Secrets from the Edge of the web
Jan 19, 2004
A Real Credit Card Scam: Urban Legends Reference Pages: Crime (Security Guard)
This just came to me in email and I always check them out. This one was for real, so I am forwarding it to you all.
THE 3-DIGIT CREDIT CARD FRAUD
Visa and MasterCard Telephone Fraud Hitting the Midwest.
Will Soon Sweep Across the Nation.
Swindlers, posing as agents for the Security and Fraud Department of Visa and MasterCard credit card companies, are telephoning card owners to gain access to the 3-digit purchase code listed on the back of the card. Then the charges start. Big charges.
This just in from a Fraud-Aid.com contributor:
Visa & MC Frauds: Saturday, 20 December 2003
This is disconcerting...another reason just to hang up on "telemarketers"...
Something that might be worth cascading to some of your friends. Someone recently at AT&T Wireless where Ken works was called the other day at home and the caller had this scam tried on them ...
We all receive emails all the time regarding one scam or another; but last week I REALLY DID get scammed! Both VISA and MasterCard told me that this scam is currently being worked throughout the Midwest, with some variance as to the product or amount, and if you are called, just hang up.
My husband was called on Wednesday from "VISA" and I was called in Thursday from "MasterCard". It worked like this:
Person calling says, "This is Carl Patterson and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card issued by 5/3 bank. Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona?"
When you say "No". The caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"
You say, "Yes". The caller continues, "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 800 number listed on your card 1-800-VISA and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control # (Then gives you a 6 digit number) "Do you need me to read it again?" Caller then says he needs to verify you are in possession of your card. "Turn the card over. There are 7 numbers; first 4 are 1234(whatever) the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are in possession of the card. These are the numbers you use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. Read me the 3 numbers."
Then he says, "That is correct. I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions? Don't hesitate to call back if you do."
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA security dept. told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 WAS put on our card.
Long story made short...we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA card and they are reissuing as a new number.
What the scam wants is the 3 digit number!
And once the charge goes through, they keep charging every few days. By the time you get your statement, you think the credit is coming, and then its harder to actually file a fraud report. The real VISA reinforced that they will never ask for anything on the card (they already know).
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from"Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word for word repeat of the VISA Scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up.
We filed a police report (as instructed by VISA), and they said they are taking several of these reports daily and to tell friends, relatives and coworkers.
NOTE: This has all the markings of a boiler-room set up, whereby banks of phones are manned by swindlers making phone calls. Do these swindlers have access to credit card numbers and names? It looks that way, but I don't know. Will more of these boiler rooms be set up across the country? Probably so - I'd count on it.
I just posted my first auction in a long while. Sorry for the long hiatus in newsletters. Its been a busy Christmas/New Years.
I am drawing neat new inspiration from Wired magazine ( http://www.wired.com ) and the Mars Rover Spirit ( http://jpl.nasa.gov )
Please shoot me back a little note and let me know how often you would like tips like these comments to come to you. I have toyed with weekly and monthly and this last time even further apart. I want to reach my interested audience, but I don't want to abuse your trust and bury you in email trivia either.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Blessings,
Roger.
TIME SAVING WEBSITES:
"BabelFish"
We Americans take for granted that as
the originator of the World Wide Web,
that we are entitled to everything
being in English. Not so!
The airlines use English as an international
language due to safety, but otherwise,
we need to be aware that there is an entire
World implied by the WWW acronym.
The web crawler, Altavista developed a
really effective solution that is not
very well publicized, but is amazing
to see in operation.
It is called BabelFish, after the translation
creature from Douglas Adam's book,
"Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
http://babelfish.altavista.com
In the book, characters couldn't understand
other galactic languages until this little
fish was placed in their ear to whisper the
translations to them.
In practice, the website works in two ways.
The first is straight translation.
I type in "My name is Roger." and select
translate from English to French and click
the "Translate" button, and the website
replies with, "Mon nom est Roger." Cool, no?
