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Malicious Ads on Bing: Online crooks have found a way to exploit Bing's advertising program by posting malicious pharmaceutical ads. A recent report by KnujOn and LegitScript shows that 90% of Bing's pharmacy ads were malicious. If an online user clicks on the ad, he or she may be directed to a phishing site to steal their personal and financial information. To avoid online ad scams, always make sure to investigate the company beforehand.

ATM E-mail Scam: A phishing e-mail scam is on the rise asking recipients for their personal banking information. The e-mail reports that a phishing scam has been reported by the person's financial institution, and therefore, the institution had to deactivate his or her ATM card. In order to activate the card, the recipient is asked to call a number to provide his or her personal baking information: ATM card number, expiration date and PIN number. Officials recommend to never give financial information over the phone - especially when it comes from an unsolicited e-mail.

TwitterViewer Scam: Twitter's spam monitoring account warned users to change their passwords if they had entered their account information on a Web site called TwitterViewer. TwitterViewer sent tweets claiming that it would display the names of the people who recently visited the person's profile. The tweet contained a link to TwitterViewer.net, a phishing site that aims to steal user's profile names and passwords. TwitterViewer is now listed on Google�s malicious site list.

Adobe Flash Vulnerability: Adobe has confirmed a vulnerability in its Reader, Flash Player and Acrobat products that is being exploited by scam artists through a malicious Flash code in Web sites and in PDF files. This vulnerability can cause damage to Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems and allow the attacker to control the affected systems. Flash Player attacks can be found in movies of one-frame length, e-mail attachments and can eve be embedded in legitimate sites.

N1H1 Flu Update Spreads Malware: Security experts are warning computer users about a new e-mail that claims to contain the most recent swine flue information. However, the e-mail contains a malicious file called the "Novel H1N1 Flu Situation Update.exe." If the e-mail recipient downloads the file, his or her computer will be infected. The best way to avoid this computer virus is by not opening e-mail files from unknown senders.

Video Spreading Malware: Erin Andrews, an ESPN reporter, was unknowingly videotaped naked while at her hotel room. Now, the video is circulating the Internet and cyber security experts are warning that hackers are taking advantage of the situation to spread malware. Although the identity of the cameraman and the person who uploaded the video remain unknown, cyber criminals have set up Web sites pretending to have the video. If the online user decides to clicks on the video, his or her computer will download a Trojan.

New MySpace Phishing Attack: A phishing scam is targeting the popular social networking site, Myspace. Scam artists are accessing users' account and posting status updates that invite people to make money. If a victim clicks on this status update, then he or she will be asked to re-enter their account information. As a result, the cyber criminal will use this information to login to another person's account to post the same status update. When log-in to a social networking site, make sure to type the site's URL.

Sex Tape Scam: Megan Fox, the star of the new Transformers movie, is being used by scam artists to promote a malicious Web site that allegedly shows a sex tape of the actress. Cyber criminals are posting comments on YouTube with a bogus links directing computer users to a site called Megantape.com. Victims will assume that all they have to do is press play, however, the visitor are asked to fill out a survey before watching the video. This will lead the computer user to downloading virus.

Microsoft Video ActiveX Control Flaw: Microsoft is warning consumers about a zero-day flaw vulnerability in its Video ActiveX Control. This flaw can allow computer hackers to put malicious codes on computers with Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. This attack can direct users to a bogus Web site or even to legitimate sites in order to infect the victim�s computer. Microsoft recommends users to set "the kill-bit on this ActiveX object as a workaround until a patch is released."

Attacks on URL Shortening Services: Security companies are warning consumers that URL shortening services are being attacked by spammer and cyber criminals. Worms like Koobface have resurfaced on the popular micro blogging site, Twitter, due to the usage of short URLs. Koobface, as an example, appears as message that asks visitors to click on malicious link that installs a botnet, which scam artists can use to spread the worm.

Harry Potter Malware: With the new Harry Potter movie being released soon, millions of fans are using the Internet to search for information. However, scam artists are taking this opportunity to create malicious Web sites that infect people's computer. In addition to targeting search engines, cyber criminals are attacking blogs - posting comments with bogus links that contain malware. To avoid these vicious sites, never click on links that may seem suspicious.

