Holiday Fraud V

 

One of the more interesting versions of holiday scams involve the 21st century equivalent of greeting cards - the e card.  It goes without saying that e cards are becoming the more popular method of holiday cards over the snail mail versions.

     Savvy tech reader will know of course where I am going with this - opening attachments from sources that are unknown is a bad idea.  And, it is clear that getting a holiday greeting from an unknown party asking you to open an attached attachment to see the "holiday card" has some risks. 

    Getting attachments on emails from unknown parties is nothing new.  However, the holiday season means a great many more emails will be sent advertising "holiday greetings." 

     As always, the standard rules apply - do not open attachments from unknown parties.  This is especially true during the holidays.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Holiday Fraud IV

Another type of scam which can be found over the holidays is the parcel delivery scam.  Once again, this scam is not limited to the holiday season, but because of the greater number of purchases which occur around the holiday season, it is more prevalent.      The scam works as follows: if a person is expecting a parcel from family or friends (once again, all too common over the holidays), a scammer may call or email you pretending to be from a logistics or parcel delivery service (UPS or FedEx or the like or even the U.S postal service).  The scammer will claim that a non-existent parcel could not be delivered to you.  They will offer to redeliver the product in exchange for your personal information (of course they will hide this as "security" trying to make certain that you are the person for whom the delivery was intended).       The best remedy for this is to contact the company directly (or the USPS directly) and do not give out any personal information to a third party whom you have not verified.      If you have already given out your personal information, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.                                               http://www.tauskvega.com   ----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Holiday Fraud III

Let's look at another scam which is unfortunately too-prevalent around the holiday season.

     It is no secret that during the holidays, we all make many more purchases than we would usually make than throughout the rest of the year.  Further, some of the purchases we make are done not just through the brick-and-mortar stores or over the internet; it is not uncommon for roadside kiosks to open from Thanksgiving to Christmas selling novelty items, fireworks or hand-crafted items that normally would not be available.

     It goes without saying that most of these literal "mom and pop" operations are run by people who are just trying to earn a little extra money for the holidays and see these kiosks as a way to do so.  However, as always, these kiosks can be shops which are run by fraudsters looking for easy marks. 

     As always, giving your credit card information to people whom you do not know or who are not part of a major retailer or mall or reliable internet outlet can be problematic at best.  Fortunately,  there is an easy way around it: when shopping in such "Christmas Kiosks," carry cash and transact business in cash.  This will of course reduce the opportunities for identity theft.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Holiday Fraud II

One of the more common scams around the holiday season is also one of the more simple ones - the person gets a phone call from someone claiming to represent a charity, gives the sales pitch over the phone about helping widows and orphans or whomever and then asks the person for their credit card number.  It goes without saying, of course, that the charity is nonexistent and the person is giving his personal information to a scammer.

     The same old rules apply to this situation - NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION to an unknown person or entity on the other side of the phone.  Most charitable organizations nowadays are fully aware and cognizant that people are very cautious about giving out personal information over the phone so they no longer use telephone solicitations.  Mailings and email solicitations are far more common and expected. 

     It is hard to say that one should never give out personal information, especially when a charity is involved.  But, once again, it is clear that the dangers outweigh the benefits.  Be aware, however, that during the holiday season, scammers and fraudsters prey on the goodwill of people.  Better to use an established charity of which you are aware and know where your money is going then to fall for a scam.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Holiday Fraud

     Well, the holiday season is upon us.  November has Thanksgiving and Hannukah and December, of course has Christmas.  These two months collectively "make or break" store, retail outlets, internet stores and many service companies.  There is a reason that the day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday." 

     But, more important, the holiday season is also supposed to be a time of giving when we help out our fellow human beings.  Charities also view these two months as "make or break" months when they collect the lion's share of donations.  It also goes without saying that the purpose of holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas is to remind us to give to those around us.

     Of course, fraudsters use these holidays for their own purposes.  Sad as it is, fraudsters will also use these months as perfect opportunities for frauds and scams.  Further, because of the importance of these holidays, often our "guard" is down and we are more susceptible to frauds and scams than at other times throughout the year.

    We will spend some time analyzing fraud schemes and scams during the holiday season. 

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Money laundering in the Western District

Money laundering in the Western District of Texas.  Sad case involving an attorney.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txw/news/2013/Delgado_Marco_EP_conviction_1.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

 

Interesting movie list

Here is a good list of films about con artists.  I have seen them all and I can recommend them all very highly.

http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/columns/joe-holleman/sherpa-s-top-best-con-artist-movies/article_0c8a065e-5aeb-11e0-b60a-00127992bc8b.html

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             

http://www.tauskvega.com

 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk