Text scammers targeting consumers in the Northwest
Reports surfacing from Oregon, Washington, and Alaska say that scammers are targeting unsuspecting victims via text messages.
The Oregonian newspaper reports that a local chapter of the Better Business Bureau has received consumer complaints of text messages from sources posing as banks and credit card companies.
The fraudulent messages typically ask customers to urgently call back a phone number to reactivate a debit or credit card - ultimately phishing of personal information, says the newspaper.
As identity theft and fraud is on the rise, financial and other institutional businesses implore customers not to respond to emails, phone calls, and now text messages requesting personal information in order for protection and prevention of identity theft.
These types of businesses including banks and credit card companies repeatedly say they will not initiate a call and request account details, no matter how legitimate the call or email may appear.
Organizations like the Better Business Bureau are working hard to offer personal information protection and prevention for identity theft to consumers. It offers tips in the Oregonian to help in the protection of personal information and to aid in prevention for identity theft.
Assume unsolicited contact to be fraudulent the BBB tells the newspaper. And after receiving a message from a phony source, report the identity theft and fraud incident to the BBB or to the actual institution.
Vulnerabilities found in wireless technology
Unencrypted wireless technology at many major retailers is a lesser known culprit of fraud and identity theft breaches.
According to Motorola's annual retail wireless survey in 2009, 44 percent of the laptops, mobile computers and barcode scanners used at nationwide retailers could be compromised.
Sujai Hajela, a vice president with Motorola warns, "Several high profile retail data breaches have exploited wireless vulnerabilities, resulting in millions of credit card numbers being compromised. Retailers need to understand that they cannot properly secure their corporate or customer data with a passive approach to wireless security."
20 percent of the retailers surveyed claim to be "improving their network security."
Results show that efforts in Los Angeles and New York to encrypt data were well above London and Boston.
The survey also warns how retailers advertising free wireless may be a signal to hackers looking to target customers with outdated or no security protection enabled to access personal information.
Identity theft and fraud attempts are on the rise, especially given the current economic outlook.
Industry expert Jeff Smith says that hackers are using fake emails from financial institutions to prey on victims worried about the current economic crisis.