The second is even more amazing, it can convert
entire websites and maintain the translation
as you click through the site. It is absolutely
as if a little fish redrew the webpage for you.
To try it out, enter a website. We used ours,
"http://www.bardic.com" And converted it to
German. And Voila! My welcome message of
"Welcome to our website!" becomes
"Willkommen zu unserem website!"
I can't promise you will need this often, but
the first time you encounter that website that
you really needed and it was authored in
Russian, you will really appreciate the option
so see what that strange website really says.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Oct 28, 2003
Must-Have Software: Google Toolbar
Have you been to websites that seem to POP UP windows with advertisements for products or services that you never even considered purchasing? I would be really surprised if you hadn't. Many main stream websites like excite.com, cnn.com and msnbc.com have taken to selling this ad-space to national marketing firms and that results in a Time Square-esque experience full of neon signs and a few of them are even highly inappropriate.
Well, I didn't bring this up to taunt you. I have a wonderful product that reads and works like Weight Watchers(tm) dessert. It's called the Google Toolbar. Once installed this product works with your Internet Explorer web browser to control the annoyances we were talking about above. It even counts the number of popups that are blocked.
As an added bonus, the best search engine on the web, google.com is the central part of the toolbar. I know the Google people may feel differently, but the search is just an accessory. The popup blocker is the star.
Now for the sales pitch... Its FREE! Download and install it today and receive more peace during your Internet research time.
Time Saving Websites: Wikipedia
We're homeschooling now. So I am always looking for new and thorough research websites.
I stumbled across this wonderful website while researching the concept of Pi. Now that I have confirmed myself as a geek, let me tell you why we're talking about Wikipedia instead of the mysterious transcendental value Pi. Wikipedia is a website that is one of the miracles of the Internet. It is a forum for you and I to share our knowledge of particular topics and contribute to the recording of all common knowledge. This information is combined to form a large Internet encyclopedia that, more importantly, is owned by no one, or maybe more particularly, owned by us all.
Look up your favorite topic and if it seems vague to you, add your knowledge and enlighten us all.
Wikipedia info
Wikipedia info on Pi
Buzz Words: Blog
Nope, this isn't a new swear word. Its short for Web Log. If you say it fast and drop off the 'We', you are left with just, 'Blog'. Now from a verbal exploration, that isn't all that interesting. As you visit web sites you may even see Blogs being used to allow commentary to address web site and topical issues.
What that does is truly empower the individual in a new way to become creators in information. We are in fact using this technology to publish this newsletter to our subscribers. It reduces the time to take a short idea like this one and format it for publication and even has a Spell Check function built in.
While there are many Blog tools on the web, I am using the one called Blogger.com. It has many layout formats and features that would be pretty interesting to see but a bit tedious to relate here. I will just share the websites lowest level of membership is FREE and might let you become the budding author you have always wondered about.
Blogger.com
Marketing Definition of Blog
Serious Links: Internet Security
If you watch the news and read the warnings about all the Internet viruses out there, you may at times feel a little overwhelmed. I know I do, but I normally trust Norton Antivirus 2003 (or whatever year is happens to be) to alert me to the growing problems that may come. Then a good friend of mine gave me a link to the something called the Internet Storm Watch.
The Internet Storm Watch monitors viruses across the globe and the swelling or decreasing numbers of attacks, just like a regular weather report. I can't always follow the very detailed info on some of the attacks but the related articles are in English and usually tell how to cope with whatever the situation may call for. If you like the site, we all have my good friend Chris to thank for it.
Another really nice site for regular tracking of the details is one of the hubs of the US Federal defense of our national Internet system. I have occasionally subscribed to their newsletters when part of my responsibility has been to be aware of the latest server threats and they always kept me aware of the latest required patches for my operating systems. If that is your cup of tea, please sign up and they will keep you up-to-date.
