be careful!!
Jul 22nd 2007 | 5:40 am
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 20,690
From: in the Sydney asylum
be careful!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6910826.stm
People who use internet networking sites are being warned that they could be at risk of identity theft.
Credit information group Equifax said members of sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook may be putting too many details about themselves online.
It said fraudsters could use these details to steal someone's identity and apply for credit and benefits.
About 80,000 people in the UK were victims of identity theft last year, at a cost to the economy of £1.5bn.
Passwords
Neil Munroe, external affairs director for Equifax, said: "Fraudsters are taking advantage of the new craze for social networking.
"The problem is that people don't realise the significance of the kind of information they are putting out on the web and who may be accessing it.
"More and more consumers are signing up to these sites every day and chances are they'll put on their date of birth, location, e-mail, job and marital status.
"Fraudsters can use this information to steal an individual's identity and open accounts in their name."
The group advised people to limit the personal information they make available about themselves online.
It said people should avoid putting their full date of birth on one of the sites, as well as the names of children or pets as these are often used as passwords.
Mr Munroe said: "We don't want to stop people using these sites, but we do advise them to limit the amount of information they make available to stop people stealing their identity."
People who use internet networking sites are being warned that they could be at risk of identity theft.
Credit information group Equifax said members of sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook may be putting too many details about themselves online.
It said fraudsters could use these details to steal someone's identity and apply for credit and benefits.
About 80,000 people in the UK were victims of identity theft last year, at a cost to the economy of £1.5bn.
Passwords
Neil Munroe, external affairs director for Equifax, said: "Fraudsters are taking advantage of the new craze for social networking.
"The problem is that people don't realise the significance of the kind of information they are putting out on the web and who may be accessing it.
"More and more consumers are signing up to these sites every day and chances are they'll put on their date of birth, location, e-mail, job and marital status.
"Fraudsters can use this information to steal an individual's identity and open accounts in their name."
The group advised people to limit the personal information they make available about themselves online.
It said people should avoid putting their full date of birth on one of the sites, as well as the names of children or pets as these are often used as passwords.
Mr Munroe said: "We don't want to stop people using these sites, but we do advise them to limit the amount of information they make available to stop people stealing their identity."
Jul 22nd 2007 | 7:46 am
#2
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,756
From: Newcastle , NSW
Re: be careful!!
I read this too.
I think I'm going to go and edit my facebook info before some one runs up thousands of pounds of debt in my name
Oh hang on - some one has already done that
I think I'm going to go and edit my facebook info before some one runs up thousands of pounds of debt in my name
Oh hang on - some one has already done that
Jul 22nd 2007 | 7:59 am
#3
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,918
Re: be careful!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6910826.stm
People who use internet networking sites are being warned that they could be at risk of identity theft.
Credit information group Equifax said members of sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook may be putting too many details about themselves online.
It said fraudsters could use these details to steal someone's identity and apply for credit and benefits.
About 80,000 people in the UK were victims of identity theft last year, at a cost to the economy of £1.5bn.
Passwords
Neil Munroe, external affairs director for Equifax, said: "Fraudsters are taking advantage of the new craze for social networking.
"The problem is that people don't realise the significance of the kind of information they are putting out on the web and who may be accessing it.
"More and more consumers are signing up to these sites every day and chances are they'll put on their date of birth, location, e-mail, job and marital status.
"Fraudsters can use this information to steal an individual's identity and open accounts in their name."
The group advised people to limit the personal information they make available about themselves online.
It said people should avoid putting their full date of birth on one of the sites, as well as the names of children or pets as these are often used as passwords.
Mr Munroe said: "We don't want to stop people using these sites, but we do advise them to limit the amount of information they make available to stop people stealing their identity."
People who use internet networking sites are being warned that they could be at risk of identity theft.
Credit information group Equifax said members of sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook may be putting too many details about themselves online.
It said fraudsters could use these details to steal someone's identity and apply for credit and benefits.
About 80,000 people in the UK were victims of identity theft last year, at a cost to the economy of £1.5bn.
Passwords
Neil Munroe, external affairs director for Equifax, said: "Fraudsters are taking advantage of the new craze for social networking.
"The problem is that people don't realise the significance of the kind of information they are putting out on the web and who may be accessing it.
"More and more consumers are signing up to these sites every day and chances are they'll put on their date of birth, location, e-mail, job and marital status.
"Fraudsters can use this information to steal an individual's identity and open accounts in their name."
The group advised people to limit the personal information they make available about themselves online.
It said people should avoid putting their full date of birth on one of the sites, as well as the names of children or pets as these are often used as passwords.
