New Tax Scam: “Forewarned Is Forearmed”
Posted by Michelle Moquin on November 15th, 2009
Good morning….
This new scam isn’t part of the series that I have been blogging, but it is a recent one from Scambusters that all of you should know about. Tax season will be upon us sooner than you think. As I always say, “Forewarned is forearmed.”
Major IRS Scam Exploits Unpaid Tax Fears
It may not be tax season right now, but for crooks it’s always tax scam season — and the latest IRS scam has been labeled the most prominent spam-delivered virus in the world during late summer and fall.
In this Snippets issue of Scambusters, we take a close-up look at this IRS email scam which has turned up on millions of PCs.
We also spotlight two potential identity theft threats — one the revival of a bank failure phishing scam, the other a worrisome experience encountered by a member of the Scambusters team who was asked to put confidential personal information into the hands of her child.
But first, that IRS scam…
Bogus “Notice of Underreported Income”
Messages purporting to come from the IRS have been dropping into millions of email inboxes in recent months, with the ominous subject heading “Notice of Underreported Income.”
This phony IRS spam is said to account for 10% of all email spam sent out during those months.
In one version, the message asks you to click on a link that takes you to a bogus IRS page where you’re asked to provide your Social Security number and credit card information, supposedly to make an additional tax payment.
In other words, it is simply an IRS phishing scam.
In other cases, the message contains an attachment you’re supposed to click to install a tax statement viewer.
In reality, clicking the attachment installs a virus called the Zeus Trojan, which enables the scammers to hack bank accounts.
Researchers say this Trojan — said to be missed by most anti-virus software — has been draining more than a million dollars a day from victims’ accounts.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — the IRS never makes unsolicited contact by email. And when they do use email to respond to a message you sent them, they never ask for personal information.
If you receive this IRS scam message, simply ignore it and delete it. If you’re still worried that it might be genuine (though we assure you it isn’t), contact the IRS by phone.
Just don’t click on that link! And if you already did, contact your bank and the police straightaway.
The Busted Bank Scam
Even though we might be past the worst of the recession, banks are still going bust. And scammers are still using that fact as a ruse to hoodwink unsuspecting victims.
When a bank fails, you should still be able to withdraw your money for up to 30 days after the collapse. If not, provided it’s covered by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) as most are, you’ll get a check from the government to cover the money you had on deposit, currently up to $250,000.
Using this as a lever, scammers send out messages to customers of failed banks, pretending to be messages from the FDIC, warning that their ATM cards have been disabled and/or their accounts frozen.
Then — guess what — victims are asked to provide birth date, Social Security number, mother’s maiden name and other personal information. It all adds up to a nasty phishing scam.
As with the IRS case above, the FDIC never asks for information in this way — so never give it. If you’re on the receiving end of a bank collapse and you’re unsure what is happening to your money, contact the bank or the FDIC directly.
Visit the FDIC site for more information.
Should You Entrust a Child With Personal Information?
Would you trust an elementary school child with all of your personal information? That’s the dilemma Scambusters team member Andrea recently faced.
A note from her children’s school district asked her to provide all sorts of information, including Social Security and driver’s license numbers, for background checks that were being performed on all school volunteers and chaperones.
We agree it’s a good idea to do the check. But a fail grade for the way they wanted to do it: the kids were supposed to carry this precious information to school themselves in their backpacks — with a check (containing more personal info) to pay for the verification.
And then, Andrea wondered, if the information did safely complete its journey, who else would have access to it and how would it be stored?
Discovering that many parents were planning to comply without weighing the risks, Andrea raised her concerns with the school board who decided to shred all of the forms that had been turned in and simply request the name, telephone number, and email of volunteers/chaperones.
These were then to be passed to a background checking company so they could send the volunteer/chaperones a SECURE link to log in and provide additional private information. Subsequently, the school would only be told if individuals had passed or failed the check; no other details would be provided.
With more and more schools rightly requiring background checks on their volunteers, perhaps you might find yourself in a similar situation. If so, we recommend you ask the following questions:
- How much of my personal information will you require?
- Who, and how many people, will have access to my personal information?
- Where will the information be stored and how will it be protected?
- What is the file retention policy and, when you’re done with it, how will it be disposed of?
- What information will be gathered in the background checks (e.g., criminal and driving history, civil issues, credit history)?
- Who will see the results of the background check?
- And, finally, what constitutes a pass or fail result?
