Colonial Fleets - Facebook and Census Scams

Fellow Warriors & Roming Personas,

In my never-ending quest to help you avoid being taken for a ride by the numerous Cylon scammers and phishers roaming around, I would like to take this opportunity to warn you about two new scams that are starting to gain traction in wild wacky world of web bwowsing … I mean browsing (sorry – Fudd syndrome). As usual, both of them seem to be legitimate but that is what they do to bait the trap. Be aware and spread the word.

1. Facebook Password.

You may get an e-mail that looks like this:

*********************************

From: Facebook Service [mailto:security@facebook.com]

Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 12:39 AM

To: YOU

Subject: Facebook Password Reset Confirmation! Customer Support.

Dear user of facebook,

Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your

password has been changed.

You can find your new password in attached document.

Thanks,

Your Facebook.

*********************************

This will come with an attachment labeled: Facebook_password_982.zip

If you get it at home, do NOT open the attachment. Ding Ding – Virus!!! Opening the attachment will launch a Trojan that will flatten your car’s tires, install Windows 98 on your computer and turn your hair green (hey, it’s St Patrick’s day!). Well, it probably won’t do these things but it will do other bad things including turn your computer into a bot for some hacker to use for their own purposes.

NOTE – This same scam has also been noted on MySpace.

And if you don’t have a Facebook or MySpace account and open the attachment to reset your password in your non-existent account, well...uh….gee….

2. Census scams.

With the 2010 census in progress, many of us may have already received the census forms in the mail. If you do not fill out the forms and send it in, the word is that you will then get a visit in person from someone working to the Census Bureau. This situation is perfect for scammers.

Make sure you use common "census" if/when you complete the forms. Here are some tips to remember:

a. There is only one legitimate public 2010 Census web site:

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/ <http://2010.census.gov/2010census/>

b. The Census Bureau will NOT conduct the census or request information through e-mail or the Internet. NEVER – NEVER – NEVER!!

c. The Census Bureau will NEVER ask for financial information, question you about your credit or debt or ask you for money.

d. The Census Bureau will NEVER ask for a person’s full Social Security Number.

e. NEVER give anyone who calls on phone any PINs, password, credit card information, etc. This should already be standard policy, not just for the Census.

f. Do NOT clink on links in e-mails that are supposed to take you to information about the Census. Same goes for attachments. Again, this should be your standard policy for any unsolicited e-mails, especially if they have anything to do with financial matters.

g. Be VERY careful if someone comes to your door and says they are from the Census. The following applies to “in person” visits from the Census Bureau:

- all Census Takers carry official government badges marked with just their name.

- you may ask for another form of picture ID and they must show it.

- some Census Takers may carry a bag that says “US Census Bureau”.

- a Census Taker will NEVER – under any circumstances – ask permission to enter your home.

- if in doubt, you can call your Regional Census Center to confirm their identity. The website above lists all centers with their numbers.

Keeping yourself and your family protected from the Cylon scammers is the “sensus-ible” thing to do.

Kronus