Keep your eye on the URL!

As you surf the internet build the habit of keeping your eye on the URL or Uniform Resource Locator.  This is the http or https (s for secure) used to tell you the internet location your browser is now presenting.  For example, the URL for this blog’s main page is .  This is important because a SPOOF website might look like the legitimate website (i.e. a Financial or Banking web-site) while the URL will give a clue to the hoax.  Instead of reading http://www.therealbanksite.com it might read http://www.abcrealbank123.com or any other creative domain name using different endings like .net, .com, .biz, and many others.  While these endings are all valid in the Internet world the full URL name is key to revealing the hoax web address and the SPOOF author will likely attempt to get something as close as possible.

And, website developers do not make this so easy.  After reaching the main legitimate website and logging in you will likely be re-directed to another valid location with a different URL.  Keep the eye on the URL and with some practice you will gain a sense of what is safe.

Haitian Earthquake Relief and How to Avoid Fraud

Haitian Earthquake Relief Fraud Alert

[Fraud Reporting to IC3 via www.ic3.gov]
The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:

• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including  clicking links contained within those messages.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims  or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
• Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various  Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence  and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas  in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments  from known senders.
• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on  others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are  received and used for intended purposes.
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits  contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and  make you vulnerable to identity theft.

Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via www.ic3.gov

For further information, please visit the FBI’s Web site:

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/earthquake011310.htm