OPP Warns Public About Scam Targeting Grandparents

Email Hackers Pose as Family Member or Friend in Trouble


ORILLIA, ONTARIO, December 18, 2009 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), in cooperation with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), is warning people about a variation of the widespread "Emergency Scam" or "Grandparent Scam".

Traditionally operating as a telemarketing scam throughout North America, fraudsters contact potential victims while posing as a family member or friend in urgent need of cash. Often the scenario involves an accident or arrest, with a request that cash be sent through a money transfer company, such as Western Union or Money Gram.

In a recent variation of this scam, compromised contact lists from hijacked email accounts are used to send the potential victim an "urgent" email request for money from a friend or relative with whom they have a correspondence. Common themes continue to be hospitalization or imprisonment. The friend or relative is unaware that their account has been used to send out these requests to everyone on their contact list.

The OPP strongly suggests that anyone receiving a request for money, takes measures to verify the requestor's identity and the veracity of their story. Anyone who suspects an attempt at victimization is urged to call the CAFC at 888-495-8501.

Formerly known as Phonebusters, the CAFC was established in January 1993 and is jointly operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Competition Bureau Canada.

Visit their website at www.phonebusters.com. Specific information on the "Emergency Scam" can be found in "List of Scams".

Home Stealing - How Crooks Can Literally Steal Your Home

Article Source: EzineArticles.com By Jeff Runyon

Everyone has heard of home burglary before, right? Thugs break in and take things of value from you home. But that is not what I am talking about here.

I am talking about a new criminal activity that has recently become very popular among thieves and crooks. I am talking about literally stealing your home from you without you even knowing about it.

The term is known as 'house stealing'. It not the actual physical act of loading your home on a tractor bed and driving off. It is perpetrated by a crook or band of thieves assuming your identity and changing the ownership of your home and cashing it out. This is another version in long line identity theft techniques. Here is how it happens and what you can do to protect yourself.

These con artists and fraudsters first target a property of interest. They find out the details of the properties ownership which is readily available as a public record at your local courthouse or city hall.

They create fake identity papers such as a counterfeit social security card or a phony driver's license. Then they make a trip to an office supply store where they can easily obtain the necessary real estate documents and paperwork they need. Using their fake identification card(s) and the newly created property deeds, they file these with you local government authorities. Unless caught during the act, the property ownership transfers into the name of the new owners. Then they are free to refinance or sell the property, all without the rightful owner ever knowing this has happened!

How does this happen? Doesn't the government agency know that it is a fraudulent activity? Apparently not since proper identification was provided. Now, your house is stolen and is in someone else's name. Now the new 'owner' can refinance or sell to an unsuspecting buyer, pocket the proceeds and disappear to start the con all over again somewhere else.

House stealing can be stopped. If you use a credit monitoring service or subscribe to an identification theft protection service, you may already be protected. Check with your service provider and check to see if they provide constant monitoring of your credit reports for any liens being placed against your home.

The actual process and the ease with which this can be done are downright frightening. What can you do to protect yourself? The FBI advises that the best way to ensure you are protected is to monitor your county or local authority's deeds office for any and all liens created and assigned against your property.

And there is a website you can visit for a free solution that does just that. This is free service will monitor public documents for any association with your registered property(s) and will alert you in any case there is a change made to them.

Find out more at their website at www.epropertywatch.com

I have been writing articles and publishing editorials for over 3 years covering a number of popular topics about everyday life. My interests as of late have involved temporary handicap access options and researching motorized wheel chair options for a short term situation. Discover the innovations and choices I found about wheel chair ramp options and choices to provide for temporary access needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Runyon

How to Pick the Right ID Theft Service

With so many companies out there, which one should you trust?
With ID theft as the #1 crime in the world, beating out drug trafficking as the foremost moneymaker, a huge number of companies are providing services and solutions to address the crime.

Everyone is looking for a new business opportunity. The best opportunities are those that tackle problems and fears. Now, with identity (ID) theft as the #1 crime in the world, beating out drug trafficking as the foremost moneymaker, a huge number of companies are providing services and solutions to address the crime.

Here’s the problem: many of these services are band-aid solutions that give you only the illusion of being protected. Many are the same services that have always been offered—they’ve just been repackaged as ID theft solutions. Most are more focused on protecting the interests of companies—banks, insurers, etc.—rather than yours. Almost all of their ID theft solutions are offered to fatten their own pockets and empty yours....read more at Silver Planet.com

OPP launches redesigned website enhancing public access to OPP information

ORILLIA, ON, October 27, 2009 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) launched a redesigned and interactive website yesterday as part of its ongoing commitment to providing public access to OPP information, investigations and events. To be inclusive of people with disabilities, the website was designed to meet current accessibility standards.

