Related Stories
- Technology that will make your life easier
- Detoxing the digital way
- Essential gadgets you need for the summer holidays
- The long-distance grandparent survival guide
- Track your health and fitness
Most Popular
Notice (8): Undefined variable: most_viewed_stories [APP/views/stories/probus-display.ctp, line 49]Code | Context<?phpecho View::element('probus-stories-list', array('stories'=>$most_viewed_stories, 'mode'=>'most-popular','limit'=>4));$___viewFn = "/home/probus/domains/stagingblueplains/app-public/views/stories/probus-display.ctp" $___dataForView = array( "nextstoryurl" => "/fed24b4f", "publication" => array( "Story" => array(), "Publication" => array(), "Tag" => array(), "Tags" => array() ), "story_tagline" => "", "story" => array( "Story" => array(), "Publication" => array(), "Tag" => array(), "Tags" => array() ), "related_stories" => array( array(), array(), array(), array(), array() ) ) $loadHelpers = true $cached = false $cache = CacheHelper CacheHelper::$__replace = array CacheHelper::$__match = array CacheHelper::$cacheAction = NULL CacheHelper::$helpers = NULL CacheHelper::$base = "" CacheHelper::$webroot = "/" CacheHelper::$theme = NULL CacheHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" CacheHelper::$params = array CacheHelper::$action = "display" CacheHelper::$plugin = NULL CacheHelper::$data = NULL CacheHelper::$namedArgs = NULL CacheHelper::$argSeparator = NULL CacheHelper::$validationErrors = NULL CacheHelper::$tags = array CacheHelper::$__tainted = NULL CacheHelper::$__cleaned = NULL $authentication = AuthenticationHelper AuthenticationHelper::$sessionKey = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$helpers = array AuthenticationHelper::$view = View object AuthenticationHelper::$base = "" AuthenticationHelper::$webroot = "/" AuthenticationHelper::$theme = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" AuthenticationHelper::$params = array AuthenticationHelper::$action = "display" AuthenticationHelper::$plugin = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$data = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$namedArgs = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$argSeparator = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$validationErrors = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$tags = array AuthenticationHelper::$__tainted = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$__cleaned = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$Session = SessionHelper object $javascript = JavascriptHelper JavascriptHelper::$useNative = true JavascriptHelper::$enabled = true JavascriptHelper::$safe = false JavascriptHelper::$tags = array JavascriptHelper::$_blockOptions = array JavascriptHelper::$_cachedEvents = array JavascriptHelper::$_cacheEvents = false JavascriptHelper::$_cacheToFile = false JavascriptHelper::$_cacheAll = false JavascriptHelper::$_rules = array JavascriptHelper::$__scriptBuffer = NULL JavascriptHelper::$helpers = NULL JavascriptHelper::$base = "" JavascriptHelper::$webroot = "/" JavascriptHelper::$theme = NULL JavascriptHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" JavascriptHelper::$params = array JavascriptHelper::$action = "display" JavascriptHelper::$plugin = NULL JavascriptHelper::$data = NULL JavascriptHelper::$namedArgs = NULL JavascriptHelper::$argSeparator = NULL JavascriptHelper::$validationErrors = NULL JavascriptHelper::$__tainted = NULL JavascriptHelper::$__cleaned = NULL $eHtml = eHtmlHelper eHtmlHelper::$helpers = array eHtmlHelper::$viewVars = array eHtmlHelper::$tags = array eHtmlHelper::$_crumbs = array eHtmlHelper::$__includedScripts = array eHtmlHelper::$_scriptBlockOptions = array eHtmlHelper::$__docTypes = array eHtmlHelper::$base = "" eHtmlHelper::$webroot = "/" eHtmlHelper::$theme = NULL eHtmlHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" eHtmlHelper::$params = array eHtmlHelper::$action = "display" eHtmlHelper::$plugin = NULL eHtmlHelper::$data = NULL eHtmlHelper::$namedArgs = NULL eHtmlHelper::$argSeparator = NULL eHtmlHelper::$validationErrors = NULL eHtmlHelper::$__tainted = NULL eHtmlHelper::$__cleaned = NULL eHtmlHelper::$eForm = eFormHelper object eHtmlHelper::$javascript = JavascriptHelper object eHtmlHelper::$Authentication = AuthenticationHelper object $eJavascript = eJavascriptHelper eJavascriptHelper::$helpers = array eJavascriptHelper::$useNative = true eJavascriptHelper::$enabled = true eJavascriptHelper::$safe = false eJavascriptHelper::$tags = array eJavascriptHelper::$_blockOptions = array eJavascriptHelper::$_cachedEvents = array eJavascriptHelper::$_cacheEvents = false eJavascriptHelper::$_cacheToFile = false