E-Mail Scam - Online Bank Phishing
Scams Are Hooking Consumers
As the number of
people using online banking services continues to grow, so does the increase in
the number and the variety of Internet-based bank fraud scams. Below are a
couple of actual examples.
Example 1
Example 2
The above are real-life examples. E-mail
messages like these, often awkwardly written, include a link directing the
e-mail recipient to an authentic-looking website. The site, which appears to be
your bank's website, asks that you submit personal information (such as your
PIN, checking account, and Social Security numbers) so the "bank" can "update"
its files. The scammers’ goal is to obtain personal information for identity
theft and/or bank and credit card fraud.
Don't fall prey to
Internet-based bank fraud criminal activity! These types of crimes, called
"phishing scams," have increased dramatically in just the past couple of years.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, of the 635,173 complaints it received
in 2004, 246,570 were identity theft reports and 388,603 were fraud complaints.
Information provided to scam artists by unsuspecting online bank users has been
a major contributing factor to these high numbers.
Here are some steps
you can take to avoid being "hooked" by bank-related phishing scams:
- If you get a message or even a pop-up browser window that asks for
personal information, don’t reply. Legitimate companies do not collect
information in this manner; it's guaranteed to be a scam. Don't click on
suspicious file attachments either.
- Keep your anti-virus and firewall software running and up-to-date. Some
phishing efforts attempt to place viruses and spyware on your computer.
- Forward the bank phishing messages to the financial institutions that the
scammers are impersonating. Nearly all banking websites now have e-mail
addresses to which you can report phishing scams.
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Stay Safe Online - With New Antivirus
Software From 3 Rivers
3 Rivers
Communications wants to help you protect your Internet experience. That's why we
now offer AVG, an easy to use antivirus software that costs just $1.50 per month
(per computer). Many viruses and worms spread via e-mail, and also through the
sharing of files when using floppy disks, zip disks and networks, as well as
when downloading software. Receiving an e-mail attachment from a trusted friend
or a reliable source may not necessarily mean they were the actual senders of
the message and attachment. Also, the ultimate responsibility in protecting your
computer against worms and viruses lies with you.
AVG antivirus software
offered by 3 Rivers:
- Checks incoming and outgoing mail for viruses.
- Checks for viruses as files are opened, executed and saved.
- Creates a place where infected files are isolated.
- Allows users to access and modify settings and schedule tests and updates.
You can download this software to your computer at www.3rivers.net.
Before downloading, you must call 3 Rivers at 1-800-796-4567 to receive a valid
license number (The license number currently shown on the link is only an
example and is invalid).
3 Rivers encourages each of our subscribers to
install and utilize virus-scanning software, to update this software on a
regular basis, and to scan all incoming attachments before opening them, even if
the attachment shows coming from a reliable source.
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Ask The Help Desk - Does Outlook
Express Provide Holiday E-mail Stationery?
Question: I would like to send my holiday greetings this
month via e-mail. I understand that Microsoft's Outlook Express provides an
option to insert a holiday-themed stationery background on e-mail messages. Is
this true?
Answer: Yes. Outlook Express does include
pre-installed stationery themes that can be used as backgrounds on your outgoing
e-mail messages. To view them, do the following:
- With Outlook Express open, click on the small black arrow on the right
side of the "Create Mail" button. You will see a list of stationery names. If
the stationery you want to use is listed in the drop-down menu, simply select
it and then a new message window will open that uses the stationery. Add text
to your subject line, type your message, and send it to your intended
recipients.
- If the stationery you want to use isn't listed, choose "Select Stationery"
from the drop-down menu. Click on the stationery you want to use in the
"Select Stationery" window. As you click on the stationery names, you will see
a preview of each in the "Preview" pane on the right side of the window. When
you find the one you want, click the "OK" button to open a new message window
that uses your choice of stationery. Add text to your subject line, type your
message, and send it to your intended recipients.
If you'd like to
create your own holiday-themed stationery to insert into your holiday e-mail
messages, read the last section of this eNewsletter for a step-by-step tutorial.
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Great Sites To Check Out This Month
Read The Happy
Side Of News
http://www.happynews.com -
HappyNews.com covers many of the national, international, entertainment, and
sports stories that the big news services cover. However, Byron Reese, founder
and publisher of the website, says his site's take on the world is more
representative than the negative view commonly seen on TV or in newspapers.
Recent headlines have included "Average Gasoline Prices Drop 25 Cents,"
"Post-Hurricane Rita Weather Helps Crops," and "Mosul Is Policing Its Own." Is
network news making you "down in the dobber?" Try reading
HappyNews.com!
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and
The Wardrobe
http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/index.html -
This month marks the long awaited film release of the popular children's fantasy
novel The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Written by C.S. Lewis (AKA
Clive Staples Lewis 1898-1963), the story is actually the second volume in
Lewis's seven-part epic entitled The Chronicles of Narnia. Be sure to
check out the movie's trailer as well as the five fascinating behind-the-scenes
video clips.
Travel Wisely With Your Pet During The Holidays
http://PetTravel.com - Are
you planning to take your pet traveling with you during the holidays? Be
prepared by checking out this helpful site. It links you to over 28,000 pet
friendly hotels. It's also got information on how to obtain an international
health certificate for your pet, quarantine and inspection information for over
100 different countries, airline pet travel requirements, travel tips for pet
health and safety, and details on how to microchip your
pet.
Celebrating Christmas At Graceland
http://elvis.com/graceland/calendar/elvis_christmas.asp -
Elvis Presley famously decorated his residence for the holidays. Today, the
staff of Graceland continues Presley's traditions with lighted aluminum trees, a
life-size nativity scene, a winding driveway with hundreds of blue lights, and
trees in several rooms. If you can't take in the holiday tour in person, check
out the Graceland Cam, which is available 24/7. You can also send holiday
e-cards to friends and family. Each card includes an audio clip of an Elvis
song.
Lyrics To Christmas Songs And Carols
http://www.nevada.edu/~blake/Christmas.songs.html -
If you are having trouble remembering whether it's "nine ladies dancing" or
"nine pipers piping" on the ninth day of Christmas in the song "The Twelve Days
of Christmas," this website is for you. The site provides the lyrics to 41
popular Christmas songs and 25 classic Christmas carols. It's time to "Deck the
Halls!" (By the way, the correct answer is "nine ladies dancing." The eleventh
day has "eleven pipers piping.")
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Short Tutorial - Create Custom
Stationery Using Outlook Express
Outlook Express
includes built-in stationery templates that can be used for outgoing e-mail
messages. This can be especially handy this time of the year when e-mailing your
holiday greetings to friends and relatives. If none of the pre-installed
stationery templates fit your needs, you can create your own stationery when
using Outlook Express 6 in Windows XP Home Edition by following the steps below.
- With Outlook Express open, click on the small black arrow on the right
side of the "Create Mail" button. Choose "Select Stationery" from the
drop-down menu.
- At the bottom right of the "Select Stationery" window, click the "Create
new" button to open the Stationery Setup Wizard. Click the "Next" button.
- To find a photo on your computer to use as a background, click on the
"Browse" button under the "Picture" section.
- Navigate to the location where your photo is stored on your hard drive and
then click on the photo to select it. Your background photo's name should now
be shown in the "File name" box. Click the "Open" button.
- Select how you want your background photo to be displayed in your message
by experimenting with the options under the "Position" section. (The "Preview"
section to the right of the window will help you decide by allowing you to see
a small representation of what your message will look like.)
- Choose how you want your photo to be tiled under the "Tile" section. For
example, if you want to tile your photo over the entire message, select
"Entire Page."
- If your photo doesn't cover the entire background and you want to choose a
background color instead of white, check the "Color" box. Then select a color
from the drop-down menu in the Color section. Click the "Next" button.
- Choose the font, font size, and font color that you want your messages to
be when using the stationery that you are creating. Then click the "Next"
button.
- Choose the size of your left and top margins. Then click the "Next"
button.
- Name your stationery by typing a title into the "Name" field. Click the
"Finish" button to create your new stationery. You will be taken back to the
"Select Stationery" window.
- Select your new stationery from the list and click "OK."
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We hope you found
this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on the
happenings at our shop. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins
on a monthly basis, click HERE.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
The Homefront Reporter
Team
3 Rivers Communications
Offering advanced technology with a
personal touch
3 Rivers Communications
202 5th St S
PO Box 429
Fairfield, MT
59436
1-800-796-4567 406-467-2535 
(We have used our best efforts in collecting and
preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and
hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors
or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence,
accident, or other causes.)
©2005
Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc.
Trademarks: All brand names and
product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks,
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
