Tips For Internet & Phone Safety
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Here are some new ones from Fred Keller.

Phishers add call forwarding to their arsenal - The evolution continues
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/25/call_forwarding_phish/

Hackers debut malware loaded USB ruse - Litter bait used as phishing lure
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/25/usb_malware/

Another 419 scam ring nicked - Hundreds to go?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/25/another_419_scamring_nicked/

I went online and found the following @:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/809.html
 

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has become aware of a long distance phone scam that may lead consumers to inadvertently incur high charges on their phone bills.
The Scam Works Something Like This

You get an e-mail, voicemail, or page telling you to call a phone number with an “809”, “284”, “876” (or some other three-digit) area code to collect a prize, find out about a sick relative, engage in sex talk, etc.

You assume you are making a domestic long distance call – as “809”, “284”, “876” (and other three-digit area codes involved in this scam) appear to be typical three-digit U.S. area codes.

When you dial the “809”, “284”, “876” (or other three-digit) area code plus the number, however, you're actually connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged international call rates. (In this case, “809” goes to the Dominican Republic, “284” goes to the British Virgin Islands, and “876” goes to Jamaica.)

You don't find out about the higher international call rates until you receive your phone bill.

To Minimize the Risk of This Happening to You Check any area codes before returning calls.

If you do not otherwise make international calls, ask your local phone company to block outgoing international calls on your line.

Filing a Complaint with the FCC

There is no charge to file an informal complaint with the FCC. Your letter should include your name, address, telephone number or numbers involved with your complaint, a telephone number where you can be reached during the business day, and the name of your long distance carrier. Your complaint letter should also provide as much specific information as possible, such as:

• An explanation of the circumstances that led to your complaint;

• The names of all telephone or other companies involved with your complaint;

• The names and telephone numbers of the telephone company employees that you talked to in an effort to resolve your complaint;

• The dates that you talked with these employees; and

• Any other information that would help the FCC to process your complaint.

Your local telephone company also often has records that are essential to the processing of your complaint.

You should mail your complaint to:

Federal Communications Commission
Consumer &Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554.

To file a complaint electronically, go to www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html. Consumers can also file by e-mail at fccinfo@fcc.gov.
Filing a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC is revising its regulations to give consumers more rights when they are victims of international phone call scams. Among other things, the rules will require that calling costs be disclosed to the consumer before his/her call is connected.
Callers may submit their complaints, in writing, to the FTC. The FTC does not typically investigate or resolve specific complaints, but looks for trends or patterns when an issue appears to warrant action. FTC complaints should be mailed to:

Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580.

You may also contact the FTC via phone or email:

FTC toll-free number: 1-877-382-4357
FTC e-mail address for reporting fraud: crc@ftc.gov.

For this or any other consumer publication in an accessible format
(electronic ASCII text, Braille, large print, or audio) please write or call us
at the address or phone number below, or send an e-mail to FCC504@fcc.gov. To receive information on this and other FCC consumer topics through the Commission's
electronic subscriber service, click on http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/contacts/. This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to
affect any proceeding or cases involving this subject matter or related issues.

12/01/05

Federal Communications Commission · Consumer &Governmental Affairs Bureau · 445 12th St. S.W. · Washington, DC 20554
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) · TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) · Fax: 1-866-418-0232 · www.fcc.gov/cgb/

With Internet growth more and more people are having identity theft, being stalked, and being threatened. Here are 10 ways to protect yourself and your family.

1. Look for privacy policies on the Web
2. Get a separate email account for personal email
3. Teach your kids that giving out personal information online means giving it to strangers
4. Clear your memory cache after browsing
5. Make sure that online forms are secure
6. Reject unnecessary cookies
7. Use anonymous remailers
8. Encrypt your email
9. Use anonymizers while browsing
10. Opt-out of third party information sharing

Extra Tip: use common sense

FAA Regional Administrator Kerry B. Long
Editor, Charlie Muhs