eJavascriptHelper::$_cacheAll = false eJavascriptHelper::$_rules = array eJavascriptHelper::$__scriptBuffer = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$base = "" eJavascriptHelper::$webroot = "/" eJavascriptHelper::$theme = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" eJavascriptHelper::$params = array eJavascriptHelper::$action = "display" eJavascriptHelper::$plugin = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$data = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$namedArgs = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$argSeparator = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$validationErrors = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$__tainted = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$__cleaned = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$eHtml = eHtmlHelper object $eForm = eFormHelper eFormHelper::$helpers = array eFormHelper::$fieldset = array eFormHelper::$__options = array eFormHelper::$fields = array eFormHelper::$requestType = NULL eFormHelper::$defaultModel = NULL eFormHelper::$_inputDefaults = array eFormHelper::$base = "" eFormHelper::$webroot = "/" eFormHelper::$theme = NULL eFormHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" eFormHelper::$params = array eFormHelper::$action = "display" eFormHelper::$plugin = NULL eFormHelper::$data = NULL eFormHelper::$namedArgs = NULL eFormHelper::$argSeparator = NULL eFormHelper::$validationErrors = NULL eFormHelper::$tags = array eFormHelper::$__tainted = NULL eFormHelper::$__cleaned = NULL eFormHelper::$Html = HtmlHelper object $tagCloud = TagCloudHelper TagCloudHelper::$helpers = array TagCloudHelper::$base = "" TagCloudHelper::$webroot = "/" TagCloudHelper::$theme = NULL TagCloudHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" TagCloudHelper::$params = array TagCloudHelper::$action = "display" TagCloudHelper::$plugin = NULL TagCloudHelper::$data = NULL TagCloudHelper::$namedArgs = NULL TagCloudHelper::$argSeparator = NULL TagCloudHelper::$validationErrors = NULL TagCloudHelper::$tags = array TagCloudHelper::$__tainted = NULL TagCloudHelper::$__cleaned = NULL TagCloudHelper::$Html = HtmlHelper object $html = HtmlHelper HtmlHelper::$tags = array HtmlHelper::$_crumbs = array HtmlHelper::$__includedScripts = array HtmlHelper::$_scriptBlockOptions = array HtmlHelper::$__docTypes = array HtmlHelper::$helpers = NULL HtmlHelper::$base = "" HtmlHelper::$webroot = "/" HtmlHelper::$theme = NULL HtmlHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" HtmlHelper::$params = array HtmlHelper::$action = "display" HtmlHelper::$plugin = NULL HtmlHelper::$data = NULL HtmlHelper::$namedArgs = NULL HtmlHelper::$argSeparator = NULL HtmlHelper::$validationErrors = NULL HtmlHelper::$__tainted = NULL HtmlHelper::$__cleaned = NULL $form = FormHelper FormHelper::$helpers = array FormHelper::$fieldset = array FormHelper::$__options = array FormHelper::$fields = array FormHelper::$requestType = NULL FormHelper::$defaultModel = NULL FormHelper::$_inputDefaults = array FormHelper::$base = "" FormHelper::$webroot = "/" FormHelper::$theme = NULL FormHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" FormHelper::$params = array FormHelper::$action = "display" FormHelper::$plugin = NULL FormHelper::$data = NULL FormHelper::$namedArgs = NULL FormHelper::$argSeparator = NULL FormHelper::$validationErrors = NULL FormHelper::$tags = array FormHelper::$__tainted = NULL FormHelper::$__cleaned = NULL FormHelper::$Html = HtmlHelper object $session = SessionHelper SessionHelper::$helpers = array SessionHelper::$__active = true SessionHelper::$valid = false SessionHelper::$error = false SessionHelper::$_userAgent = "8611eabdb1aa7cc20f419da71363daa3" SessionHelper::$path = "/" SessionHelper::$lastError = NULL SessionHelper::$security = "medium" SessionHelper::$time = 1749841284 SessionHelper::$sessionTime = 1749853284 SessionHelper::$cookieLifeTime = false SessionHelper::$watchKeys = array SessionHelper::$id = NULL SessionHelper::$host = NULL SessionHelper::$timeout = NULL SessionHelper::$base = "" SessionHelper::$webroot = "/" SessionHelper::$here = "/1585f2fe/Scams_and_the_internet" SessionHelper::$params = array SessionHelper::$action = "display" SessionHelper::$data = NULL SessionHelper::$theme = NULL SessionHelper::$plugin = NULL $nextstoryurl = "/fed24b4f" $publication = array( "Story" => array( "id" => "958", "publication_id" => "2", "tag_id" => "60", "headline" => "Scams and the internet", "headline_home" => "Scams and the internet", "headline_index" => "Scams and the