’t join!
What’s wrong with e-mail?
HMRC Scams
I am very lucky in that I can afford an accountant to do my tax returns, so I know that if I get an e-mail from HMRC, it’s a scam.
I’ve had three in the last few days.
This page on the HMRC web site gives details on how to recognise them.
i forward all mine to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. This is indicated on this page.
One of the interesting things about these e-mails, is that they were all to an old e-mail address that I don’t use now. I do monitor it, in case one of my old friends hasn’t got my new one.
For financial transactions, I always use a particular e-mail that is not used elsewhere. That means that if I get an e-mail to that address, I check it thoroughly and if say it’s selling me a holiday, I then know that my bank or other financial institution might have been compromised.
Six Arrests in Phishing Scam
I was pleased to see this article on the BBC web site.
I suspect it might have been the result of one of the two phishing scams aimed at students, that I flagged up earlier in the year.
Both were fairly well designed scams and the success, shows how people are vulnerable, when they are embarking on a new phase in their life.
The perpetrators were caught this time, and hopefully new students will be more careful next year.
A Series of Strange E-Mails
I have received several e-mails like this today.
A quick one time public service announcement about Lung cancer (no further emails will be sent).
Lung cancer is the cancer responsible for the most deaths in both men and women. Over 85% of lung cancers are related to smoking. More than half of the people who are newly diagnosed with lung cancer are former smokers.
Women are also affected greatly by breast and colorectal cancers. Reduce your risk of cancers by not smoking, eating a healthy diet, using sunscreen and getting regular cancer screenings. Take care.
This one had a title of “Info concerning maintaining fitness”.
They don’t appear to be promoting a web site, selling anything or even have any links to other sites. And even the information is sensible.
But why?
All I can think of is that someone is testing some new e-mail software.
Keith Madeley MBE
I have received spam from someone claiming to be this guy and a company called HoneyPot mail. As my reputable spam filter marked his message as junk mail, I binned it. I suggest you do the same.
He might be a genuine person or he could just be a very bad e-mail marketeer. After all, I couldn’t find an unsubscribe on the e-mail, which is against the ICO rules.
Academic Year 2011/12 Payment Access Review Alart
I received a phishing e-mail with this title today. Note how alert is spelled.
This is the body of the e-mail.
This is a message for all students receiving grants and loans from the Students Loan Company. You are required to verify your account information in order to avoid any delay in your loan/grant payments. You can do this by visiting http://www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk/
Yours Sincerely
Student Finance England
Please do not reply to this email as it has been automatically produced from an address which cannot accept incoming mail.****************************** ****************************** ******************* The information from the Student Loans Company Ltd contained in this e-mail is private and privileged. If you have received this e-mail in error be advised that any use is strictly prohibited. Please notify us and delete the message from your computer. You may not copy or forward it or use or disclose its contents to any other person.
As internet communications are capable of data corruption it may be inappropriate to rely on advice or opinions contained in an e-mail without obtaining written confirmation of it. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses, however we do not accept any liability or responsibility for resultant virus infection. Opinions and views expressed in this e-mail are those of the sender and may not reflect the opinions and views of The Student Loans Company Limited.
The Student Loans Company Ltd registered office is at 21 St Thomas Street, Bristol, BS1 6JS and it is registered in England Company No. 02401034, VAT No. 556 4352
Note that the Student Loan Company details are correct, but that the e-mail points to a web site called gankotimata.com, which has these registration details.
Domain Admin (contact@privacyprotect.org)
ID#10760, PO Box 16
Note – All Postal Mails Rejected, visit Privacyprotect.org
Nobby Beach
null,QLD 4218
AU
Tel. +45.36946676
The phone number is actually in Denmark and the website is in Australia. Enough said!
Who is behind this I do not know, but please don’t contact them, unless you want to give them your student finance.
But these scams seem to be getting more and more sophisticated and believable.