Mr Munroe said: "We don't want to stop people using these sites, but we do advise them to limit the amount of information they make available to stop people stealing their identity."
It's a sad world we live in
Jul 22nd 2007 | 8:10 am
#4
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 20,690
From: in the Sydney asylum
Re: be careful!!
Jul 22nd 2007 | 9:49 am
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,383
From: 'stralia
Re: be careful!!
I try to think of it in terms of 'would I give this info to a total stranger'?
If someone approached me and asked for the time, I would give it to them. If they asked my date of birth, I might give them the month, but nothing more.
If they asked my name, I might give my first name but not my surname.
Etc etc! I am horrified at how much information some people have posted about themselves online on sites like facebook. There should definitely be greater awareness of the possible dangers.
If someone approached me and asked for the time, I would give it to them. If they asked my date of birth, I might give them the month, but nothing more.
If they asked my name, I might give my first name but not my surname.
Etc etc! I am horrified at how much information some people have posted about themselves online on sites like facebook. There should definitely be greater awareness of the possible dangers.
Jul 22nd 2007 | 10:07 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 108
From: At home
Re: be careful!!
I try to think of it in terms of 'would I give this info to a total stranger'?
If someone approached me and asked for the time, I would give it to them. If they asked my date of birth, I might give them the month, but nothing more.
If they asked my name, I might give my first name but not my surname.
Etc etc! I am horrified at how much information some people have posted about themselves online on sites like facebook. There should definitely be greater awareness of the possible dangers.
If someone approached me and asked for the time, I would give it to them. If they asked my date of birth, I might give them the month, but nothing more.
If they asked my name, I might give my first name but not my surname.
Etc etc! I am horrified at how much information some people have posted about themselves online on sites like facebook. There should definitely be greater awareness of the possible dangers.
Jul 22nd 2007 | 10:16 am
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,383
From: 'stralia
Re: be careful!!
For about a month I got dozens of emails pretending to be from paypal and asking for account details. I deleted them all!
Jul 22nd 2007 | 11:00 am
#8
Always the last to leave.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,399
Re: be careful!!
But with Facebook only your friends can view the information. You choose who sees your profile.
Jul 24th 2007 | 3:10 pm
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,129
From: Carramar in Perth's northern suburbs
Re: be careful!!
Does anyone else get moidered by our African brothers?
Jul 24th 2007 | 3:24 pm
#10
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 20,690
From: in the Sydney asylum
Jul 24th 2007 | 7:09 pm
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,129
From: Carramar in Perth's northern suburbs
Re: be careful!!
............. shame Richard's dad died eh?
From Mr Rich Orgaranya
Abidjan Republic of Cote D'Ivoire.West Africa
Dear Mr Bobcat,
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business relationship with you, I got your contact from your country directory, please i need a trust-worthy person that will help me to transfer this money
I am Rich Orgaranya, the only Son of late Mr and Mrs Bawam Orgaranya. My father was a very wealthy Gold Merchant in Monrovia the Gold Capital of republic of Liberia all in west africa my father was poisoned by his business associates while my mother died when i am little and my father took me so special because I am his only son.
Before the death of my father on 14th September 2006 in a hospital here in Cote D'ivoire, he secretly called me and told me that he has the sum of(USD $15 MILLION FIFTEEN MILLION U.S DOLLARS )which he deposited in a bank here in Cote D'ivoire.
He also made me understand that it was because of this money he was poisoned by his business associates while on a business trip with them and he instructed me to look for a foreign partner who will help me transfer this money out of this Cote Divoire and invest it for me, my purpose of contacting you is for you to help transfer this money to your country before this people who kill my father will kill me too
I'm now hiding in a local place here and I will compensate you with 20% of this money if you help me to transfer the money to your account l hope you will not betray the trust i have on you because this money is my only hope in this life and you will also help me to come over to your country to continue my education while you will invest my own share of the money for me.
I can assure you there is No Risk involve the money is an inheritance from my late father
I am waiting to hear from you,
Rich Orgaranya
Jul 24th 2007 | 8:42 pm
#12
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17,426
From: Mount Tamborine
Re: be careful!!
Lol, I'm amazed at how his father managed to tell him why he was poisoned after he was dead
Luke I amyofatha has a good story on one of these where he had a fair bit of contact with them, it's very funny
Luke I amyofatha has a good story on one of these where he had a fair bit of contact with them, it's very funny
Jul 24th 2007 | 9:01 pm
#14
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17,426
From: Mount Tamborine
Re: be careful!!
Jul 24th 2007 | 9:02 pm
#15
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,756
From: Newcastle , NSW
Re: be careful!!