internet", "meta_keywords" => "scam, online, internet, Nigerian, phishing, lottery", "home_spotlight" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_carousel.jpg", "home_spotlight_mini" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_tile.jpg", "home_feature" => "", "home_tag" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_thumbnail.jpg", "index_mini" => "", "index_result" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_thumbnail.jpg", "gallery" => null, "gallery_captions" => null, "gallery_hide" => "0", "embed_spotlight" => "0", "status" => "0", "published" => "2013-02-19 00:00:00", "byline" => "Jessica Goulburn", "tagline" => null, "intro_short" => "<p>There is a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior of the internet including scams. </p> <p> </p>", "intro_long" => "<p>The internet can be a great asset in everyday life. However, there can be a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior, including a type of fraud known as a scam. </p> <p> </p>", "body" => "<p><img style="float: left; padding-right: 15px;" src="http://probussouthpacific.org/probus/files/Content/Scam_embed.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="218" />The internet can be a great asset in everyday life. It’s great for socialising, research and entertainment. However, there can be a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior. One vicious aspect of the online world is scamming.</p> <h2>What are internet scams?</h2> <p>Online scams are a type of fraud, designed to lure victims into giving up personal information or money. </p> <p>Generally, scams arrive via email and target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels. They tend to succeed for two reasons.</p> <p>Firstly, they appear genuine and are designed to look legitimate. Secondly, scammers manipulate you to produce the automatic response. Many scams are to do with the way individuals are wired socially and emotionally and tend to push your buttons. </p> <p>Millions of these spam emails are sent out to random email addresses daily. As a general rule, be wary of unsolicited emails that contain any of the following phrases or ideas:</p> <ul> <li>Promise you money, jobs or prizes</li> <li>Ask for donations</li> <li>Propose business deals</li> <li>Ask you personal information</li> <li>Ask you to follow a link.</li> </ul> <h2>What kind of scams will affect me?</h2> <p>Well-known scams include Nigerian, lottery and phisher scams, all of which entice the recipient into a conversation and eventually probe them for bank account details to deposit funds or personal information.</p> <p>Phisher scams can look genuinely real. Examples include emails from a bank or an online service requesting you to click a link and input some information. Scammers often create a website that looks almost identical to the one you’re expecting to find when you click on the link and the aim is to capture as much information that the scammer can use as possible, including addresses, passwords and banking details.</p> <p>It’s important to remember that banks, financial institutions and other companies that contain sensitive and private information would not request such information from customers over email.</p> <p>Nigerian scams, otherwise known as 419 scams, request that the recipient help the sender to access money in a foreign bank account. It promises the recipient a cut in return for his or her help. In reality, there is no large amount of money. There is no money at all. It’s a ploy to pull whoever replies deeper into the scam and eventually obtain money from them or steal his or her identity. Some of these scams can also pull at your heartstrings and claim to be a charity or not-for-profit organisation. Do not respond to any such email in any way.</p> <p>Lottery scams are also popular. They claim that the recipient has received a huge amount of money, sometimes into the millions, even though you have never even bought a ticket. If you reply to this email, you’ll be asked to provide a lot of personal information which will then be used to commit identity theft and you’ll probably be asked to send money to cover the costs of delivering your supposed winnings.</p> <h2>Be clever</h2> <p>The Australian Federal Police recommends the ‘physical world’ test, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Their website also advises to delete any email that seems suspicious. Following any links could result in a virus being automatically downloaded onto your computer, which could further result in personal information being obtained. </p> <p>As a general rule, if you don’t know the person who has sent you an email, it’s a good idea not to click on any links or engage in a conversation. </p> <h2>For more information</h2> <p>There are websites around with some good advice on what scams are out there and how to deal with them or avoid them all together.