First Federal Bank Scam: First Federal Bank (FFB) has sent 60,000 e-mails to its customers warning them of a fraudulent e-mail that appears to come from the bank. The e-mails, according to the FFB, ask the recipient to provide his or her account information as well debit card number. The FFB has instructed its customers to ignore the request. Because the FFB was not breached, its warning applies to everyone - customers and non-customers.

IRS E-mail Scam: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a new warning about a phishing e-mail scam. The e-mail contains the following subject line: "Tax Refund Number." Recipients are offered a tax refund of over $200 and, in order to receive this money, they are asked to provide their credit card information. The IRS is advising consumers to not reply to this e-mail because they can lose money as well as have their identity stolen.

Property Loan Scams: A new loan scam is surfacing on the Internet and targeting North Carolina, warns the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The e-mail appears to come from Bloomfield Lending Group and it informs recipients of an empty property space that they can receive a cheap loan for. To receive more information, recipients are asked to visit a phishing site. The best way to avoid this scam is by not responding to unsolicited e-mails.

Chase Customers Beware: The New York State Consumer Protection Board is warning of new e-mail scam that appears to come from Chase. E-mail recipients are asked to provide their personal information as a "security measure." The e-mail reads: "As part of the new security measures, all Chase bank customers are required to complete Chase Customer Form. Please complete the form as soon as possible." The form will ask for bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, and more. Consumers who respond to this e-mail are at high risk of having their identities stolen.

Latest Twitter Phishing Scam: The latest phishing scam to hit the popular micro-blogging site, Twitter, involves a Tweet that says "omg!! is it true what they wrote about you in the tweet blog?" This Tweet includes a link to a phishing site: twitterblogs.com, which looks like Twitter's login page. If the person submits his or her login information, then their account will hijacked - thus allowing these scam artists to continue posting malicious links. Always be cautious when clicking on an unknown link.

Google Give-Away Scam: A new e-mail scam claiming to come from Google is informing recipients that they have won $1 million. The e-mail explains that the he or she was randomly selected in "drawing" while they were searching on Google. Like other phishing e-mails, this e-mail asks the victim to provide the following information: full name, date of birth, location, alternate e-mail address, home address as well as other personal information. To avoid becoming a victim of this scam, never reply to unsolicited e-mails.

UPS E-mail Scam: A new e-mail scam appearing to come from UPS is on the rise according to the Massachusetts' police department. E-mail recipients are receiving notices informing them that they just got a package from UPS, but instead their computers are being hacked. The e-mail message warns: "the package will be returned unless you click here..." or, "click on this attachment or the package will be sent back to the sender." When the person clicks on the link, he or she is asked to provide their personal information. As a result, the victim's identity can and will be stolen.

Webmail Attacked by Hackers: Webmail accounts are being attacked by scam artist who are hacking into people's account. This is how it works: Hackers are using the webmail accounts to send messages to the victim's friends asking them to wire money or directing them to visit a phishing Web sites. Once the scammer hacks into a person's webmail account he or she can e-mails all the contacts on that account. The best way to avoid being hacked is by having a secured password that contains numbers.

Cox E-mail Scam: Cox Communications is warning e-mail recipients in Arizona to be aware of a new e-mail scam appearing to come from Cox. The message informs the recipients that Cox is upgrading its service with a spam protector. Victims of this e-mail are asked to provide personal information including username and password in order to keep their account. Cox has denied sending such e-mails and assures that the company will never ask to provide personal information in an e-mail.

FBI E-mail Scam: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is alerting computer users about a new e-mail scam that appears to come from the FBI. The e-mail contains a picture of Robert Muller III., FBI Director. This type of e-mail contains a fraudulent link that may direct the e-mail recipient to a malicious Web site and to, eventually, downloading a computer virus. When receiving unsolicited e-mails, be aware of misspelled words and poor grammar.

