PlanAHeist.com

The use of audio technology to record data stored on the magnetic stripe on the backs of all credit and debit cards has been well understood for many years. The basic method for conducting these attacks was mentioned in a 1992 edition of the hacker e-zine Phrack (the edition that explains audio-based skimmers is Phrack 37). Since then, other electronics enthusiasts have blogged about their experiments with sound skimmers; for example, this guy discusses how he made a card reader device out of an old cassette recorder. Recently, I had a chance to chat via instant message with a hacker in Eastern Europe who sells both audio-based ATM skimmers and the technology needed to decode audio skims or “dumps. via http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2010/11/24/audio-based-atm-skimmers/  

IDG News Service – U.S. federal authorities arrested a 26-year-old man on Thursday for allegedly selling modified cable modems that enabled free Internet access, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Matthew Delorey of New Bedford, Mass., is charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for each charge, and a $250,000 fine. Delorey allegedly ran a now-defunct Web site called Massmodz.com, where hacked modems were sold. The modems had been modified in order to spoof the device’s MAC (Media Access Control) address. It is possible then to either obtain free Internet access or make it appear that a different modem is obtaining access. Authorities... 

A Fight Identity Theft visitor forwarded this email to us today and it was so creative I just had to post it here. The email supposedly comes from Robert Mueller - the current head of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations. Not only was it sent by the FBI, the scammers try to get you to believe it's been vetted by the Anti-Terrorist and International Fraud Division. Unbelievable. Why Do They Send These Emails? What they're really after is the fee they want you to pay in order to collect your $850,000 - that's why they call this an "advanced-fee fraud." The fee is sent by money order which makes it very difficult to trace and impossible to recover. Here's the money paragraph: This letter will serve... 

We know everyone is looking for that best deal online, especially during the Black Friday shopping blitz. Here are some quality online shopping tips from Intersections, Inc. (provider of the Identity Guard identity theft protection service). We also recommend a post from the always excellent Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - "Holiday Shopping? Ten Timely Tips" Don’t Let Would-Be “Grinches” Steal Your Financial Health and Identity During the Busiest Shopping Season of the Year! As the biggest holiday shopping days of the year quickly approach, consumers everywhere will be lining up at stores on "Black Friday" for pre-dawn sales that will hopefully net great bargains and savings... 

Medicare fraud is on the rise and senior citizens are getting the tools to do their part to combat the thieves. read more  

So you received a data breach notification in the mail… no big deal, right? Not according to Javelin Strategy & Research’s latest report. read more  

July 2009 not only brought the hopes of fun summer activities, but it also brought the new vicious Trojan virus called Clampi. Clampi is a newly sophisticated virus designed to attack online banking systems.  It favors small to medium-sized businesses with computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system. Currently, Clampi is tracking over 4500 banks, credit card companies, e-mails, retail sites, utilities, online casinos, wire transfer services, share brokerages, government sites and mortgage lenders. read more  

Ben Bernanke is a victim of identity theft. This is proof positive that it can happen to anyone. read more 

Today, the best hackers have the skill and discipline of the best legitimate programmers and security gurus. Learn how to protect yourself. read more 

Listen to audio from a real smishing phone call. See firsthand how scammers use fear to manipulate victims into providing information. read more