My stepmom linked me to an article from the FBI about new scams and warnings because I'm into photography as a hobby and I use photo-sharing websites, as do many others including some of you. So I wanted to pass along the info so you guys could read it as well because criminals are getting sneakier and sneakier and we all need to protect our computers.
Cyber Criminals Using Photo-Sharing Programs to Compromise Computers
05/30/13—The FBI has seen an increase in cyber criminals who use online photo-sharing programs to perpetrate scams and harm victims’ computers. These criminals advertise vehicles online but will not provide pictures in the advertisement. They will send photos on request. Sometimes the photo is a single file sent as an e-mail attachment, and sometimes the victim receives a link to an online photo gallery.
The photos can and often contain malicious software that infects the victim’s computer, directing the user to fake websites that look nearly identical to the real sites where the original advertisement was seen. The cyber criminals run all aspects of these fake websites, including “tech support” or “live chat support” and any “recommended” escrow services. After the victim agrees to purchase the item and makes the payment, the criminals stop responding to correspondence. The victims never receive any merchandise.
The FBI urges consumers to protect themselves when shopping online. Here are a few tips for staying safe:
- Be cautious if you lose an auction on an auction site but the seller contacts you later saying the original bidder fell through.
- Make sure websites are secure and authenticated before you purchase an item online. Use only well-known escrow services.
- Research to determine if a car dealership is real and how long it has been in business.
- Be wary if the price for the item you’d like to buy is severely undervalued; if it is, the item is likely fraudulent.
- Scan files before downloading them to your computer.
- Keep your computer software, including the operating system, updated with the latest patches.
- Ensure your anti-virus software and firewalls are current—they can help prevent malware infections.
If you have fallen victim to this type of scam, file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
You can also read it here.
thanks for the warning. it's always good to be aware of these things!
Yeah, thanks for the warning!
Ooh! I'll have to share this with my photography society. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tip.
From one who provides IT support, this is NOT specific to photo-sharing sites! This is ANY site that has photos on it! Facebook, IMO, is the WORST, especially the games! But there are so many other ways this type of activity is accomplished. This is just one of them. Be cautious of even hovering over ANY photos or links on any website! That act alone can trigger unwanted activity! You have to be so careful online (and on your smartphone/tablet/netbook/PDA/mobile device - same rules apply)!!!
Thanks for the reminder, Sharilynn!