Nine Ball, the New Web Threat: Nine Ball is the name of the new computer virus that hijacks Web sites and infects PCs with malware. This malware tries to direct victims to infected sites to steal personal information as well as passwords. The malicious sites will search through the victim�s computer to see if there are any vulnerabilities in order to load the malware. Quicktime and Adobe Reader are two of the targets. To avoid this virus, make sure the appropriate software is installed.

Short URLs May Contain Malware: Cligs, the URL shortening services, reported that its service was hacked. The URLs that people posted directed them to a different Web site than the one they were supposed to go to. As a result, the new links may direct people to malicious sites that contain malware and/or phishing scams. According to Cligs 2,188,978 URLs were changed during the attack. When clicking or using short links, make sure that they direct to the appropriate Web site. Always use anti-virus programs, to avoid clicking on malicious sites.

Jury Duty Scam: An e-mail scam claiming to come from an officer of the court is informing people that because he or she missed jury duty, they will be charged a penalty. If the victim does not make a payment, then he or she may be arrested, the e-mail warns. To pay for the fine, the victim must click on fraudulent link that directs them to a phishing Web site. To avoid this scam, don't visit unsolicited sites that ask for personal and financial information.

Threatening E-mail Scam: An e-mail scam that threatens violence is going around in order get money form its victim. The message goes as far as saying that it will kill the family of the recipient if they don't cooperate. The e-mail reads: "We are a confirmed Islamic killers and suicide aids. We have been sent to assassinate you and the members of your family." Don't respond to this kind of e-mail threats without contacting officials to confirm that this is indeed a scam.

Amazon.com Phishing Scam: A new phishing e-mail scam is targeting Amazon.com users informing them that their account has been used by an unauthorized person. In order to avoid fraudulent activities, the victim is asked to very his or her Amazon.com account by clicking on a malicious link that leads to a phishing Web site. To prevent falling victim of this scam, always verify with Amazon.com by directly typing its URL into the browser address bar.

FlexJobs Scam: The job listing Web site, FelxJobs, is warning about a new e-mail phishing scam targeting job seekers. The e-mail instructs the victim to complete a credit report in order to qualify for the final interview. Included in the e-mail is a link to the "free credit report;" however, the link directs the victim to a phishing site, where it will ask to provide personal as well as financial information. FlexJobs recommends being careful of messages that come from free e-mail domains (e.g. @yahoo, @gmail, @aol, or @hotmail).

Health Insurance Online Scam: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other insurance fraud investigators are warning to not respond to health insurance discounts that appear on online ads. Scam artists are posting ads informing people that he or she can receive a discount for their medical insurance. This discount, however, is a phishing scam that will ask the victim to provide personal information. The FTC recommends ignoring any online ads that offer medial discounts.

Beware of Outlook's Malware: The MX Logic Threat Operations Center is reporting a new malware affecting Microsoft Outlook. Users are receiving an e-mail asking to reconfigure their Outlook. The subject of the e-mails reads "Outlook Setup Notification." The message will ask the recipient to download a malicious file called "micr__outlook_update_6556.zip and has and md5 checksum of 7aa706c521dd8a11ef23b35fc5c4d543." Instead of installing a setup file, victims will download a virus.

Car Warranty Phishing Scam: Scam artists are taking advantage of the auto industry's financial crisis by sending phishing e-mails informing victims that his or her car warranty will expires soon. In order to renew it, the victim must visit a phishing Web site where they will be asked to provide personal information. The e-mail appears to come from a either a car dealer or manufacturer. The best way to avoid falling victim of this scam is by not responding to unsolicited e-mails.

Free Laptop Scam: A new e-mail scam is surfacing and it appears to come from Ericsson, the leading supplier of technology products and services. The e-mail says that if the recipient forwards the message to 20 people or less, they will be eligible to receive a new Ericsson laptop. The message includes a fake e-mail address: anna.swelung@ericsson.com. A spokesperson from Ericsson has confirmed that this is indeed an e-mail scam. Beware of e-mails that offer free products; always check with the company's Web site to make sure the promotion is real.