And if, like Andrea, you have concerns about the approach adopted for this activity, or about the answers to the questions we’ve outlined, voice them immediately.
The IRS scam and the other stories in this Snippets issue illustrate perfectly the broad range of identity theft risks each one of us may face.
In fact, a researcher reported back in 2000 that by using only a zip code, date of birth and gender, 87% of Americans can be uniquely identified. It’s that easy.
So, what can you do? Be careful who you release your personal information to. And always ask about the privacy and data retention policies of those who have your personal information.
For more help, visit the Scambusters Identity Theft Center. And stay safe!
That’s a wrap for this issue. Wishing you a great week!
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Doug: I knew you would find the truth about that video. I wish the story was authentic – it would be so much more fun and interesting. Nothing against digital, but you know me, I am a hands-on kind of a girl, and I loved the idea of people collaborating on something as cool as this, not to say that there wasn’t a ton of collaborating going on, but you get my drift. Digital or not…still incredible; and watching it and hearing it, still makes me smile….
…got to go. Enjoy your Sunday everyone!
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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November 15th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Holiday Heart Syndrome
Keith B. Churchwell, MD
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
The holidays bring more than gifts and good cheer. They also bring an increase in deaths from heart disease, with spikes both on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The trend is so predictable that cardiologists now refer to the “Merry Christmas Coronary” and the “Happy New Year Heart Attack.”
A research team led by Robert A. Kloner, MD, looked at death records of more than 220,000 people who had died over a 12-year period. The study, published in Circulation, found that about one-third more deaths were recorded in December and January than from June through September.
The holidays also bring a rise in hospital admissions for nonfatal cardiac events, including angina (chest pain).
IS COLD WEATHER TO BLAME?
It was once thought that cold weather was the primary reason for holiday-related heart attacks. However, the Circulation study looked only at patients in Los Angeles County, where temperatures generally are mild all year.
Cold weather can play a small role in the incidence of cardiovascular events, especially for people with existing heart disease. It can increase the body’s response to stressful conditions, which can put people at heightened risk, particularly when they engage in more vigorous activities (such as shoveling snow) than they’re accustomed to.
The holidays themselves, however, present other risks…
INCREASED ALCOHOL
People socialize more — and drink more — during the holidays. Excessive alcohol can be toxic to the cardiovascular system, particularly in people with heart disease. Alcohol both depresses heart function and irritates the top heart chambers (the atria). The irritation can lead to atrial fibrillation, a dangerous change in the heart’s normal rhythm.
One of my patients, a young woman who usually didn’t drink, had shared a bottle of champagne with a friend. That’s not a lot of alcohol, but within 24 hours, she went into atrial fibrillation. Fortunately, her heart rate was back to normal after 24 hours.
What to do: Don’t use the holidays as an excuse to drink more than usual. Stick to the guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association — no more than one drink daily for women… two drinks daily for men.
LARGE MEALS
People eat more often during the holidays, and they tend to eat more, on average, at each meal. After a large meal, blood is directed to the intestines to aid in digestion. In patients with atherosclerosis (blockages in the coronary arteries that can restrict blood flow to the heart), the reduction in cardiovascular circulation can result in angina (chest pain caused by decreased blood).
Also, people tend to eat richer foods during the holidays. High-fat meals make the coronary endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) more reactive. This can cause an increase in coronary spasms, constrictions that further impede coronary circulation.
What to do…
Eat normal serving sizes, particularly if you’ve been diagnosed with atherosclerosis, angina or another heart condition. Don’t “save” calories so that you can eat more at a special meal.
Don’t add salt. Excessive sodium can cause fluid retention, resulting in spikes in blood pressure in some people. In patients with existing high blood pressure or with impaired heart function, an increase in salt can lead to increased risk for heart failure or pulmonary edema, a buildup of fluid in lung tissue.
INCREASED STRESS
The holidays are one of the most stressful times of year. People are interacting more with relatives (with whom they may or may not be on good terms)… fighting crowds at the malls… traveling… attending parties… and/or worrying about finances. There’s a direct correlation between stress and cardiovascular events. During stressful situations, people with cardiovascular disease are more likely to experience coronary spasms — and sometimes chest pain, which can indicate angina or a heart attack.
There’s also a condition called stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart attack–like symptoms in response to intense stress. It is seen predominantly in women and is thought to occur when a stress-related surge of adrenaline stuns the heart. Most people recover without long-term harm, but in rare cases, it can be fatal.
