New Twist to the Telephone Tech Support Scam

The IC3 has produced Scam Alerts in the past advising the public of an ongoing telephone scam in which callers purport to be an employee of a major software company. The callers have strong foreign accents. The callers report the user’s computer is sending error messages and numerous viruses have been detected. The caller convinces the user to give them permission to run a program allowing the caller to gain remote access. The caller advises the virus can be removed for a fee.

Intimidation tactics used in this scam have influenced victims to pay fees associated with the removal of alleged viruses. It has been reported to the IC3 an individual who paid the required fees, later received a call advising the victim the funds paid for the services went to India and were used to purchase weapons for ISIS. The call came with an additional request for money to remove the victim’s name from a black list.

In a new twist to the tech support scam, cyber criminals attempt to defraud using another avenue. The scam is executed while a user is browsing the Internet. In this scenario, a website being viewed provided a link to articles related to popular topics. The user clicked the link and was redirected to a website which produced a window that advised the user’s computer had been hacked. Another window was displayed that contained a telephone number to obtain assistance. The user reported all attempts to close the windows were ineffective. Upon calling the number for assistance the user was connected with an individual who spoke with a heavy foreign accent claiming to be an Apple representative. During the process the user’s web browser was hijacked. Restarting the computer in an attempt to regain access to the Web produced another message with a different telephone number to obtain assistance.

Photos of children on social networks

Frank good day sir, i've noticed alot of people use pictures of there babies or young children on there profile pictures on sites such as facebook, twitter, on here, ect..
Personally I'd never put photos of my baby (when I have children) online, to me the internet isn't safe enough and anyone could get hold of them photos, and use them for sick things (my friends fb got hacked and some sicko left comments on her pictures of here newborn which was disturbing)

No offensive to anyone who likes to post up baby photos, I'm not saying your a bad parent or don't love your child I just think you should be careful. To me pictures of your children are precious.

What are your opinions? (:
Lisa w. Wallas, CA.

Dear Lisa, put photos of your family on web-media are your decision no one will force you to do so! However, 
With digital photography you no longer have the risk of soul entanglement that was so feared with film photography. Even scanning film photographs is enough to break the link. No matter what someone does with the photograph you put on the web, you don't need to worry. There is nothing that anyone can do to the image that will have a direct impact that can be felt by the child the photograph is of. 

I live in a house where I do not feel safe

Frank, I'm 16 years old and my sister in law is 23 she is a very big girl but I'm tough she pushes everyone around but I'm to proud to let her do it to me, she owes me $750 and has stolen lots ps3, ps2 games and jewelry from me. She gets very physical when we get into fights everyone else in the family leave the room because we scream at each other and use very crude words. She then gets to the point where she starts to beat me I struggle to get free and push her away. She beat her ex bf but the only witness was me and my mom refused to get involved it ended out that he got all the blame and had a TRO put on him and he was no longer able to see his kid, I feel guilty about this because I know she was the one throwing the punches and its not fair for him to loose his kid which he loves so much. I to love my nephew greatly and have gone through a time when my whole family abandoned me in fear of loosing the right to see him because she had claimed I was dead to her therefore did not exist and was not allowed near him. When in front of her I pretend not to be scared and yell back just as loud and angry but she is a lot stronger then me and I'm terrified of her. Is it alright when she goes on a rampage against me to call the police and have her charged with assault and get a TRO, but living in the same house how will it work? One or the other would have to leave right?

Justin.