</p> <p>Scam Watch: <a href="http://www.scamwatch.gov.au">www.scamwatch.gov.au<br /></a>Australian Federal Police: <a href="http://www.afp.gov.au">www.afp.gov.au<br /></a>Stay Smart Online: <a href="http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au">www.staysmartonline.gov.au</a></p> <p><br />Have you had a nasty experience with a scam? Share your story and warn others on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/probussouthpacific" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page. </p>", "newsletter_name" => "", "printed" => null, "created" => "2013-02-19 13:31:46", "modified" => "2013-02-19 13:31:46", "url" => "1585f2fe", "short_id" => "1585f2fe", "url_part_2" => "Scams_and_the_internet", "total_views" => "753", "intro" => "<p><img style="float: left; padding-right: 15px;" src="http://probussouthpacific.org/probus/files/Content/Scam_embed.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="218" />The internet can be a great asset in everyday life. It’s great for socialising, research and entertainment. However, there can be a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior. One vicious aspect of the online world is scamming.</p>", "publish_sort_date" => "2013-02-19", "_status" => "Offline" ), "Publication" => array( "id" => "2", "name" => "Probus Web", "folder" => "probus", "url" => "staging.probussouthpacific.org", "microsite_cms_url" => "stagingmicrosite.probussouthpacific.org", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_type_id" => "3", "home_spotlight_count" => "5", "home_spotlight_delay" => "5", "home_feature_count" => "0", "index_spotlight_count" => "3", "search_spotlight_count" => "3", "most_viewed_duration" => "14", "most_tagged_duration" => "14", "list_page_size" => "25", "home_ad1" => "88", "home_ad2" => "89", "home_ad3" => "", "home_ad4" => "", "story_ad1" => "", "story_ad2" => "", "story_ad3" => "", "story_ad4" => "", "button_ad1" => "66", "button_ad2" => "67", "button_ad3" => "", "button_ad4" => "", "button_ad5" => "", "leader_ad" => "", "smtp_port" => "465", "smtp_host" => "smtp.gmail.com", "smtp_username" => "[email protected]", "smtp_password" => "Qwert123$#", "smtp_type" => "ssl", "secure_widget" => "<h3>Quick Links</h3> <p> </p> <p>See <a title="PSPL Mail Outs" href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/pspl_correspondence">PSPL Mail Outs</a> for copies of letters sent by PSPL for the information of all Probus Club members. </p> <p> </p> <p>Club Management Committees can obtain contact details of Probus clubs by visiting this page. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_directory_lookup">Directory of Probus Clubs</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Access a range of material which can assist you with membership development for your club. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_membership_development">Membership Development Tools</a></p> <p> </p> <p>See PSPL’s latest annual report <a title="Click here." href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/about_pspl_annual_report">Click here.</a></p> <p> </p> <p>To access exclusive offers, visit the Probus <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_member_benefits_scheme">Member Benefits Scheme</a> page.</p> <p> </p> <p><span>If you want copies of reports, accounts templates or nomination forms for office bearers, you’ll find them here. </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_forms">Forms and Templates</a></p> <p> </p> <p><span>You'll find all your merchandise needs by visiting the </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/products/display/">Online Shop</a></p>", "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-10-06 15:18:14" ), "Tag" => array( "id" => "60", "tag_type_id" => "3", "publication_id" => "2", "name" => "Technology", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_head_image" => "/probus/files/TechnologyEditBlue.jpg", "tag_ad1" => "98", "tag_ad2" => "99", "parent_id" => null, "private" => "0", "priority" => null, "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-11-21 16:23:35" ), "Tags" => array( array() ) ) $story_tagline = "" $story = array( "Story" => array( "id" => "958", "publication_id" => "2", "tag_id" => "60", "headline" => "Scams and the internet", "headline_home" => "Scams and the internet", "headline_index" => "Scams and the