 Sunday, December 21, 2003 ( 11:43 AM ) Andy You are familiar with SpeedPass at the gas station where you waive an access device to complete an electronic transaction. MasterCard is working on the same thing according to C|Net News.com. It even indicates the waive of the card may eliminate the need for signatures. # Wednesday, December 17, 2003 ( 3:46 PM ) Michele More Financial Fraud Predicted Industry experts are predicting a new upswing in the number of cyber-scams targeting the financial services industry in 2004. Predictions center around "phishing" schemes that target unwitting bank customers via e-mail and web-site spoofing. The scams appear to originate from a "trusted" financial institution and attempt to trick users into divulging their account details which are then used to commit fraud. The latest string of scams have been gaining sophistication at an alarming rate. Educating customers is key to containing this growing type of cyber-fraud. # Monday, December 15, 2003 ( 5:22 PM ) Andy Interested in a Miami counterfeit report on Operation Eclipse, see some videos on efforts to collect the funny money and some examples of what they're finding. While I know thefts rise during the holidays, I wasn't aware counterfeits did too, but it makes sense. # Tuesday, December 09, 2003 ( 7:11 PM ) Andy What happens when you are doing maintenance to a live system and something goes wrong? In this case, a database targeted for law enforcement and credit agencies which included information such as names, SSANs, phone numbers and public records was open to the public, CNet news reported on Dec. 9. While LocatePlus shut down the access after just a few hours, they considered this breach minor and "only the bottom tier of information, or one up from the bottom". Alfred Huger, a senior director of engineering of Symantec, who discovered the breach, said "Uncontrolled access like this, to this level of information, makes identity theft trivial." After CNet and the FBI were notified, LocatePlus was. They considered the notice very helpful but said they would have caught this in a day or so anyway. Comforting. # ( 7:24 AM ) Andy Cell phones that take pictures. Is this a security threat to your bank? While I don't believe they are good enough to invade a consumers privacy in a bank (as in getting details of a transaction covertly), yet, this isn't something you want to invite. Should they be prohibited? They are in some areas, such as locker rooms, health clubs, court room, etc. See the story at PC World. # Wednesday, December 03, 2003 ( 7:24 AM ) Andy We've all dealt with the Nigerian scam letters. If you are wanting to address what may seem like a scam closer to home, check out Infomercial Scams.com. # |
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