Last week, I wrote about media reports on how Kaspersky Lab found that public charging stations could put your smartphone at risk from hackers.
The original press release, which Farrah Jaclyn Kate Gutierrez of Upspring Public Relations sent me, pointed out that smartphones automatically exchange data with a computer when connected to the USB port.
Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, suggested the following to protect your phone when using unknown charging points and untrusted computers:
Use only trusted USB charging points and computers.
Protect your mobile phone with a password, or with another method such as fingerprint recognition, and do not unlock it while charging.
Use encryption technologies and secure containers (protected areas on mobile devices used to isolate sensitive information) to protect data.
Protect your mobile device and computer with a proven security solution to help detect malware even if a “charging” vulnerability is used.
Gutierrez agreed with my suggestion to keep a powerbank handy for recharging your phone outside the house or office. She also agreed it might be safer to use an electrical outlet so there would be no exchange of data.
New scam
I still get a lot of e-mail offering shares in some Third World dictator’s illegally acquired wealth. But recently, I got a variation on the old theme, which some people might take seriously, as it came from the “headquarters, World Bank Group” and had a Washington, DC address.
I did not bother to check if the address was really the World Bank’s since it was obviously a scam.
Addressed to the “Beneficiary,” the e-mail said the World Bank Group had given the “irrevocable approval order with Release Code: GNC/3480/02/00 in your favor for your overdue inheritance payment of USD17.500.000:00… to your nominated bank account. You’re new Payment, Approval No; WB5685P,White House Approved No:WH44CV, Reference No.-35460021, Allocation No: 674632 Password No: 339331 , Pin Code No: 55674 and your Certificate of Merit Payment No: 103 , Released Code No: 0763; Telex confirmation No: -1114433; Secret Code No: XXTN013, Having received these vital payment numbers, therefore you are now qualified to received and confirm Your payment with the Global Credit Bank of China for (ktt) direct wire transfer immediately within the next 72 hrs. As a matter of fact, you are instructed to deal and Communicate only with the Global Credit Bank of China the International Remittance bank, for foreign overdue inheritance payment/fund transfer with the help and monitory team which is our official remitting bank, committee on Foreign overdue inheritance Payment Matters in WORLD BANK GROUP.”
To encourage me to act immediately, the e-mail said that a woman, Monica Petermann, had showed up “with a letter, claiming to be your true representative.” I am supposed to inform the World Bank Group, “as a matter of urgency, if this woman is from you so the bank will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account name… However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mrs. Petermann if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today.”
To claim my inheritance, I have to provide personal information like full name, address, mobile phone number, occupation, civil status, etc., as well as a scanned copy of my passport or driver’s license.
I have heard of the World Bank but not of the World Bank Group. As far as I know, WB only deals with governments. It definitely does not handle personal inheritance.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail [email protected]