Internet Storm Center
Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordination Center
Faith Online: Covenant Eyes
The Internet is a dangerous place. No one knows that better than an Internet professional, and from my first experiences with AOL that only ran on MSDOS in 1993 to the current time of always up DSL or cable modem high-speed consumer Internet access. It's been a wild ride. It seems like any technology that provides privacy allows us to be distracted by the worldly dark parts of our imagination. I have reviewed many technologies to filter, block or otherwise control the access to inappropriate information, but none seem to be as successful as I believe this product called, Covenant Eyes.
Rather than rely on the faulty control of reliance on hardware or software to keep our hearts from exposure to temptation, this wonderful product uses software to empower a better way. The software monitors all Internet traffic and sends a regularly scheduled report to someone else that will hold you accountable. No more secret Internet usage.
The website name comes from Job 31:1, "I have made a covenant with my eyes". This refers to the concept that I we are not enslaved to our sexuality and that we have a choice. Some books refer to it as "bounce". I can't control what images cross my path, but I can "bounce" my eyes off that and look at something else. A "covenant with my eyes" means that I intend and am planning to avoid dwelling on sexual immorality due to any incidental exposure to something that might arouse my attention.
Within the context of this website, this product is installed and monitors all Internet access on your computer. It then sends a list of inappropriate to your accountability partners. These partners would be people that would hold the user of the computer accountable. That accountability could take the many forms, but for me, I know I would rather take a beating than have to explain myself to my Christian brothers.
I don't want to seem preachy, because I am a very human person, but maybe this is just the product for someone out there.
Covenant Eyes info
Essay on "Every Man's Battle" regarding sexual integrity
--dedicated to the glory of God--
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Job 31:1
I sent out a "Last Call..." note last night and the
enormous number of old and invalid emails
caused a lot of bounce traffic on the server this
morning. This tripped "load level" alarms
at my hosting facility and they temporarily placed
us on a "suspended" status.
Fortunately, everything is back to normal now.
Blessings,
Roger.
The "subscribe now" link is now hot and connected to the mailing list application. "Subscribe Now" and get all the updates to these articles as they are published.
Blessings,
Roger.
Well, Digi-tales is back online. The archive has been restored and the Blogger interface for adding articles has been established. The next step is to add the connection to our existing mailing list.
Thank you all for your patience.
Blessings,
Roger.
Lets get back to sharing these articles and sites with the rest of the world.
Blessings and well wishes!
Roger.
Time Saving Websites:
Packages by the Numbers
The deliveryman's version of the children's book, "Where's Waldo?" is realized in the Internet consumer's urgent need to know; really know that a package is either delivered or enroute and not lost.
UPS, Fedex and even the US Postal Service have succumbed to these demands. Simply keep at hand your tracking number provided on their shipping receipt and you can go to the corresponding website, type in the number and often determine who signed for it and when it was delivered.
The real surprise is seeing how far our packages travel to get from here to there.
Buzz Words:
Easter Eggs
In the real world, Easter Eggs only come on Easter morning, but digital Easter Eggs keep all year round. They can be found within programs, video games and the subject of this short article, DVDs.
Just like real Easter Eggs these little treats can be found by diligently searching through the menus of your favorite DVD or... by following the tips on NetFlix's website.
http://www.netflix.com/EasterEggs
New Gadgets:
Codes and Crypto
Have you ever wondered how the current state of technology got its start? I confess, I occasionally do, but strangely never take the time to look into it. Then -poof- a good friend recommends a wonderful novel that carries the plot through three different timelines and provides one possible telling of the tales that precede our modern digital world.
It is called, "Cryptonomicon", by Neal Stephenson and lets us into the pre-digital time of paper ciphers through to the dot-com times of rapid business e-growth. I learned a few crypotgraphic tips and enjoyed the story itself. If you are seeking good techno-fiction, I recommend it.