internet", "meta_keywords" => "scam, online, internet, Nigerian, phishing, lottery", "home_spotlight" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_carousel.jpg", "home_spotlight_mini" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_tile.jpg", "home_feature" => "", "home_tag" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_thumbnail.jpg", "index_mini" => "", "index_result" => "/probus/files/Content/Scam_thumbnail.jpg", "gallery" => null, "gallery_captions" => null, "gallery_hide" => "0", "embed_spotlight" => "0", "status" => "0", "published" => "2013-02-19 00:00:00", "byline" => "Jessica Goulburn", "tagline" => null, "intro_short" => "<p>There is a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior of the internet including scams. </p> <p> </p>", "intro_long" => "<p>The internet can be a great asset in everyday life. However, there can be a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior, including a type of fraud known as a scam. </p> <p> </p>", "body" => "<p><img style="float: left; padding-right: 15px;" src="http://probussouthpacific.org/probus/files/Content/Scam_embed.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="218" />The internet can be a great asset in everyday life. It’s great for socialising, research and entertainment. However, there can be a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior. One vicious aspect of the online world is scamming.</p> <h2>What are internet scams?</h2> <p>Online scams are a type of fraud, designed to lure victims into giving up personal information or money. </p> <p>Generally, scams arrive via email and target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels. They tend to succeed for two reasons.</p> <p>Firstly, they appear genuine and are designed to look legitimate. Secondly, scammers manipulate you to produce the automatic response. Many scams are to do with the way individuals are wired socially and emotionally and tend to push your buttons. </p> <p>Millions of these spam emails are sent out to random email addresses daily. As a general rule, be wary of unsolicited emails that contain any of the following phrases or ideas:</p> <ul> <li>Promise you money, jobs or prizes</li> <li>Ask for donations</li> <li>Propose business deals</li> <li>Ask you personal information</li> <li>Ask you to follow a link.</li> </ul> <h2>What kind of scams will affect me?</h2> <p>Well-known scams include Nigerian, lottery and phisher scams, all of which entice the recipient into a conversation and eventually probe them for bank account details to deposit funds or personal information.</p> <p>Phisher scams can look genuinely real. Examples include emails from a bank or an online service requesting you to click a link and input some information. Scammers often create a website that looks almost identical to the one you’re expecting to find when you click on the link and the aim is to capture as much information that the scammer can use as possible, including addresses, passwords and banking details.</p> <p>It’s important to remember that banks, financial institutions and other companies that contain sensitive and private information would not request such information from customers over email.</p> <p>Nigerian scams, otherwise known as 419 scams, request that the recipient help the sender to access money in a foreign bank account. It promises the recipient a cut in return for his or her help. In reality, there is no large amount of money. There is no money at all. It’s a ploy to pull whoever replies deeper into the scam and eventually obtain money from them or steal his or her identity. Some of these scams can also pull at your heartstrings and claim to be a charity or not-for-profit organisation. Do not respond to any such email in any way.</p> <p>Lottery scams are also popular. They claim that the recipient has received a huge amount of money, sometimes into the millions, even though you have never even bought a ticket. If you reply to this email, you’ll be asked to provide a lot of personal information which will then be used to commit identity theft and you’ll probably be asked to send money to cover the costs of delivering your supposed winnings.</p> <h2>Be clever</h2> <p>The Australian Federal Police recommends the ‘physical world’ test, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Their website also advises to delete any email that seems suspicious. Following any links could result in a virus being automatically downloaded onto your computer, which could further result in personal information being obtained. </p> <p>As a general rule, if you don’t know the person who has sent you an email, it’s a good idea not to click on any links or engage in a conversation. </p> <h2>For more information</h2> <p>There are websites around with some good advice on what scams are out there and how to deal with them or avoid them all together.