Scams

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Hi folks

Interesting prog on BBC1 tonight. Not the first time it's been on. 8pm, about eavesdropping on fraudsters trying to clear out bank accounts.

No.1,dont use banking apps away from your own router, I.e., out doors, cafes etc.

No.2 only have banking apps on home devices like puter or tablet which you keep at home.

No.3 dont have banking apps on a mobile phone. Fraudsters are watching to see the pin no input to mob then stop at nothing to steal the phone. They then have phone and pin to get access.

John

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

[Anonymous]

Posted by DMB on 22/05/2023 22:38:26:

No.3 dont have banking apps on a mobile phone. Fraudsters are watching to see the pin no input to mob then stop at nothing to steal the phone. They then have phone and pin to get access.

Can't say for your corner of the world but here I need a pin to wake up the phone plus a password to connect to the bank.

That said, I don't do anything that needs security through a third party wireless system – be it public wi-fi or cell-phone network.

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

NO banking apps on phone or computer, dinosaur? Correct!

[Anonymous]

Wrong on both counts.

The app is on my iPad but also got automatically installed on the iPhone – though I don't use it from there. I'll try deleting it when I whomp up enough interest.

I've been into computers since I played around with 8008s, 8080s and Z80's and built an Altair in the mid-70s. All programmed via a combination of assembler and direct machine code (all we had at the time) I have several computers in my house plus a LAN that goes all over with multiple network storage.

Why the offensive tone?

Edited By Peter Greene 🇨🇦 on 23/05/2023 00:08:11

[Anonymous]

I just realised that I might have read you wrong there, Mark. Were you saying that about me or yourself? If the latter, as I now suspect, then I apologise unreservedly.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Hi,

My point is, leave banking apps on home devices – not on any device that leaves the house. If you must have your latest bank balance to hand when out, look it up at home, write it on a blank piece of paper as a number with no other identifying info.

Be aware that someone could try to shoulder surf to get your pin no then steal your device and let themselves in. Apparently this is one of the latest tricks.

I travel by 'old codgers card' and pay in shops by card, never use phone. Friends say I'm obsessed with security, yeah, of course! I consider that everyone should be.

John

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Hi,

My point is, leave banking apps at home, on home devices – not on any device that leaves the house. If you must have your latest bank balance to hand when out, look it up at home, write it on a blank piece of paper as a number with no other identifying info.

Be aware that someone could try to 'shoulder surf' to get your pin no then steal your device and let themselves in. Apparently this is one of the latest tricks.

I travel by 'old codgers card' and pay in shops by card or occasionally cash but never use phone. Friends say I'm obsessed with security, yeah, of course! I consider that everyone should be.

John

Edited By DMB on 23/05/2023 08:46:10

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Posted by DMB on 22/05/2023 22:38:26:

Hi folks

No.1,dont use banking apps away from your own router, I.e., out doors, cafes etc.

No.2 only have banking apps on home devices like puter or tablet which you keep at home.

No.3 dont have banking apps on a mobile phone. Fraudsters are watching to see the pin no input to mob then stop at nothing to steal the phone. They then have phone and pin to get access.

John

Hi another Dinosaur here ! I agree completely and do the same, I don't have a contactless card — if they send one its returned with a request to send a standard PIN card — trust nothing digital or in other words don't trust that which you cannot see !

John

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JohnF on 23/05/2023 09:14:41:

[…]

I don't have a contactless card — if they send one its returned with a request to send a standard PIN card — trust nothing digital or in other words don't trust that which you cannot see !

But surely a PIN card is digital [and can be cloned]

MichaelG.

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

And yet another Dinosaur too. How can you have faith in a system that takes into account (bad pun) an allowance for electronic fraud? Seems that just like 'Sloths' updates, we are assumed to treat it with blind acceptance.

Regards Ian.

[HowiParticipant @howi]

don't use pins, use fingerprint or facial recognition.

be aware who is near you.and your surroundings.

I have 3 bankng apps on my phone, hardly ever use home computer.

If you do not get your mindset around modern technology, you are more likely to get scammed.

Hundreds of millions around the world use the available technology without any issues.

Search the internet and you will find that most people who get scammed are not tech savvy,

Keep your wits about you and be sceptical about anything/anyone who offers advice,especially regarding money.

Doubt whether anyone here will take notice – it's a dinosaur thing…..

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

I checked My credit report 3-4 years ago and found out I had bought 3- 3d printers about 2000 miles away. One very quick call and the charges were removed. The credit card company ate the charges of $21,000+. It took 3-4 years to get the 5 ficticious house addresses removed off the reports. Scam evidentally started at My Daughters apartment complex where Someone picked up the CC number while it was in My wallet.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

All these frauds must be costing someone dear, hold on it's us!!!!!!

Tony

[SakuraParticipant @sakura]

Posted by mark costello 1 on 22/05/2023 23:35:12:

NO banking apps on phone or computer, dinosaur? Correct!

Plus 1 here.

[DiogenesIIParticipant @diogenesii]

How does one make online purchases without having an app to authorise the payment?

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Dinosaurs as an entire class were actually very successful creatures, dying out eventually through conditions entirely beyond their control …..

I don't believe in "because I can" with anything that has security implications, or even simply fashion. If something will genuinely benefit me or at least is genuinely necessary, I will consider it; but just because it's all new and fancy is not a reason for using it.

I do not have a so-called "smart"-'phone; nor do I have anything WiFi, let alone eavesdropping like Alexa. I do have an on-line bank account but never managed to make it work, and far prefer to visit the local branch while we still enjoy that choice.