Western Union E-mail Scam: An e-mail appearing to come from Western Union that contains a computer virus is on the rise. E-mail recipients receive a message informing them that the payment was not received. Attached to the e-mail is a document that contains a Trojan. This type of Trojan can disable firewall, steal financial information and it provides the hacker access to the computer system. To avoid this scam, never download attachments from unsolicited e-mails.

Online Survey Scams: Cyber criminals are creating online surveys that promise to pay money, but instead it's a phishing scam. These ads have phrases like "make $50 per survey" or "make $10 in 5 minutes." However, to receive the money, the victim must provide personal information. Scam artists will use this information to steal money from the victim - instead of paying them. Not all survey sites are bad that's why it's important to make sure that the site has a start-up fee, guarantees money back and contains an online forum as well as a staff that is willing to help.

Online Shopping Scams: Web sites like Restaurant.com advertise hundred of dollars worth of restaurant coupons for $10. Victims of this phishing scam are asked to provide credit card information to purchase the coupons. However, the Web site does not warn that a person can be charged a monthly fee for the "membership." Victims of this scam have reported that their credit card charges come from a site called Shopping Essentials, which is linked to Restaurant.com. The Better Business Bureau recommends to think twice before providing credit card information if the company does not offer more than one payment option.

Beware of Gumblar: Remember the infamous virus Conficker? Well, a new virus is on the rise according to security experts. Gumblar spreads through the Web via an infected JavaScript code. Victims can be infected by simply visiting a Web site that contains the malicious code. When the person's computer becomes infected by Gumblar, it will direct the victim to Google search results that point to sites that contain malware. In other words, the virus will direct the victim to more viruses.

iTunes Scam: iTunes customers are being charged from $50 to $100 for gift cards that they never purchased. Victims are receiving an unexpected e-mail receipt from iTunes that indicates that they have recently purchased an electronic gift card. Even though the victim is responsible for the payment, some are reporting that they cannot use it. The source of the scam is still unclear. However, official believe it is the cause of identity theft from a phishing scam.

MobileMe Phishing Scam: MobileMe, the popular service that distributes email, contacts and calendar events to people's devices, is the target of a new phishing e-mail scam. MobileMe users are receiving an e-mail informing them that their "Credit card authorization has failed," and if they can't renew their accounts, then the service will be terminated. The e-mail provides a link to a phishing Web site that looks very similar to that of MobileMe's login page. Remember: don't click on an e-mail link that asks for personal and/or financial information.

Ford Motors E-mail Scam: Ford customers are being hit by an e-mail scam similar to that of the Nigerian Prince e-mail. The message appears to come from a Ford sales manager informing the e-mail recipient that a hybrid version of Ford Fusion is available at a lower price: $15,500. This is a phishing e-mail, which will ask to send money in order to receive the special offer. Ford has contacted its customers as well as the FBI regarding this e-mail scam.

Pet-Buying E-mail Scam: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is warning pet buyers about a new e-mail scam. After the victim purchases a pet through a fake online ad, an e-mail is sent to them informing that his or her pet has been detained at the airport because the animal is sick and it must be vaccinated. In order to release the pet, the victim must send money for the vaccine. The airport reports that this recent scam comes from the following e-mail address: antlanta_in_aiport@usa.com.

Social Network Job Ad Scam: According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) a new job ad scam is circulating on popular social networking sites. This job ad offers a salary of $67,000 a year to create Web sites that "host Google ads." The ad directs the victim to a blog that asks to sign-up for a "risk-free trial" in order to learn how to set up the site. However, written is small print is warning stating that the victim may be charged $60 to $70 per month if they don't cancel the trial. To avoid job ad scams, make sure that it comes from reliable source and always read small prints.

Facebook Hit With Spam: The popular social network site, Facebook, is once again a target for scam artists. This time, however, cyber criminals are sending messages to Facebook users asking them to visit a malicious Web site: mygener.im. The message appears to come from the user's friends and it says: "Look at mygener.im." The site appears to contain adware, which if downloaded, may be used by hackers to spy on computers for identity theft purposes.

