1. Phishing & Spam

2. Phishing Phishing is an e-mail fraud method in which
the perpetrator sends out legitimate-looking
in an attempt to gather personal
and financial information from recipients.
Typically, the messages appear to come from well-known and trustworthy Web sites. Web sites that are frequently spoofed by phishers include PayPal, eBay, MSN, Yahoo, Best Buy, and some banks.
A phishing expedition, like the fishing expedition it's named for, is a speculative venture:
the phisher puts a lure out hoping to fool at least a few of the prey that encounter the bait.

3. Spam is most often considered to be electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Some people define spam even more generally as any unsolicited .
However, if a long-lost brother finds your address and sends you a message, this could hardly be called spam,
even though it is unsolicited.
Real spam is generally
advertising for some product
sent to a mailing list or a newsgroup.

4. What is a spam (junk mail) offer?
Spam is unsolicited (or junk)
Electronic messages sent by ,
SMS, MMS or instant message.
Spam messages can offer free goods or ‘prizes’, very cheap products (including pharmaceuticals), promises of wealth or other offers that could result in you taking part in a scam. You might be asked to pay a joining fee, to buy something to 'win' a prize or some other benefit or to call or text a***1900 telephone or fax number
(Note: calls made to these numbers are usually charged at premium rates). So be very cost wary about calling any 1900 telephone number

5. Spam Cont’d
You may find that malicious software like spyware or key-loggers has been downloaded onto your computer. You may find you are bombarded with more spam messages. Your credit card numbers or other personal details may be stolen. You may send away money
for something that never arrives
or is not what you thought it would be.
Spam messages can offer you anything and everything—from fake University degrees to pirated software and counterfeit designer watches—it pays to be suspicious and delete unsolicited s./ ignore spam type telephone calls

6. Spam Warning signs
You receive an unsolicited that contains:
an invitation to participate in any type of lottery or sweepstake
an offer of uninvited gifts or goods from any source
an offer from overseas
a request to pay a fee to receive more 'benefits' from the same provider
an offer from an unregistered lottery
an offer of special benefits (e.g. wealth, love, health)

7. Warning cont’d: Phishers , Spammers etc. ringing you
or knocking on your door
can sound very very genuine, And they maybe male or female, but they really are just out to try and con you out of your money etc.
What are some of the things these terrible con people want from you?
To talk you into giving them your personal information or access to your computer.
To steal your identity by offering a free iPad or similar for a copy of your drivers licence , birth certificate etc.
To get your credit card details so they can use your card to get cash, , buy items / all of which costs you money
To get your bank account details to get at your money.

8. Do not call register
Are you registered with the do not call register? Remember, even if you did register, you need to do it again as the first registration was only valid for 3 years- so you need to register again.  The second registration is valid for 5 years
Call ….. to register, or
to check ,
if you are currently registered
for your home number
and & or your mobile number.

9. Some examples to consider.
Phone calls or letters telling you that you have won a raffle prize, or telling you that you have lottery winnings to collect.
Are a con! Don’t fall for it!
Unwanted mail appearing in your letter box
Unwanted s coming into your computer
Unwanted phone calls telling you
your internet is too slow or your computer
has a problem and they offer to fix it for you on line.
DON”T accept! Tell them you don’t have a computer!!
Unwanted phone calls from people saying they are from.--E.G. The Australian tax office or from a Bank. E.G. Westpac. Or From Telstra, QANTAS, OR Virgin airlines etc.
All these type of calls are very suspicious! Just say I’m not interested and put the phone down!!!

10. Recent examples of “spam and Phishing” stories published in
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A selection of
Recent examples of “spam and Phishing” stories published in
The “Black and White” page in the Herald Sun

11. So what should you personally do if you get any of these approaches?
call ---Scam watch on or Just hang up if you get an unwanted phone call, don’t engage in conversation!
Ignore anything that sounds too good to be true!!!-
Because it generally isn’t true, be it attractive sounding offers over the phone, in the mail, or over the internet etc.
E.G. If a phone call from someone who says they are from the bank might intrigue or interest you, but you are not sure, and you might say you want to ring back to your bank to be sure,

12. Whatever you do, don’t ring back to any phone number the caller gives you.
Most important !
Look the phone number up yourself.
So much safer!
Just remember banks don’t just ring you or send you e-, s Your bank will never ask you to send your passwords or personal information by mail. 
Never respond to these questions, and if you have the slightest doubt, call your bank directly for clarification.

13. General tips:
2.Consider using the Use the Block sender facility on your computer, if you use one, for repetitive spam
2 A. Use the BCC line when forwarding / sending s to many contacts.Try and avoid using the To line
3.Fake address (temporary , disposable )
almost never get any additional spam . Use a fake address account to hide your personal address.  Such an address  can be a Hotmail account or a temporary address like our service at
The major difference to your personal address is that you use this "fake address" only once.
By not disclosing you personal address and using a temporary service like

14. General tips cont’d If you have & use a credit card.---
1.Don’t let it out of your sight when using it to pay for something. And if you do happen to not be able to see it properly when it is in someone else’s hands, check that it really is your card that is being handed back to you.

15. Tips to prevent Phishing
Here are a number to Prevent Phishing Attacks
1. Learn to Identify Suspected Phishing s
There are some qualities that help identify
an attack through an
They duplicate the image of a real company.
Copy the name of a company or an actual employee of the company.
Include sites that are visually similar to a real business.
Promote gifts, or the loss of an existing account.
2. Check the Source of Information from Incoming Mail
Your bank will never ask you to send your passwords or personal information by mail. Never respond to these questions, and if you have the slightest doubt, call your bank directly for clarification.

16. Tips to prevent Phishing cont’d
3. Never Go to Your Bank’s Website
by Clicking on Links Included in s
Be wary of clicking on hyperlinks or links attached in the , as it might direct you to a fraudulent website.
Type in the URL directly into your browser, or use bookmarks / favourites if you want to log in faster.
4. Enhance the Security of Your Computer
Common sense and good judgement is as vital as keeping your computer protected with a good antivirus to block this type of attack.
In addition, you should always have the most recent update on your operating system and web browsers.

17. Tips to prevent Phishing cont’d
5. Enter Your Sensitive Data in Secure Websites Only
As stated previously, In order for a site to be ‘safe’, it must begin with ‘ and your browser should show an icon of a closed lock.vvv
6. Periodically Check Your Accounts
It never hurts to check your bank accounts periodically to be aware of any irregularities in your online transactions.
7. Phishing Doesn’t Only Pertain to Online Banking
Most phishing attacks are against banks, but can also use any popular website to steal personal data such as eBay, Facebook, PayPal, etc.

18. Tips to prevent Phishing cont’d
8. Phishing Knows All Languages
Phishing knows no boundaries, and can reach
you in any language. In general, they’re poorly written or translated, so this may be another indicator that something is wrong.
If you never you go to the Spanish website of your bank, why should your statements now be in this language?
9. Have the Slightest Doubt? Do Not Risk It
The best way to prevent phishing is to consistently reject any or news that asks you to provide confidential data.
Delete these s and call your bank to clarify any doubts.

19. Summary To be safe, just ignore or hang up on unwanted phone calls,
Delete unwanted s or SMS messages
Or if you feel obliged to respond in some way,
I’m Not I’m not Interested!!!

20. Have a nice day!
Bryan Paten July 2015