Does it make me a "dinosaur"? Maybe in the eyes of those who cannot conceive or accept alternatives, but I don't care. It's far simpler and far safer to limit one's financial affairs and methods to the minimum. and always be alert to the hazards.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Nigel Graham 2 on 23/05/2023 21:57:18:

…

Does it make me a "dinosaur"? Maybe in the eyes of those who cannot conceive or accept alternatives, but I don't care. It's far simpler and far safer to limit one's financial affairs and methods to the minimum. and always be alert to the hazards.

"Dinosaur" means out-of-date, and out-of-date security is risky. Simpler does not mean safer, and too simple is negligence.

Online banking might seem scary, but it's safer than older ways of protecting money. Old-fashioned methods are very hazardous: cheques are wide open to fraud, burglars look for money under the bed, houses burn down, people lose their wallets, and muggers target the elderly collecting their pensions in cash from the Post Office. ATMs are dodgy too.

The devil you know is still a devil!

Dave

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

That was not the point I was trying to make, Dave.

I know "dinosaur" is used as a metaphor for "very old" but it's usually used as an attack.

By simple I do NOT mean insecure. Nor do I mean out-of-date security!

The precautions we need take are specific to the methods, and any object can be stolen if we are not careful, be it a wad of cash or a bank-card, though the latter would be the more serious.

The more complicated and variegated the methods we use, the greater the range of possible losses or failures. On the other hand, go too simple and you cramp yourself and the effect of a loss can be more serious in proportion.

It is like anything else: you don't select the means to suit what others perceive as the "must have" or the "now we all" way merely because they use that. You select your best means to your ends: giving you the results you want or need in the most efficient and safest way for you.

.

I don't use my Internet bank-account, even if it's still active. I do though use cash, cards, cheques, standing-orders and bank-transfers according to individual transactions' needs; but I limit my on-line retail therapy, mainly to model-engineering! In all cases I take the appropriate security precautions.

About the only "now-we-all" way I don't and won't and anyway can't, use is the "smart"-'phone way.

[HowiParticipant @howi]

it's a fact, as we get older we become more resistant to change, unfortunately change happens regardless.

How many of us use electronic devices in our workshops even to the extent of DRO's, CNC,electronic speed controll etc,etc.

we all use radios TV's (most now 'smart&#39, not that we consider it new technology, we have just accepted it for it's benefits.

The world moves on and the dinosaurs get left behind, all the tech is supposed to make our lives easier.

Accept tech for what it is, use it to your advantage or get left behind.

[Anonymous]

Many of us would be happy to be behind if our world still works for us. Unfortunately the new tech often replaces the old, rather than co-existing, so it becomes a matter of being left out rather than left behind.

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

I'm with those who don't want, or is it need, to use all these modern ideas. But there is another point. Some months ago, my doctor's surgery which has fancy software to enable one to request repeat prescriptions, modified said software. I won't go into what actually happened as it's documented elsewhere, but I found it interesting that when the software decided it wasn't going to let me play, the alternative, good old fashioned speech via an answering machine, was far, far faster! So much for making it easier!

Howi,

Do we accept the 'benefits' of smart tv's? It isn't that long ago that there was something of a furore when it was discovered that one brand of smart tv, was actually listening all the time. And if it was listening, then what is it sending back home.

Why should we have to give up privacy just to take advantage of something modern?

Nigel,

I too dislike Alexa. I really cannot see what use it is. Unfortunately, my elder son bought us Portal, yet another device with security implications. After all, if it's working, then it's listening. I can see the idea, but I'm not exactly convinced about the necessity of it, although I think it was more for their little girl to use.

At least I can, if I think on, unplug the thing!

Peter G. Shaw

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

I am too nervous of what's going on that I don't know about, as in spying devices like Alexa. As said by others, its listening and transmitting to goodness knows to whom or where. Security – humf!

Anything new will be considered as, could I make good use of whatever it is, is it any good, does it work or rather, can I get it to do what I want. As an example, I can just about use puters for everyday living but I dont think that I have enough lifetime left to 'waste' struggling to get CNC working. I have more pressing things that I want to get on with and enjoy. Been wanting to visit West Somerset railway for years and kept putting it off but made the effort to go some weeks ago, killing 2 birds with one stone – also get to see and hear the exhaust of 'Lady of Legend' which was running there. That is far more exciting than sitting at home scratching head over CNC or other electronic trickery that I struggle to understand. Having said that, I do so enjoy online banking, the convenience is wonderful. I have complete confidence in my security software and of the bank's security system.

John

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

I have been asked by my club if I would agree to club putting on an event for the benefit of some other organisation. I used a favourite reason to refuse – ask if it's a scam due to bad spelling, pointing out where in the message. Too bad if genuine messages sent by people with inadequate spelling skills. Getting older and grumpier with todays sloppy ways.

John

Edited By DMB on 24/05/2023 21:19:04

[Anonymous]

Posted by DMB on 24/05/2023 20:15:30:

I have complete confidence in my security software and of the bank's security system.

Me too. For one thing, if someone does steal my login credentials and tries to use them from another machine, the bank will detect the new machine and send me email to my own email address to verify. Or by telephone.

For someone perhaps getting access to my machine via wifi …. first that's harder I think than often believed. It can be mitigated by sensible precautions:

– don't broadcast your ssid (most people do broadcast it).

– don't fall for the "range extender" sales carp. In most cases the power of the basic wifi modem or access-point is more than sufficient and can often be reduced from the maximum.

– more of a nuisance but further protection can be had by limiting mac addresses that the modem will connect to.

– for direct infiltration via the internet, make sure you have a decent virus scanner.

You and I can probably never completely protect against threats but we can make it difficult enough for them to try further down the line.

[Author]

Posts