</p> <p>Scam Watch: <a href="http://www.scamwatch.gov.au">www.scamwatch.gov.au<br /></a>Australian Federal Police: <a href="http://www.afp.gov.au">www.afp.gov.au<br /></a>Stay Smart Online: <a href="http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au">www.staysmartonline.gov.au</a></p> <p><br />Have you had a nasty experience with a scam? Share your story and warn others on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/probussouthpacific" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page. </p>", "newsletter_name" => "", "printed" => null, "created" => "2013-02-19 13:31:46", "modified" => "2013-02-19 13:31:46", "url" => "1585f2fe", "short_id" => "1585f2fe", "url_part_2" => "Scams_and_the_internet", "total_views" => "753", "intro" => "<p><img style="float: left; padding-right: 15px;" src="http://probussouthpacific.org/probus/files/Content/Scam_embed.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="218" />The internet can be a great asset in everyday life. It’s great for socialising, research and entertainment. However, there can be a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior. One vicious aspect of the online world is scamming.</p>", "publish_sort_date" => "2013-02-19", "_status" => "Offline" ), "Publication" => array( "id" => "2", "name" => "Probus Web", "folder" => "probus", "url" => "staging.probussouthpacific.org", "microsite_cms_url" => "stagingmicrosite.probussouthpacific.org", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_type_id" => "3", "home_spotlight_count" => "5", "home_spotlight_delay" => "5", "home_feature_count" => "0", "index_spotlight_count" => "3", "search_spotlight_count" => "3", "most_viewed_duration" => "14", "most_tagged_duration" => "14", "list_page_size" => "25", "home_ad1" => "88", "home_ad2" => "89", "home_ad3" => "", "home_ad4" => "", "story_ad1" => "", "story_ad2" => "", "story_ad3" => "", "story_ad4" => "", "button_ad1" => "66", "button_ad2" => "67", "button_ad3" => "", "button_ad4" => "", "button_ad5" => "", "leader_ad" => "", "smtp_port" => "465", "smtp_host" => "smtp.gmail.com", "smtp_username" => "[email protected]", "smtp_password" => "Qwert123$#", "smtp_type" => "ssl", "secure_widget" => "<h3>Quick Links</h3> <p> </p> <p>See <a title="PSPL Mail Outs" href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/pspl_correspondence">PSPL Mail Outs</a> for copies of letters sent by PSPL for the information of all Probus Club members. </p> <p> </p> <p>Club Management Committees can obtain contact details of Probus clubs by visiting this page. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_directory_lookup">Directory of Probus Clubs</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Access a range of material which can assist you with membership development for your club. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_membership_development">Membership Development Tools</a></p> <p> </p> <p>See PSPL’s latest annual report <a title="Click here." href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/about_pspl_annual_report">Click here.</a></p> <p> </p> <p>To access exclusive offers, visit the Probus <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_member_benefits_scheme">Member Benefits Scheme</a> page.</p> <p> </p> <p><span>If you want copies of reports, accounts templates or nomination forms for office bearers, you’ll find them here. </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_forms">Forms and Templates</a></p> <p> </p> <p><span>You'll find all your merchandise needs by visiting the </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/products/display/">Online Shop</a></p>", "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-10-06 15:18:14" ), "Tag" => array( "id" => "60", "tag_type_id" => "3", "publication_id" => "2", "name" => "Technology", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_head_image" => "/probus/files/TechnologyEditBlue.jpg", "tag_ad1" => "98", "tag_ad2" => "99", "parent_id" => null, "private" => "0", "priority" => null, "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-11-21 16:23:35" ), "Tags" => array( array() ) ) $related_stories = array( array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ) )include - APP/views/stories/probus-display.ctp, line 49 View::_render() - CORE/cake/libs/view/view.php, line 731 View::render() - CORE/cake/libs/view/view.php, line 426 Controller::render() - CORE/cake/libs/controller/controller.php, line 909 AppController::render() - APP/app_controller.php, line 64 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake/dispatcher.php, line 207 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake/dispatcher.php, line 171 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 83
No stories were found.
