‘I lost everything’: Houston man loses $500K in elder fraud scheme

--------------------------------------------------
Micah 7:5 (RSVCE) Put no trust in a neighbor, have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom;

CAUTION: Do not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender and know the content is safe.
--------------------------------------------------

By Jaewon Jung, Reporter

Houston – 65-year-old Hiep Nguyen said he moved to America in 1978 in hopes of a better life. He saved up money for retirement and had bought a house.
But after an elaborate elder fraud scheme that took place over five months, Nguyen said he's about to lose everything
…
Read more at https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/06/10/i-lost-everything-houston-man-loses-500k-in-elder-fraud-scheme/

A Safe Job Search

Just got this useful message from Monster.com, I repost here For Your Awareness (FYA):

Monster makes protecting job seekers a top priority. We'd like to remind you of what you can do to help keep yourself safe during a job search. 

Know What to Avoid
Some employment scams appear as job postings or classifieds while others may target victims through unsolicited email. Below are the most common scams: 

Money-Laundering Scams
Money launderers offer "jobs" with commissions or pay as high as $2000 per day to process checks on behalf of foreign nationals. They recruit local citizens to "process payments" or "transfer funds," because as foreign nationals, they can't do it themselves. Learn more about money laundering scams here.» 

Reshipping Scams
Reshipping scams typically require job seekers to receive packages of stolen goods-frequently consumer electronics-and then forward the packages, often outside the United States. Those who fall for reshipping scams may be liable for shipping charges and even the cost of goods purchased online with stolen credit cards. Read more about reshipping scams here.» 

Pre-pay/Work at Home Scams
Although there are genuine jobs working at home, many "offers" are not valid forms of employment and have the simple goal of getting victims to make an initial "investment." Find out more about avoiding these scams.» 

Protect Yourself 
What seems like a lucrative job offer could cost you your savings and more. Learn to identify the signals of an employment scam to protect yourself. A few simple steps and a little bit of information can keep your job search safe and effective! Learn more by visiting Monster's Security Center. 

If you see a questionable job posting or suspect misuse of the Monster website, please report the suspected fraud to Monster. 

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report the fraud to your local police and contact Monster, so steps can be taken to ensure your safety. We also recommend that you file an online report with The Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center. More information on how to conduct a safe job search is available through the Federal Trade Commission's website. You can also check out LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com.

Further reading:
Should I provide my social security number when I apply job online?

Beware of SMS Spam

I got the following text message few days ago:

+15013131661: Dear BestBuy Winner #12564 ! If you Complete this Yearly questionare to get a free Ipad as a prize Thank you www.bit.ly/(UseLG1XXX)

Nothing FREE in America. So, DON'T click to get the free iPad or you will be the spam or scam victim.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

I just read this article "Cybercrime Easier Than Ever" from SecurityNewsDaily.com. Here is some excerpts:

Today, people can buy credit- and debit-card information for as little as $2 per card. To learn the size of a card’s available credit line or attached bank balance, it’ll cost you $80 for smaller amounts, more than $700 for accounts with balances of at least $82,000.
... (snip) ...
So how can you avoid becoming a victim? The first step is to install antivirus software on your computer, no matter which operating system it runs, and make sure that virus definitions are automatically updated. Free antivirus software can be downloaded from reputable sources such as CNET.

Second, create a separate administrator account for your computer, and use it only for installing software. Do everything else using limited accounts that can’t affect the computer’s operating system.

Lastly, use common sense. Don’t open e-mail attachments you’re not expecting. Don’t buy unusually cheap software. Check the URL — or Web address — whenever you go to a website. And remember that banks will always call you, never e-mail you, if there’s a problem with your account.

If you're interesting in reading complete the article, visit http://www.securitynewsdaily.com/making-money-from-cybercrime-easier-than-ever-0506/

How a thief stole an ATM card

My boss sent me this PDF. It showed us how a thief stole an ATM card.