Consumer Alerts

EEOC Phishing Alert 10/2007
5 years of relief about to end: Re-up needed for Do Not Call 10/2007
FBI Warns Public of E-Mail Scams 08/2007
IRS Warns of Another E-Mail Scam 06/2007

EEOC Phishing Alert
10/2007

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week warned about a phishing e-mail involving a harassment complaint that purports to be from the EEOC. The bogus e-mail contains a trojan horse virus that is likely to harm a recipient's computer if the user clicks on the referenced Web link and/or downloads the attached file. EEOC's policy is to use the U.S. Postal System -- never an e-mail -- to notify employers that an employment discrimination charge has been filed. Such bogus e-mails should be deleted immediately, the agency said. Read more.

5 years of relief about to end: Re-up needed for Do Not Call
10/2007

YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM TELEMARKETERS IN FIVE YEARS:
But the calls could start coming for millions of people next year when phone numbers begin dropping off the national Do Not Call list. The Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the list, says there is a simple fix. But some lawmakers think it is a hassle to expect people to re-register.

EXPIRATION DATE
Numbers placed on the registry, begun in June 2003, are valid for five years. For the millions of people who signed onto the list in its early days, their numbers will automatically drop off beginning in June if they do not enroll again.

CLICK OR CALL TO RE-ENLIST
People can register their home and cell phone numbers or file complaints at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. The registry prohibits telemarketers from calling numbers on the list.

THE EXCEPTIONS
Organizations engaged in charitable, political or survey work are exempt. Companies that have an established business relationship with a customer also may call for up to 18 months after the last purchase, payment or delivery.

FBI Warns Public of E-Mail Scams
8/2007

The FBI warned the public against three separate Internet scams that continue to flourish through spam e-mails. The warning comes after the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received a rising number of complaints from citizens.

In one scam, an e-mail recipient receives an electronic greeting card containing malicious software. The cards, which are also referred to as e-cards or postcards, are being sent via spam. Like many other Internet fraud schemes, the perpetrators use social engineering tactics to entice the victim, claiming the card is from a family member or friend. Although there have been variations in the spam message and attached malware, generally the spam directs the recipient to click the link provided in the e-mail to view their e-card. Upon clicking the link, the recipient is unknowingly taken to a malicious Web page.

In another scam, fraudulent e-mails misrepresent the FBI and/or Director Robert S. Mueller III and give the appearance of legitimacy due to the usage of pictures of the FBI director, seal, letterhead and/or banners. The types of schemes using the director's name and/or FBI are lottery endorsements and inheritance notifications.

The third is spam e-mail which claim to be from an official of the military sent on behalf of American soldiers stationed overseas. The scam e-mails vary in content; however, the general theme of each is to request personal information and/or funds from the individual receiving the e-mail.

These spam e-mail messages are hoaxes and should be immediately deleted. Consumers need to be wary of unsolicited e-mails that request them to take any action even if that means just clicking on an attachment. It is possible that by double-clicking on attachments to these messages, recipients will cause malicious software -- viruses, keystroke loggers or other Trojan horse programs -- to be launched on their computers.

For further information on computer safety tips visit the FBI website at www.fbi.gov and the IC3 website at www.ic3.gov