These Folks Just Never Give Up!

Well, I see the crooks are still busy.

I received this little communiqué in the form of an email a few minutes ago.

Dear Customer,

American State Bank carrying out a major system upgrade. This upgrade became necessary following recent security threats. Consequently, in the next few days, you may notice temporary interruption when using online banking to access your account. To experience a smoother and more secure online banking, please update your information in our records. The link below will guide you through the process:http://secure-banking.online.com. Please note that this one time exercise is mandatory for all American State Bank customers. For security reasons, we may suspend your account if your information is not updated.We sincerely regret any inconvenience.

Susan Flinn
Head of Online Banking

My computer, rather intelligently, put this email in the Junk Mail folder. Unfortunately, it’s something a little more sinister than junk mail. It’s a scam, and a nasty one.

Clues? This thing is riddled with them.

First, I know what banks I have accounts at and American State Bank isn’t one of them. (By the way, there's a ASB logo graphic on the original email and it's meaningless. Anyone can swipe such a logo just by copying it off the real bank’s website.)

Then there’s the line about “recent security threats” designed to scare anyone who receives this email into responding immediately. Scammers love to scare people into acting without thinking, so this is boilerplate scam language.

Next, we have the call to update my “information” in their records, so that I can experience “more secure” (another scare phrase) online banking. I don’t do any online banking, (this kind of thing is one of the reasons why) so that’s another red flag. What kind of information do they want me to provide? I'm willing to bet it's exactly the kind they could use to steal my identity.

Then notice the link provided. (I’ve removed a few letters from the link to keep anyone from accidently clicking on it and going to the crook’s website.) The link itself doesn’t even have the “secure” https --note the s--prefix that real financial institutions use. (The use of the word “secure” in the link is meaningless.) I’m tempted to click on this thing—I’m sure this link will take me to a webpage where I’ll be asked for information that a thief could use—but I won’t because the webpage might also be armed with a virus or worm that could end up on my computer.

Finally, it says that going to that link and typing in—what? Name, address, social security number—is mandatory. If I don’t do it, they’ll suspend that fictional account of mine. Another classic scare tactic.

Sorry, Ms. Flinn. Ain’t gonna bite on your hook.

If you receive something like this, neither should you. (If it’s for a bank you actually use, call that bank first.)


P. S. I went to the real American State Bank website, and here’s the first thing you see. The red coloring is theirs.

EMAIL SCAM – URGENT

Some community residents have received an unauthorized email appearing to come from American State Bank. The message encourages readers to click on a link claiming to be secure and provide their bank-on-line password information. If you receive this email, please do not respond or click on the link. It is a fraudulent email and could allow for criminals to obtain your personal financial information. If you have already received this email and provided your personal information, please contact ASB Customer Service immediately at 1-800-531-1401. A representative will help you determine preventative steps such as closing your account, deactivating your debit/credit card and/or changing your Bank-on-line passwords.

Sneaks and Scams: Auto Warranties

I just hung up on an automatic call, one of a dozen I’ve received in the last month telling me that my auto warranty is about to expire. Interesting, because Quartermain, my GMC van, is far beyond any legitimate warranty.

Yet I keep getting these calls, including at least two on my cell phone, which REALLY MAKES ME ANGRY because I have a prepaid phone and it costs me $1 for every day I use it. How the heck did these people get my cell phone number?

Well, what’s going on is the latest scam, and it seems I’m getting off lightly. According to MSNBC, a dozen or so companies are pitching these warranties and some of their victims (and I use that word deliberately) are getting called four or five times a day, even when they beg to have their number taken off whatever list the scammers are using.

Even people listed on the Do Not Call Registry are getting the pitches. Sometimes, the solicitation comes via postcard, wtih some recipients receiving a dozen a week.

And those who make the mistake of responding to these calls are finding out that—hardly surprising—the “warranties” offered are rip-offs, with expensive premiums and ridiculously limited coverage.

The first clue you are not dealing with a kosher company is when you ask that the paperwork be sent to you so you can look it over and the company says they can’t do that until you send a down payment.

(Never, ever, ever deal with someone who wants you to sign on the dotted line or send them money without letting you read a contract first. Never. Ever.)

The second is when you ask to speak to a supervisor and the caller hangs up. This also is not the behavior of a reputable company.

Reports are that these people often claim that they’re representing major automakers, and to prove it, they provide specific information, including registration numbers, for your car. This is also a lie. Ask for a callback number and tell them you’ll check with your local dealer. Then do it, before you agree to buy anything.

Extended warranties, even when offered by dealers, are rarely worth what they cost, but buying one from a auto-dialing company you’ve never heard off makes no sense at all. These crooks aren't worried about complaints filed with local regulators, so if you get a chance, write down their number and report it to the FTC. Maybe if we provide the Feds with enough info, they can shut these scammers down.