What to do: Take steps to minimize holiday stress — by not overbooking your social calendar… by walking away from (instead of confronting) unpleasant social situations… and by keeping up with regular exercise and relaxing activities.
WINTER INFLUENZA
The flu season peaks between the months of December and March. Flu is potentially dangerous for everyone, but heart patients are especially vulnerable. There’s evidence that the inflammation that accompanies flu may destabilize arterial plaque and increase the risk for clots, the cause of most heart attacks.
What to do: An annual flu vaccination is the best protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for adults age 50 and older… any adult with a heart, lung, kidney or metabolic disease (such as diabetes)… and for those with compromised immune systems.
MEDICAL DELAYS
People who are caught up in holiday excitement — or who don’t want to spoil the holiday fun for others — may delay seeking medical care, even if they’re having chest pain or other heart symptoms. They also are more likely to forget to take medications, such as anticoagulants and blood pressure drugs.
What to do: Stay on top of your health throughout the holiday season. Put medications in a place where you’ll see them. If you have worrisome symptoms, don’t wait until the end of the holidays — or even the end of the day — to get medical attention. Don’t delay — immediately call 911.
COMMON HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS
The most common heart attack symptom for men and women is some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. But it may not be severe, especially in women, who are more likely than men to have symptoms unrelated to chest pain. Symptoms for men and women include…
Chest pressure or pain
Pain extending beyond the chest to the shoulder, arm, back, jaw
Abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Sense of doom
Light-headedness or dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Unexplained fatigue
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Keith B. Churchwell, MD, assistant professor of medicine and radiology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. He is associate medical director at The Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute.
November 15th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Hafa adai
Okay, so I was an alarmist yesterday according to Anna, but how do you really know that you can just stop boiling your water just like that? I am going to continue the practice for a few more days just to be safe. But I will lighten up the chatter with this little ditty.
Miss Guam goes straight to the Miss Universe Pageant because Guam competes against Miss USA in the contest. Oh why dither, this is just another opportunity to view 2009 Miss Guam again. To check out the picture you will have to access the link in this artice. Well worth the effort.
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2010 Miss Guam Universe May Already Have Competition – From Hawaii
Top Stories
Written by Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Friday, 13 November 2009 13:36
Miss Guam Universe Organization Now Planning For May 2010 Local Pageant
By Michael Rudolph
GUAM – The Miss Guam Universe organization is aiming to have its next pageant in early May of 2010, and local pageant watchers already have their eye on some potential competition.
According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Renee Mokihana Nobriga was crowned the 2010 Miss Hawaii USA on Tuesday evening. Nobriga will go on to compete for Miss USA — a qualifying round for the Miss Universe Pageant.
Because Guam competes against the United States in the Miss Universe pageant, the winner of the Miss Guam Universe crown will go straight to the Miss Universe contest this summer.
Read the Honolulu Advertiser’s “Renee Nobriga is Miss Hawaii USA”.
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Peter
November 15th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hafa adai
This is my first time writing in. I hope I get in. I am a Filipino American who has lived on Guam all his life. I have many relatives in the Philippines and on the mainland. I am writing to thank Peter and Anna for keeping our small island in the news. I am also writing because I read this wonder article about Pacquiao.
I understand the pride Black Americans felt about their champions when they excelled in a world not usually available to them. Sports allows us to feel a special pride when that happens. So has Pacquiao done that for me. The story I read expressed that well for me and lots of members of my extended family. I want to reprint it here on your blog Michelle.
I hope it is not too long for you to allow me to print it. I read your blog every day. Many of my friends and relatives in the Philippines say they do to.
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Hundreds of Guam residents put their lives on hold yesterday to join Filipinos and boxing fans around the globe to watch Filipino national boxing legend Manny Pacquiao create history.
More than 500 avid fans gathered inside the Ocean Sirena Ballroom at the Sheraton Laguna Guam Resort, and more packed a sold-out, 290-seat theater at the Micronesia Mall, all patiently waiting for his weigh-in on the live telecast from Las Vegas.
An untold number of people also gathered in their homes, many of them hosting parties with family and friends, to watch the Pacquiao fight.
Some were nervous because Pacquiao had to increase one weight class in order to fight Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto for his title.