Internet-working:
An Atlas of Cyberspaces
By: Paul Otte, paulotte@mindspring.com
http://www.paulotte.com/aboutpo.htm
I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and we were discussing where the wireless networks are. So I told him that they publish maps. Yes, there are people who go around and "search out" your wireless LAN at your house and then connect to it to grab some quick internet time. I like to think of it as providing fellow travelers a place in the evening before they continue their journey, BUT you should be careful to protect your systems (ALWAYS) and if you see a strange vehicle (van, car, etc) in the neighborhood, DO have the sheriff stop by and ask them what they are doing, it can't hurt.
So, being handy with http://www.google.com, I promptly hoped on the Internet and did a search to find a map to prove to my friend that such things do exist.
WOW! Did I find a fantastic site!
http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/atlas.html
This site claims to be an "atlas" of "electronic territories" of the Internet, the Web, and "new electronic territories."
In reality, it is a compendium of representations of thoughts, information, and networks. I guess that sounds "geeky," but WAIT!!! It's more like science fiction as well as geeks and is a fantastic starting point for school projects.
The site is not all technical. It includes artistic and historical sections as well. For example, the cover and abstract of a book called "Neuromancer" is included. This book has given rise to the user interfaces in such movies as "The Matrix" and " Johnny Mnemonic." Many consider this book to be one of the starting points from which our current concept of a virtual world with computers originated.
Historical references include conceptual diagrams that were used to create ARPANET (precursor to the Internet) and justifications for it's current design! One drawing is a hand drawn picture of the 1st node of the ARPANET at UCLA from 1969. You can actually trace the growth of the Internet in the drawings and the descriptions that are listed on the history page.
If you prefer gaming, you can see some interesting representations of the games in graphical depictions. Some of the games listed include "Ultima Online," "Everquest," and "Abandon All Hope Mud."
On the more obscure? are some of the maps that "visualize" web browsing. I'm not quite sure of the value of these, but they are very interesting. There are tools that will track where you go on the web and then present this to you in a 2 or 3 dimensional illustration. I'm not sure how they help you, but they are pretty interesting.
The "Maps of Web Sites" actually have some useful diagrams. These diagrams include some simple, easy to understand examples of the structure of web site. This reminds me of a hierarchy diagram like a structure chart from systems analysis. I have to confess that the 3 dimensional globe version looks more like the celestial sphere from celestial navigation than a web site. I'm not sure how that representation "adds value" to the comprehension of the web site structure, but it is pretty.
Now, wireless, are you scared that your home is listed on this site? Don't be. The most complete diagram shows the ENTIRE US, and is almost more of a hazy cloud of blue dots, but these are all commercial wireless antennas.
There are many products listed via the site as well. For typical users items such as the "ContactMap" might be a useful product, which maps all of your contacts for you. That particular one is a prototype at the moment, but looking at the screen grab, it could be in a box at a store near you soon.
The site has census maps, topological maps, experimental maps, social maps, conversational maps, and a seemingly endless supply of other maps. BUT if you have a high-speed connection and you think the Internet is neat, then you have to check out my favorite, "Warriors of the Net."
"Warriors of the Net," is a short movie that shows how the Internet works from the viewpoint of a data packet. Very clever and very large (the "Best" version is right at 100MB and lasts 14 minutes), it was developed in Sweden and is animated. There are multiple versions so that you can download a smaller version if you're limited on disk or bandwidth. You'll have to scroll down the page to see it but it is at the following URL within this site.
http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/artistic.html
Officially it's hosted at:
Finally, there's even a set of maps showing satellites and high-speed internet trunk lines. It seems that there is almost no end to this site and most images have links to finding more of these images.
This site is so colorful and visually interesting that it would make a fantastic book for your coffee table. In fact, they appear to have published just such a book of this site. So if you get a few minutes, swing by and check out "An Atlas of Cyberspaces". You might just see the future of the Internet laid out before you in beautiful full color. Also, check out the movie. It really is neat ( http://www.cybergeography.org/atlas/artistic.html).
