Posted by Blanca Carton September 17, 2009
Although the Internet is a great source for job offers and other opportunities, it is also frequently exploited by hackers to defraud users quickly and anonymously.
A typical example of this comes in the form of junk mail –or spam- that will no doubt have reached your mailbox at some time. This junk mail offers many things:
- Easy money for taking part in a competition by dialing a premium-rate number.
- Information from your bank, promising a gift or asking for your login details (or credit card number and password).
- Job offers promising incredible salaries… asking you to dial a number or send your CV together with a certain amount of money (supposedly to cover administrative costs).
- Tax returns… claiming they need the user’s credit card number and password to complete the transaction.
Remember:
- No company/bank would ever request your account number and password by email/phone. This data is confidential.
- Follow the safe online purchase/payment procedure we have outlined before Some Safe Online Shopping Tips.
- Never be rushed into a decision. If you have any doubts, contact your consumer advice office.
- Keep your antivirus up-to-date. This will help you prevent spam.
Tell us about your experience.
Blanca Carton