U.S.A. Custom and Border Protection Scam: The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is warning about a new e-mail scam that claims to come from former Custom and Border Protection (CBP) Assistant Commissioner, Thomas S. Winkowski. The e-mail informs the recipient that the CBP has stopped a diplomat who has a shipment that needs to be delivered to his or her home. This shipment contains millions of dollars that will be delivered to the e-mail recipient. However, in order to do so, the victim must provide personal and confidential information. The FBI reminds people that the CPB does not send unsolicited e-mails and, therefore, recipients of this e-mail should not respond.

Pirated Windows 7RC Contains Malware: Pirated copies of Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC), a preleased version of Windows 7, contain malware. People who have downloaded the upgrade from on file-sharing Web sites such as Mininova.org have been hit by a Trojan horse. To safely download Windows 7RC, visit the Microsoft Web site where more information about the new Windows system can be found.

Ransom-Ware Virus Warning: The computer malware responsible for taking hold of users' computer files in 2005, Ransom-Ware, has resurfaced. The new malware has been identified as a Trojan called TROJ_FAKEALE.BG, and it can be found in all types of files including: DOC, TXT, PDF, XLS as well as in images. This type of malware informs the computer user to purchase a removal tool for $50 called "File Fix Professional". Unfortunately, the application won't solve the problem because it will reappear asking to re-purchase the tool - making it a scam. Computer users should open files from reliable sources to avoid downloading the virus.

Tax Refund Scam: Another phishing e-mail is on the rise that claims to come from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The message states that the person is eligible to receive an additional refund for their taxes. However, in order to receive the compensation, the victim must click on a bogus link that asks for personal information. The person's details can be used by cyber criminals for identity theft. To avoid falling victim of this scam, delete suspicious e-mails and keep in mind that the IRS won't ask for personal information by e-mail.

Facebook Phishing Scam: Cyber criminals are attacking Facebook, the popular social network site, with a phishing scam. Online users receive an e-mail that appears to come from Facebook with a link to a malicious Web site: Fbaction.net (http://www.facebook.com/l/4253f;http://fbaction.net). The site is very similar to Facebook's login page. When the user types his or her username and passwords, their account information is then changed. Because people tend to use the same username and password for their online accounts, phishers will most likely use the victim's information to access other personal accounts.

Hackers Attack Webmail Accounts: Webmail providers like Gmail, Yahoo! and Hotmail are being targeted by spammers. Scam artists are stealing free Webmail account and password information to send spam to other users. The messages sent by the hackers may contain promotions to malicious Web sites that can lead computer users to a phishing scam. To avoid becoming a victim of this Webmail scam, it's advised to login to the Webmail account from a secure location. Always include complex passwords that include numerals.

Swine Flu E-mail Scam: The Swine Flu is alarming people worldwide, and now, according to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness (US-CERT), scam artists are using the flu outbreak to trick computer users into visiting malicious sites. US-CERT warns of a new e-mail scam containing a link that directs online users to bogus URLS: "avoidswineflue.net", "flu-swine.com", "mexicanswineflue.net", etc. These Web sites can lead users to downloading a virus or becoming victims of phishing scams. To avoid falling victim of an online scam, US-CERT advices to not click on Web site links or attachments that appear in unsolicited e-mail messages.

First Dakota National Bank E-mail Scam: First Dakota National Bank (FDNB) is warning customer of a new phishing e-mail scam. According to the bank, the e-mail alerts the customer that he or she has a message in the bank's "Message Center". To access the message, the customer is advised to click on a link, which directs users to a fake FDNB Web site. This malicious site claims that the FDNB customer has been locked from the account; therefore, he or she must provide personal information: e-mail, zip code and debit card number.

PayPal Phishing Scam: The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is alerting people of a recent study that shows that a phishing scam targeting PayPal customers is on the rise. Customers receive an e-mail notifying the recipient that his or her PayPal billing account has expired. The victim is then asked to click on a bogus link to update his or her account information. In order to update the account, the customer must provide a credit or debit card number. If the customer fails to provide this information, the e-mail warns that the PayPal account will be terminated.

