Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Updated W2 form - IRS Phishing Scam

I almost fell for this new phishing scam, but the 3rd email used an email address the government would not know about.
Never trust any email attachments you get.
-----Original Message-----
From: Internal Revenue Service [mailto:up2date@irs.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 9:44 AM
To: Business Owner
Subject: Updated W2 form

Dear ,
Important changes within the IRS Employers W-2 forms.
Attached is a updated version of the W-2 form that needs to be completed by all US based employers.
Please update your records and make sure the W-2 form will updated before December 1 2009.
Whether you rely on a tax professional or handle your own taxes,
the IRS offers you convenient programs to make filing and payment easier.
Spend less time and worry on taxes and more time running your business.
Use e-file and the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) to your benefit.
• For e-file, visit www.irs.gov for additional information.
• For EFTPS, visit www.eftps.gov or call EFTPS Customer Service at 1-800-555-4477.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

US attacks increase

We just got the following email message:
============================================
You have received this message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account.
Recently FDIC has officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus, taking control of its assets.

You need to visit the official FDIC website and perform the following steps to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage:

. Visit FDIC website:
http://www.fdic.gov.pouikis.eu/
. Download and open your personal FDIC Insurance File to check your Deposit Insurance Coverage

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

============================================

It's clear to me that the constant attacks of scams and phishing are increasing. I consider this an attack on our country and it could result in undermining our economy and way of life if something is not done soon. While I rarely fall for such things, I know there are many out there that have and will as time goes on. I'm not sure exactly how to fight such crime, but what we are doing now is clearly not working.

One option is for uses to opt-in to non-US email blocking, which would prevent much of this stuff from ever reaching us. Another option is for ISPs to append footer information to all emails that allow quick and easy reporting of junk and scams. More and more of this SPAM and phishing is generated on, or relayed by, servers and user's computers right here in our own country. Something serious need to be done!

(hris

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Detroit: Where Private Security is Booming (Time Magazine)

With a police force decimated by budget woes, the Motor City's middle-class enclaves are hiring their own to fight rising crime. Where security is a booming business

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Fifteen Iran Guards among killed in Sunday attack (TVNZ)

Fifteen members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were among those killed in Sunday's suicide bombing in the Islamic Republic's volatile southeast

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Judge bans public access to Blackwater guards' hearing (Denver Post)

A federal judge shut down public access Wednesday to pretrial hearings in the prosecution of five Blackwater security guards accused of killing civilians in Baghdad, saying he wants to shield witnesses and potential jurors from pretrial publicity.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Crooks in security firms? (iafrica.com)

Two shot security guards are fuelling fears of a syndicate infiltrating security firms.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Tight security for Jerusalem mosque's Friday prayers (AFP via Yahoo! News)

Israel will deploy thousands of security staff for Muslim Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, after a series of clashes at the flashpoint site sacred to Muslims and Jews, police said.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Security guards are sitting ducks

MTUC: Most security guards are 'sitting ducks' (The Malay Mail)
SECURITY guards provided with a baton, whistle and torchlight while on duty, are merely 'sitting ducks' in the event of armed robberies. As such, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) is concerned for their safety as many guards ended up as statistics to vicious gun-toting robbers.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Future County Courthouse Security

Kittitas County Courthouse security: looking to the future (The Daily Record)
KITTITAS COUNTY - Kittitas County government officials said the next major step in courthouse security would be to create a single point of entry for those accessing law and justice offices and courtrooms.