Dangerous fake email scams Page 29

I had exactly that about 9 months ago (just the one - although that may be because I've changed my email address in the meantime - not for that reason). I too was worried where they got hold of my password although it wasn't one I was still using very much and certainly not for anything secure.

Of course I ignored it. Nothing's happened since.

If you google, for example, the line from the email "First Alternative is to disregard my mail. Let's see what is going to happen if you take this path" there are several sites discussing how these emails come about.

Much of that threat stuff stemmed from a LinkedIn hack several years ago.

Alas, Pam's forum was on a public site with public forum software; just the thing that hackers like to crack.

There's probably a standard script nowadays for breaking into such sites, but I'm surprised that it is still on-line anywhere.

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The blackmail email that you mention is a common scam, I think I've had 3 or 4 of them.

Thank you all so much for making me feel better. Although I knew it was a scam, I still felt quits threatened. Bill, it wasn't to do with Pam's message board but the avatar site I'd used, maybe just the once. You know what makes me furious? I'm not into porn but some people are and it doesn't mean they're evil. Can you imagine some daft teenager messing about then getting an email like that, thinking his life is doomed. Suicide? I'd love to hang the bastard who sent this, by the balls.

Has a crime been committed? If so is there anyone this should be reported to?

Quote: Chappers @ 24th January 2019, 9:09 PM

Has a crime been committed? If so is there anyone this should be reported to?

View original

I don't know if it would be classed as a crime, but it did certainly look to me like blackmail attempt. What happens when you report a phishing scam? I've often wondered if it's just meant to keep the public happy and maybe they actually do bugger all about it.

It's certainly a crime to attempt to extort money in that way but the snag is that a police force that lacks the manpower to respond to complaints of burglary is hardly likely to send a panda car to Lagos or Moscow or wherever else these scumbags are operating from.

Mr. B is a subscriber to Which and Computer Which and just pointed out to me somebody being concerned about exactly the email I had. Definite scam.

The funniest one I ever got was someone saying it had placed a video camera into the system and had footage of me downloading pornography and, you know, so if I didn't pay 500 quid they'd show my wife. It was funny because, a, I'm not married (Melanie C is still trying to approach me, and I cannot approach her myself as this would contradict the Spice philosophy of Girl Power)... But more importantly, b, I haven't had home Internet for years. So either they are lying, or the guy at the call centre must be very understanding.

Not email related but I use AVG free antivirus and it's always done a good job. I installed it on a new PC a few months ago as I've always liked the free version and it does a good job as I've already said. A few days ago I saw a pop up advising that AVG had just updated in the background and I thought nothing more of it as that happens sometimes and it's always done a good job which I've said three times now.

A few days ago I noticed a new icon in my task bar which looks very similar to the Chrome icon and it's the launcher for AVG Secure Browser. This is software I have not asked for and not only that but it's become my default browser and is designed to mimic Chrome with the same homepage and shortcuts. It's essentially copied all my settings over from Chrome. I like AVG software but the way this browser has been installed without my knowledge or consent feels like malware and a search online shows I'm not the only one because the AVG forums are full of complaints from other people having exactly the same experience as me. No permission given or anything installed but somehow AVG has decided to install a browser, add a shortcut for it to my taskbar and make it my default browser. To make it worse it's designed to look like Chrome and it makes me wonder if I was using Firefox would it install as that. The process given by AVG to uninstall it requires booting in to safe mode. I think that's taking the piss to be honest and I feel like complaining to the lead singer of Echo And The Bunnymen assuming he is still alive. There is probably all kinds of URL tracking going on and they don't understand that my job in fashion means I have to spend hours looking at lingerie websites every evening after dinner.

It was interesting to read Tarby's post above because I could write almost exactly the same post to describe my own recent experiences with the Avast secure browser.

I've been using Avast antivirus for as long as I've been using computers (which is quite a long time) and I have been using Chrome browser for many years too. I was therefore surprised when recently I started up my computer to find that a browser very similar in appearance to Chrome had opened up instead of Chrome and had, in fact, become my default browser.

The invading browser was the Avast secure browser, which had copied all my Internet shortcuts from Chrome and might well have fooled me into thinking it was Chrome if my email notifier icon had not been missing. The Avast browser icon is very similar indeed to the Chrome icon and could very easily be mistaken for it.

I closed the Avast browser and opened Chrome, which immediately asked me if I wished to reinstate it as my default browser.

I did, of course.

As Roodeye, I too have used both Avast and Chrome for years.
However, I have not experienced the hijacking of my browser.
Why not?
This smacks of discrimination!
I demand a recount, or whatever the correct demand should be!

The core software of Chrome is open source, it is called Cromium.

So the Avg or is it Avast secure browser probably has the same core software anyway.

Chrome is by Google and is probably stuffed with tracking code, but that fact doesn't really justify these changes without permission by the Anti-malware firm(s).

https://www.avg.com/en-gb/secure-browser

https://www.avast.com/en-gb/secure-browser?cid=6205&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=en-gb_asb_sch_brn_exc_bng_dtp&utm_term=avast%20secure%20browser&utm_content=top-avast_secure_browser-exact&gclid=CKfnvtmx1-ICFcwXGwodmdIGyg&gclsrc=ds

Hmmmm, that second link, the one to AVAST secure browser looks as if it is well-loaded with tracking information...

New one this morning from "Virgin Media" via some twat with the email address of helpdesk@jeffreylupton.com

We were unable to process your latest Virgin Media bill.
Our payment processor has detected invalid billing information associated with your account.

Thank you for being a Virgin Media customer!
The Virgin Media team

I suppose people do fall for it, but "Jeffrey's" name in the email address is a dead giveaway and for me Virgin always bills me on or around the same time of the month, and it ain't now!

It seems Virgin are aware of this.
many people have received the same email.