Unwanted E-Mails From Respected Companies
When I sign up to buy something from a company on-line, I always make sure that the direct marketing links are checked or unchecked, so that I don’t get any marketing e-mails. I don’t know for certain, but I suspect that a good on-line marketing code, that might even be the law, states that you must be able to opt-out of any direct marketing. So I always do.
Obviously for my on-line banking and utility suppliers, I don’t opt out of receiving informational messages like my new bill is ready, but these are not direct marketing.
Recently, I got a promotional e-mail from a respected company that I use, where I knew that I’d set the marketing e-mails settings, so that I don’t get any.
I reported this to the company and they said it shouldn’t happen, especially as the offer was genuine.
On checking I found that the e-mail had not come to the e-mail address, I commonly use, but to an old one that I used to use a couple of years ago. I still monitor this address, as some of my old friends still use it and haven’t updated their e-mail address for me.
It then became obvious what had happened. It had been sent by an e-mail marketing company and they were using a list, which contained my old e-mail address. I’m not sure how they obtained the e-mail, but I could have signed up with any number of companies several years ago and one of these didn’t have an acceptable non-pass on policy. Incidentally, I have checked and find that I still use the e-mail for a couple of subscriptions, so these companies may have sold on the the details. I’m not going to name anybody here, as I can’t be sure how the marketing company obtained the e-mail address.
But this does show a very big dilemma for the marketing departments of respected companies.
If say you are doing a promotion and feel that because it may have popular appeal, you might want to give it to a marketing company, who have a list of e-mail addresses, that they have obtained legitimately.
But this list might contain the e-mail addresses of your current customers, who have signed up with you not to receive marketing e-mails. Some may find this unacceptable and may take their business elsewhere.
So how can you ensure that a marketing list used by a third party, does not contain old or unused e-mail addresses of your current customers.
To put it simply, you can’t!
The only way to ensure it, is not to employ a third party marketing company, that uses e-mail. After all, if you want to obtain new customers through the Internet, you can always use embedded web adverts in respected web sites, like newspapers and broadcasting companies. I have bought quite a few products from this type of advert in the quality newspapers. But I would avoid using adverts that pop-up in a new web browser, when you access some of the tabloid web sites. They just annoy.
After all, you get more business from an existing customer, who you don’t annoy!
One company I deal with is always sending me unwanted e-mails, despite settings to say they shouldn’t. Unfortunately, I need to deal with them, but when I can find an alternative, I will cease my involvement with the company.
The Japanese Are Getting Desperate
I can’t ever remember gettng much span supposedly from Japan. But I got this typical piece yesterday.
I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner, I found your listed in the Trade Centre Chambers of Commerce directory here in Japan, I find it pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business of $40 Million United States Dollars , I only pray at this time that your address is still valid. I want to this solicit your attention to receive this money on my behalf. The purpose of my contacting you is because my status would not permit me to do this alone. When you reply this message, I will send you the full details and more information about myself and the funds.If interested, please reply through my alternate Email:xxx@xxx.com
Mr.Suzuki Takuya Yuki
(Head of Account Dept, Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank, Tokyo, Japan)
After all, the country is in a bit of a mess after the tsunami. But surely things aren’t that bad.
It was a bit of a giveaway that I got umpteen copies and it was headed Good Dey.
Halifucked Or Spam From the Halifax
Over the last couple of days, I have received several spam e-mail from a marketing company, working on behalf of the Halifax. They all offered me a new credit card, which is like offering someone like Andy Murray a new tennis racket, as the ones I’ve got, are perfectly adequate for my modest needs.
So not only do we have bail out this wunch of bankers, but we have to endure their spam in our inboxes. Interestingly, it very much looks genuine and some of it has come to e-mail addresses, I’ve not used in at least ten years. I’ve kept them as spam traps for tossers like these and they’ve worked well.
Interestingly, the Halifax web site appears to have no means of contacting the bank on it, that is obvious to an irate non-customer.
The Anonymous Widower 