Parking Ticket Scam: A parking ticket scam is spreading a nasty computer virus through the east and west coasts. Drivers find on their windshield what seems to be a parking ticket, but instead it's an online scam. The fake ticket directs people to visit a malicious Web site in order to receive more information about the parking violation. Once the victim visits the Web site, the virus takes over that person�s computer. To avoid falling into this scam, contact the police department or the court clerk's office to confirm it's a legitimate ticket.

Another Twitter Scam: Once again, Twitter has fallen victim of another online scam. This time, hackers are using the popular micro-blogging site to spread news feeds with links and phrases such as "You'll like this one! Check out www.TheSmartEcard.com", or "Retweet: You'll love this one! Check out www.TheSmartEcard.com". According to Twitter, this is a phishing scam rather than a malicious link such as the "Mikeyy" worm; however, users should avoid visiting these sites.

Twitter Worm: Twitter, the popular micro blogging site, has been hit by a worm called "Mikeyy." The worm is able to send tweets that direct users to a fraudulent Web site, StalkDaily.com. This worm is tricky because the tweets may appear to come from friends and family members. In addition, users don�t necessarily need to click on the link to become infected; they can also be exposed to the worm by simply viewing a malicious profile. So far, the worm has infected about 10,000 tweets.

Shocking Cyber Spies: The Wall Street Journal reported that cyber spies have penetrated the US electrical grid and placed malicious software programs that could potentially disrupt the system. U.S. national security officials said that the spies are from abroad and their mission is to map out the electrical system to ultimately gain control in the event of a crisis. Water and sewage systems are also vulnerable to such attacks.

Oprah Show Contest Scam: The Internet Crime Complaint Center is warning people of a fraudulent email purportedly nominating the recipient for the "Oprah Millionaire Contest Show." In order to enter, one has to provide personal information. Beware of unsolicited emails and never click on their embedded links, which could possibly have viruses or malware attached.

April Fool's Day Conflicker Worm: On Wednesday, April 1 2009 millions of infected computers will be commanded to either send spam, steal private data or execute an online scam such as coerce people to buy fake software-thanks to the Conflicker Worm. Between three to 12 million Windows PC's are infected. To make sure your computer isn't infected check to see if your Windows has updated recently. If not, and your afraid your computer might be infected go to Microsoft's website: http://safety.live.com.

"March Madness" Search Scam: Security company, AVG Technologies, warns of a recent search engine attack that targets search terms such as "March Madness" as well as NCAA Basketball websites. The "March Madness" search scam directs users to visit fraudulent sites that ask to download badware, allowing cybercriminal to hack into the victim's computer. As a result, user IDs, passwords, credit card numbers and other personal information can be stolen.

Credit Union Members Receive E-mail Scam: Otis Federal Credit Union customers are being warned about a recent e-mail scam that urges members to follow a bogus link. This link points customers to a website that asks for personal and confidential information such as their debit card account number together with access code and the three-digit code that appears on the back of the debit card. The website also asks for MasterCard and Visa account number, but the credit union does not offer MasterCard, further emphasizing that the site is fraudulent. The credit union affirms that customers are asked to select a background picture and phrase when they log in for security purposes; however, if members don�t see their selection, Otis Federal Credit Union is advising to delete the message.

Twitter e-mail scam: Twitter users may receive an e-mail that contains a malicious link with the words "don't click." When clicking on this link, users are directed to various websites that attempt to obtain the victims personal information as a vicious phishing scam. Users are deceived as their information can be retrieved without notice. To avoid becoming a victim, Twitter users should not open any mail that may seem suspicious.

Mystery Shopper Scam: U.S. Postal Inspectors are forewarning job seekers of the mystery shopper scam which asks victims to partake in a research project to assess retail chain stores. Victims receive a check to purchase merchandise and are instructed to wire back the difference, withholding pay. The check fails to clear, but victims are left without the wired funds.