When they saw the face of the tiny champion and watched as he tipped the scale to 144 pounds, making him qualified to fight Cotto, screams ripped from their lungs.
Their shouts got even louder when Pacquiao delivered two knockdowns to Cotto before the match was stopped at 55 seconds into the 12th round, giving him his seventh title in seven weight classes.
“Every time Pacquiao fights it is a holiday in the Philippines because he is an icon,” said Brad Villacrusis of Dededo. “He is going to make history today. Pacquiao had to go up a weigh class to fight him. I am waiting for them to put a fourth star on the flag and it will probably be his.”
Pacquiao, aka “Pacman,” is an athlete who’s been described as pound-for-pound, the best boxer in the world and is regarded as a national hero in the Philippines.
“The Philippines have been like a Third World country and it is about time they have been on the map,” Villacrusis said. “He makes me proud to be a Filipino. When you see someone like that it is overwhelming.”
Everything stops, including crime, said Bojo Molina, marketing director for Tango Theaters. He met Pacquiao more than six years ago and said the most amazing thing about the boxer was his ability to unite the Filipino people.
“The crime rate right now is zero. Everybody is watching him,” Molina said.
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I hope it prints.
Come to Guam for a visit, you will love it world.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Wow
I got in.
Thanks Michelle
Hafa adai
Apolinario
November 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am
This was sent to me. I think it is interesting.
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Chinese herbs lower diabetes risk
I always enjoy watching Big Pharma get beaten by techniques that have been in use for centuries.
The latest news on diabetes is great if you’re looking for a natural way to lower your risk for this condition — but bad for the drug companies, since it proves you can bypass them altogether and get healthy on your own.
A review of 16 clinical trials on Chinese herbs finds that these often overlooked remedies can lower blood-sugar levels in patients with pre-diabetes — that frightening warning sign that too often turns into full-blown diabetes.
Pre-diabetics who combine certain Chinese herbs with lifestyle changes had twice the likelihood of returning to normal blood-sugar levels and were two-thirds less likely to come down with diabetes, according to the review published in the Cochrane Library.
And now, get ready for the cherry on top of this sugar-free sundae: The researchers found no risk of serious side effects from these herbs.
If you’re a pre-diabetic or at high risk for diabetes, your doc may try to get you onto any number of drugs, including common meds used by diabetics. In fact, some people who don’t even have diabetes are on four or five of these pills already.
But before you clear out cabinet space for all those drugs, ask your doctor if you can make some room for Chinese herbs instead — because the research is promising, as long as you’re willing to make some lifestyle changes too.
In other words, you’ll need to lose some weight and watch what you eat.
That’s right — don’t just take these herbs (or even meds, for that matter) and expect to cruise along on your old habits. It doesn’t work that way. You need to commit to living better, or you risk falling right back into that diabetes bear trap.
The herbs with the biggest boost include Jiangtang Bushen, Xiaoke huaya and Tang Kang yin. Don’t worry, I can’t pronounce any of that either — and since you won’t find these at the chain pharmacy or the vitamin shop, you won’t even have to try.
In most cases, these herbal blends are custom made, so you’ll want to visit someone who specializes in them. They’re easier to find than you might think. A good place to start your search is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Click on “find a practitioner” and then “NCCAOM Certification Registry Search Engine.” Be sure to select both “Chinese Herbology Certification” and “Oriental Medicine Certification” when you start your search, since both specialties include herbal remedies.
And that’s not the only good news from the world of Chinese medicine.
Keep reading for the latest study on acupuncture…
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Hello Michelle
How do you find the time to make your blog so interesting all the time?
Evelyn
November 15th, 2009 at 10:29 am
AH
The next time you visit a time and I am there make yourself known. I am interested in knowing if Adam knows the alien we found trapped underground in one of Saddam’s underground labs back in 2003.
FYI, I didn’t leave because I disapproved of the torture of Saddam’s sons, I left because they had revealed before their sessions some information that I thought would be useful in finding their father.
I realized that they were unaware that the information they let slip was that valuable. I wanted to take advantage of it before anyone else realized its importance. As for torturing those sadists. Nothing they experienced could count as justice for what they had done to thousands of iraqis over the years.
Anonz
November 15th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Yes, and I bet she does it without having to give up meaningful communication with her mother. Michelle, I am sure your mother is as proud of you as I am of my daughter, plus she has the added benefit of being able to express that in person often.
