Cyber Blackmail

Don't be scammed...Here's yet another way scammers are getting peoples' money: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=569&ncid=738&e=1&u=/nm/20031229/tc_nm/tech_crime_dc

Yahoo must have removed the story of internet scamming.

That's weird -- works for me, still.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=569&ncid=738&e=1&u=/nm/20031229/tc_nm/tech_crime_dc

Try this link directly at Reuters.com:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4056941

That did it. What ever happened to the work ethic of the past. Or was it a mirage?

I have faith that someone will invent a safe-proof internet. And of course go on to become the world's richest person.

Now where is that Computer for Dummies book that was here a minute ago?:)

I was able to get the internet scam article on yahoo also, thanks

I think most companies of any size should install a firewall so they can't be hacked so easily - even DH & I have one on our home puters. My son works a security administrator for his company, where there is a will thre is a way- but it is his job to stop them before they get strted.

Isn't this just another form of terrorism (no, I'm not opening any can of worms here, just a reference). Though unethical and probably illegal (extortion?), this sort of thing relies on fear and the hope that something will go away if you shove enough money at it. In most cases, there is little investment for the preditor. Wouldn't it be great if all that cunning could be applied to making an honest living?

Sadder still are the hoaxes that seem to benefit no one, such as the bogus email from a friend telling you they have been infected by a virus that they may have unwittingly passed on to you. You are given instructions on where to find the offending file and how to delete it. Unfortunately, this is part of your operating system, not a virus. What does anyone get out of that??

Hi Weez, seems it is hard to locate these people. They keep moving, the country of origin could care less, and they even send through 3rd party computers.

3 years in Soledad as a guarantee for this crime would send a message.

I don't know how anybody can sleep at night knowing they've scammed someone out of their hard-earned money. The mentality that fosters this sort of thing is more frightening than the acts themselves.

I don't understand: Rather than submit to blackmail, why don't the office workers simply take the threatening e-mail to the "higher ups" and say "Look what's going on here"?

Well, they're probably banking on the fact that some percentage of the recipients have a guilty conscience and/or a naivete/gullibility that makes them vulnerable enough to try to sweep any real/imagined problems under the proverbial rug.

Exactly, Terry. They're afraid that if the boss doesn't see porn, he'll see online gaming, personal/questionable e-mails, surfing, etc. I think people are motivated to stay beneath the radar a lot of times.