Special offer

Your New Facebook Friend Wants $500?!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Eau Claire Realty, Inc.

Eau Claire Wisconsin Real Estate

I originally posted this in my Eau Claire Wisconsin Real Estate Blog.

In the last week I have won the lottery so many times that it is strange that I would still be in Real Estate. In fact my luck has been crazy lately! I have rescued a dozen princes and princesses from all over Africa. I see it as a great investment opportunity. I just wire them some money or even easier I just give them the details to my account and they can just take the tiniest little bit for now because they promise to pay me back soon! They need the account numbers to transfer the money into my account! Duh you silly!


Ok well you figured it out. I am talking about scammers and apparently they have wormed their way into Facebook. It was only a matter of time I guess. Social Engineering is perhaps the single greatest security threat today. Arguable the greatest hacker of all time Kevin Mitnick was not even a hacker! He didn't actually break in, he merely convinced the right people to give him the codes he needed or whatever relevant information he needed to proceed to the next target. I know he was talented in other regards but for the most part this is actually what he did contrary to rumor.


So now the next time you use Facebook and your “new friend” contacts you and asks you for $500 to help them out of Nigeria, yes, its the same Nigeria from the other scams! How about this as a general rule to follow:


Don't ever wire anyone money or give anyone your social security number, drivers license, wallet, back account info, etc.


Unless its me of course! :)


You can read the full story here.

If you would like to work with an agent who is leading the way call 715-894-1001 today or send me an email.

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Keisha Hosea- KASIHomes.com
KASI Homes - Chino Hills, CA
Real Estate Solutions For Real People

Seems I also have a lot of friens and dearly departed relatives from all over the globe that have tons of monet that I could inherit. Wow! I must be a fool to keep working so hard!

Nov 12, 2008 09:15 AM
Anonymous
Lisa Glowacki

Have you won a lottery from a random google search yet?

Nov 12, 2008 09:43 AM
#2
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist
A great way to check on those email links is to hold your mouse pointer over the link and you'll be able to see the URL that the link will be sending you to. If you don't recognize it, don't go there. For example, let's say that you're being asked to verify your PayPal account because it's been shut down due to possible unathorized access. If you don't have a PayPal account, well, that's the end of the matter there. Next, understand that neither PayPay nor any other business will send you such a notification. Next, if you do have a PayPal account, and the URL you're being asked to click through to goes something like the following: http://www.clicknow.com/33408d/433kdkghsd/14-sg_dkkje/paypal You don't want to go there. If you have any question about any of your business accounts, type the URL of your business directly into your browser address bar and go there that way. If your account has been shut down, they'll be a message waiting for you.
Nov 14, 2008 02:54 AM
Shane OnullGorman
Eau Claire Realty, Inc. - Eau Claire, WI
Eau Claire Wisconsin, Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell
Thats good advice Jim. I saw one from the IRS the other day that looked pretty legitimate. I have been emailed by the IRS before and this looked exactly like that. It was fake though. Scary stuff.
Nov 14, 2008 02:59 AM