I am also impressed with your ability to keep up the quality of your comments and the variety of topics you touch on. I have to make an extra effort on occasion to read your blog. I sometimes read just read your comments and return later to read the comments.
Howie and Al do you two take turns writing in? Do you ever disagree on issues? It seems to me that you only have one computer so you take turns at the keyboard.
I have enjoyed the way you two flip from peaceful retort to “going rogue.” You can make me want to take you over my knee to crying tears of joy for your insightful grasp of a topic.
To anyone concerned: Calling your mother is nice, but an occasional visit is so much better?
Ruth
November 15th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Things are going to pick up in Iran this week. Please Michelle, allow Madaline to continue helping us.
Afsoon
November 15th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Michelle
We have been promised a massive earthquake by Madaline. Does this mean that she will cover the other areas we requested a natural disaster to occur in to give us cover will happen. She said that she has to clear some thing with you first.
Fariba
November 15th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I took Kent advice and joined the Newt show. It is very interesting the bullshit they spout. It is a wonder that people are so gullible that they swallow their crap on a daily basis.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Anonz
Are you and Zen Lill still an item? I am 27 and I have been a fan of yours for almost a year. I will be in Baghdad December 3rd for a documentary I am doing. I would be honored to meet you. If you do not wish your identity revealed. I will do whatever you ask.
If you are interested I will blog my particulars anytime you wish.
Brenda
November 15th, 2009 at 10:56 am
As a person trying to quit smoking, I naturally latched on to this article.
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Smoking bans pay dividends
If you want to be healthier, quit smoking. Few people, even many smokers, would deny that at this point.
Now let’s get a little more controversial here: If you want your whole community to get a health boost, then ban those cancer sticks in every public place you can.
I know that’s not a popular move among smokers — they already feel like a persecuted minority. But you just need to look at the numbers to see what a difference it makes.
One study finds that U.S., Canadian and European cities that impose smoking bans have 17 percent fewer heart attacks over the course of the first year of the ban, as compared to cities that don’t curb cigarettes.
Fantastic, right? But it gets better…
Those numbers continue to decline by between 26 and 36 percent over three years, according to studies published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Researchers believe that a nationwide smoking ban in public places and offices would prevent up to 225,000 of our 1.26 million annual heart attacks.
These benefits extend to smokers and nonsmokers alike. Remember, of the 440,000 U.S. deaths linked to smoking every year, 38,000 are due to secondhand smoke — many from heart attacks.
Now, some people still argue over this, in part because many smokers want to believe that they’re hurting only themselves. But the truth is cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to constrict and leads to blood clots in both the smoker and the guy standing next to him.
These changes can take place in as little as 20 minutes of exposure to cigarette smoke… and that’s why nonsmokers who live or work with smokers have a 30 percent higher risk of heart attack than nonsmokers who live and work with other nonsmokers.
The science is clear on this — secondhand smoke is not a myth. It’s a fact, and that’s why public smoking bans are leading to such dramatic health improvements.
And if they get a few smokers to finally throw up their hands in frustration and quit for good, so much the better. Smoking is hands-down one of the worst things you can voluntarily do to yourself, and a terrible habit to subject your friends and loved ones to.
The risks of smoking are well known and well documented. Tobacco is addictive, and the addicts suffer from everything ranging from that persistent smoker’s cough and diminished lung capacity right up to lung cancer, heart disease, hypertension and early death.
Smoking has even been linked to knee osteoarthritis.
And with apologies to all my friends who love their cigarettes, smokers always smell like smokers. So in addition to being a health hazard, smoking is also a social one.
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If only it had started sooner
Llana
November 15th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Ruth, not that it matters, but we have 2 computers. I have one and Al has 1. We are room mates and good friends. We discuss some things as conversation, but we do not take turns blogging. I blog when I feel like asking or ansewering a comment and Al does the same.
We do not even know when we each blog because we are on our computers often and usually do not even see our comments until we view the blog.
One of us might mention if we have read something interesting, but that is where it ends. We disagree often just as we agree often, but we find out buy reading the blog just like anyone else.
The blog is not our lives — rather it is a place to comment on things — It can be a place to vent or a place to agree with somone’s comment. It is a blog and that is all for me. I have met some interesting characters on Michelle’s blog and enjoy that aspect as well as her Posts.
It is something to do for a half hour daily, and I usuallly enjoy it. That is my opinion of our blog relationship. Al will have to write his.
HOWIE