Until next time, take care and have fun. Paul
Inspired Novelty:
Mentally Incontinent
I want to take this opportunity to proclaim kudos to one of my closest friends, Joe Peacock. He has always been a clever and unique individual and I knew when he found his voice, it was going to manifest itself beautifully. In this case, he is using the Internet to author his first Novel.
http://www.mentallyincontinent.com
Visit his website, Mentally Incontinent, and you will see some very entertaining stories from his life, told in side-splitting candor. Every so often, the readers from the website are allowed to vote on the next chapter to the novel. You will never find an easier way to participate in the publishing process unless you write your own novel. Treat yourself to a grin or two; visit the website and enjoy. My favorite was, "I never liked fish."
--dedicated to the glory of God--
Psalm 34:19
Psalm 34
19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
Sponsors:
Amazon.com: Earth's Biggest Selection
In association with Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/bardiccompute-20
PayPal:
Sign up now and get $5
https://www.paypal.com/affil/pal=4TUN3S7FCJL9Y
Netflix:
Rent as many DVDs as you want for $20 a month
http://www.netflix.com
Time Saving Websites:
Packages by the Numbers
The deliveryman's version of the children's book, "Where's Waldo?" is realized in the Internet consumer's urgent need to know; really know that a package is either delivered or enroute and not lost.
UPS, Fedex and even the US Postal Service have succumbed to these demands. Simply keep at hand your tracking number provided on their shipping receipt and you can go to the corresponding website, type in the number and often determine who signed for it and when it was delivered.
The real surprise is seeing how far our packages travel to get from here to there.
Buzz Words: Easter Eggs
In the real world, Easter Eggs only come on Easter morning, but digital Easter Eggs keep all year round. They can be found within programs, video games and the subject of this short article, DVDs.
Just like real Easter Eggs these little treats can be found by diligently searching through the menus of your favorite DVD or... by following the tips on NetFlix's website.
http://www.netflix.com/EasterEggs
New Gadgets:
Codes and Crypto
Have you ever wondered how the current state of technology got its start? I confess, I occasionally do, but strangely never take the time to look into it. Then -poof- a good friend recommends a wonderful novel that carries the plot through three different timelines and provides one possible telling of the tales that precede our modern digital world.
It is called, "Cryptonomicon", by Neal Stephenson and lets us into the pre-digital time of paper ciphers through to the dot-com times of rapid business e-growth. I learned a few crypotgraphic tips and enjoyed the story itself. If you are seeking good techno-fiction, I recommend it.
Great Networking:
T-Mobile Hotspots
High speed Internet access from Starbucks!
It may or may not sound like a cry for liberty to you but the company, T-Mobile has partnered with many companies to provide Wireless Internet access called WiFi to a large part of the Metro Atlanta area.
http://www.t-mobile.com/hotspot/
I use it to provide a live preview of web projects that are under development in a very accommodating environment. Best of all, you don't have to leave the office to go to Starbucks.
Online Entertainment:
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister
Sometimes reality is better than the best joke.
The writers at Saturday Night Live should have seen it coming, but this is even better. During the recent hostility in Iraq, there emerged a hilarious entertainer. He had control of the broadcast network, but was at his best during his almost daily recounts of Iraqi successes.
I am of course referring to the Iraqi Information Minister. If you missed him live, a new website has captured his reruns. Be prepared to laugh a ton. Remember this is the fellow that stated, "As usual, we killed them all..." as tanks rolled behind him.
http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com
--dedicated to the glory of God--
Isaiah 40:26
Isaiah 40
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Sponsors:
Amazon.com: Earth's Biggest Selection
In association with Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/bardiccompute-20
PayPal:
Sign up now and get $5
https://www.paypal.com/affil/pal=4TUN3S7FCJL9Y
Netflix:
Rent as many DVDs as you want for $20 a month
http://www.netflix.com