Increasingly, websites are the first point of contact between an organization and the public.

Some of the advanced features of the website include:

- Content Focused Banners that will draw attention to current issues,
topics and events of general public interest;
- The "Crime Files" section provides access to a database of OPP
unsolved or cold cases and invites information or tips that may lead
to the resolution of cases. This feature includes Criminal
Investigation Branch (CIB) unsolved investigations, OPP most wanted
criminals, Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) most wanted,
missing persons and OPP reward posters;
- The "News" section will feature information relating to AMBER Alerts,
corporate media releases, OPP events, a media gallery, news media
kits and feature archives;
- In "Your Local OPP", the "Detachment Finder" will make it easy to
locate any of the 165 detachments across the province. Enter your
address in the finder field to locate your closest OPP detachment!
- In the "How Do I?" section you will find some of the most commonly
asked questions about the OPP;
- The "Focus" section will highlight attention to special OPP programs
and initiatives;
- The "Careers" section will provide information on OPP career
opportunities for uniform, civilian and volunteer positions; and the
- "Contact us" feature will provide the public with the ability to
locate frequently called OPP phone numbers provide feedback and
information to the OPP.

The OPP Museum is also launching a new web page as a stand alone
component of the redesign effort. The OPP Museum's new website presents a
wealth of information on featured exhibits and resources - including detailed
photographs of museum artefacts. http://www.opp.ca/museum/index.php

For more information, and to view the redesigned website, go to
www.opp.ca. The OPP invites the public to visit the website often as information is frequently updated.

Is Identity Theft Really That Serious?

from ezinearticles.com
By Jim King

If it hasn't touched you yet, you'll probably just brush it off with a laugh. The thing is that identity theft if it does involve you could be very, very serious. Just imagine walking into a store and buying that new music system. You give the salesman your credit card and he comes back apologetically to say he can't give you credit. Or maybe you've just been to an interview for a great new job and you're so sure they loved you and you'll be there next month. Well, you could just get a cold call saying you didn't get the job. It could be worse. Imagine hearing the doorbell ring and a policemen walk in to arrest you.

Does all this sound like it's taken from a movie script and a far-fetched one at that? Well before you brush if off as improbable, ask around and you'll find that the consequences of identity theft can be very bad. So you haven't been hit yet? You lucky thing, you! However, if you don't pay attention, you could be next and you could be going through these scenarios where your credit just isn't good enough. People who steal your identity don't even know who you are, neither do they care. As long as they can do it to anyone, that's all they want.... read more

Of Hackers, Malicious Code, Spyware, Trojan Horses and Virus Checkers...O My!

From our Glossary

HACKER, ATTACKER, or INTRUDER: These terms are applied to the people who seek to exploit weaknesses in software and computer systems for their own gain. Although their intentions are sometimes fairly benign and motivated solely by curiosity, their actions are typically in violation of the intended use of the systems they are exploiting. The results can range from mere mischief (creating a virus with no intentionally negative impact) to malicious activity (stealing or altering information).

MALICIOUS CODE: This category includes code such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Although some people use these terms interchangeably, they have unique characteristics.

SPYWARE: Spyware was originally, not designed to do mischief, but rather to gather information. More recently, spyware, or adware, has changed into an invader of your privacy. It examines programs and cookies on your computer looking for items used to either gain data from your computer or track your Internet use. A spyware checker is a program designed to protect your personal information. The most common type of spyware, more properly termed adware, generates pop-up and other ads.

TROJAN HORSE: A Trojan horse program is software that claims to be one thing while in fact doing something different behind the scenes. For example, a program that claims it will speed up your computer may actually be sending confidential information to a remote intruder.

VIRUS CHECKER: A virus checker or virus protection is a program that runs continuously whenever your computer is on. It monitors the contents of e-mail attachments as well as programs that run on your computer. It detects and disarms viruses and prevents damage to your computer before they start trouble.

Facebook shuts down Beacon marketing tool

As part of a settlement of a large class-action lawsuit in California, Facebook has agreed to completely shut down its "Beacon" feature, which connects users' activites outside of Facebook to the users' profiles. See: Facebook shuts down Beacon marketing tool Sympatico.ca Sync.

Beacon was one of many high-profile privacy missteps taken by Facebook over its relatively short history. I've always thought that Facebook is a bit of a game-changer and has had to blaze its own trail through uncharted territory. While mistakes happen, it has been remarkable that Facebook has not been more open to its users by giving advance warning about significant changes and the simple use of "opt in" for features that are inherently intrusive.

This underscores the theory that privacy is, in large measure, about meeting users' expectations. If users are surprised by the use of their information, they get upset. If you tell users how you propose to use their information and give them control over that, they're generally fine with it. It's just that simple.

from Canadian Privacy Law Blog