Scams and the internet
by Jessica Goulburn | 19 Feb 2013
The internet can be a great asset in everyday life. It’s great for socialising, research and entertainment. However, there can be a lot that lurks underneath the glossy exterior. One vicious aspect of the online world is scamming.
What are internet scams?
Online scams are a type of fraud, designed to lure victims into giving up personal information or money.
Generally, scams arrive via email and target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels. They tend to succeed for two reasons.
Firstly, they appear genuine and are designed to look legitimate. Secondly, scammers manipulate you to produce the automatic response. Many scams are to do with the way individuals are wired socially and emotionally and tend to push your buttons.
Millions of these spam emails are sent out to random email addresses daily. As a general rule, be wary of unsolicited emails that contain any of the following phrases or ideas:
- Promise you money, jobs or prizes
- Ask for donations
- Propose business deals
- Ask you personal information
- Ask you to follow a link.
What kind of scams will affect me?
Well-known scams include Nigerian, lottery and phisher scams, all of which entice the recipient into a conversation and eventually probe them for bank account details to deposit funds or personal information.
Phisher scams can look genuinely real. Examples include emails from a bank or an online service requesting you to click a link and input some information. Scammers often create a website that looks almost identical to the one you’re expecting to find when you click on the link and the aim is to capture as much information that the scammer can use as possible, including addresses, passwords and banking details.
It’s important to remember that banks, financial institutions and other companies that contain sensitive and private information would not request such information from customers over email.
Nigerian scams, otherwise known as 419 scams, request that the recipient help the sender to access money in a foreign bank account. It promises the recipient a cut in return for his or her help. In reality, there is no large amount of money. There is no money at all. It’s a ploy to pull whoever replies deeper into the scam and eventually obtain money from them or steal his or her identity. Some of these scams can also pull at your heartstrings and claim to be a charity or not-for-profit organisation. Do not respond to any such email in any way.
Lottery scams are also popular. They claim that the recipient has received a huge amount of money, sometimes into the millions, even though you have never even bought a ticket. If you reply to this email, you’ll be asked to provide a lot of personal information which will then be used to commit identity theft and you’ll probably be asked to send money to cover the costs of delivering your supposed winnings.
Be clever
The Australian Federal Police recommends the ‘physical world’ test, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Their website also advises to delete any email that seems suspicious. Following any links could result in a virus being automatically downloaded onto your computer, which could further result in personal information being obtained.
As a general rule, if you don’t know the person who has sent you an email, it’s a good idea not to click on any links or engage in a conversation.
For more information
There are websites around with some good advice on what scams are out there and how to deal with them or avoid them all together.
Scam Watch: www.scamwatch.gov.au
Australian Federal Police: www.afp.gov.au
Stay Smart Online: www.staysmartonline.gov.au
Have you had a nasty experience with a scam? Share your story and warn others on our Facebook page.
®