The Work from Home Con: U.S. Postal Inspectors are warning citizens of "work from home" scam emails. Victims sign up to become a purchasing managing and are asked to receive merchandise to ship back overseas. They then receive a check for deposit and are asked to wire back the check, withholding $200 for pay. The victims discover the check has bounced and they are out for the sum of the wired money.

e-card virus disguised as Hallmark: A nasty e-card virus pretending to be a Hallmark greeting card is making its way through people's inboxes. The virus, which comes in the form of an attachment as "postcard.zip," is a scam designed to steal financial information. Genuine Hallmark e-cards do not require downloading e-cards.

Fake antivirus program AV360: Installing this rogueware, which sounds and looks legit, will bombard computer users with annoying pop-ups and compel them to buy and install a fake antivirus program. Users should avoid AV360 as they will be scammed out of their money.

iStockphoto attacked by cyber thieves: iStockphoto, the popular photo and design community, was hit by password thieves. This type of phishing attack is directing users to a bogus login page that asks for a username and password. The thieves are using this login information to hack into other sites the iStockphoto user may visit. iStockphoto is advising users to not open any mail from the site and to change passwords.

Koobface worm attacks social networking sites: The Facebook worm that appeared in December has once again surfaced and it's affecting more social networking sites such as MySpace, LiveJournal, Friendster, hi5, bebo, Tagged and others. Users receive a message from a friend that directs them to a link containing a YouTube video. The link, however, displays an error message from Adobe Flash saying it is out of date, encouraging users to download an update. By downloading the update, the computer becomes infected with the Koobface worm, which could later be used to create a back-door on computers running Windows.

Online Job Scams: The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning job seekers of scammers who prey upon the unemployed. One scam involves an email asking job seekers to fill out an application for a job opportunity and requires personal information (i.e. driver's license, Social Security numbers, bank account information) in order to verify your identity. The BBB warns against providing such information which can be used for identity theft.

ViddyHo.com Instant Messaging Worm: Computer users should beware of a phishing attack through Google Talk, Google's instant messaging system. Users of Google Talk were targeted and were lured to a login page site called ViddyHo.com, which asks for account details, leaving victims open to ID Theft. Users of other instant messaging systems should also be on guard for the threat.

SBA Warns About Stimulus Scam: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is warning about a fraudulent e-mail that contains letterhead similar to that of the SBA. The letter states that the recipient may be eligible to receive a tax rebate under the "Economic Stimulus Act" and that the SBA is providing the rebate. The letter also asks to provide bank account information. The SBA is advising not to respond to this letter.

Beware of Wal-Mart Online Scam: An e-mail with an attached customer survey offers a $150 reward in exchange of customer feedback. By filing out the survey, people can become victims of credit card fraud and identity theft. The e-mail's subject line reads: "You have been selected!" The survey requires including contact information such as full name, telephone number and e-mail as well as credit card information to receive payment.

Home Designer Headache: IKEA has discovered that a malicious e-mail is circulating encouraging users to install attached new IKEA home planner software. The e-mail and attached software is not from IKEA and it includes a malicious Trojan software which is installed once the attachment is opened. Safety and security issues are prioritized issues at IKEA and we would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused by this e-mail. We ask all receivers to delete the e-mail immediately.

Hitman Valentines: Some residents in Nevada thought they were opening a Valentine e-card from a friend, but instead read an email from a "hitman hired to kill" the reader, that is unless he receive $5,000 to "call off the hit". Seems ludicrous that someone would send the money, but fear causes people to do drastic things.

Phishing goes multi-channel with text: Central Iowa residents have been targeted by a phishing scam that includes a text message from a banking institution. The text reads: "Hello. Thank you for calling our 24-hour security department. To reactivate your card, please press 1. To leave, please press 2." Consumers who pressed 1 were told: "Please enter your 16-digit card number."

IRS Warns of Tax-Season Scams: An email claims to offer "rebates" or greater "returns" if you complete your taxes by filling out a form. The form asks for personal information including Social Security number, credit card numbers and other critical personal data. This tip from the IRS: The IRS will NEVER ask for personal information in an email and any tax returns will be sent to your last known address.

updated dec 2009

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