Identity Theft Expert; “Robby, Do I have a Paypal Account?” Back to Basics

Identity Theft Speaker Robert Siciliano www.IDTheftSecurity.com

Me Mum calls me last night. Shes asks “Robby, Do I have a Paypal Account?” (Yes, my mom calls me robby) I say “Why do you ask?” Shes says “Paypal sent me an email and I need to update my account”

Shes 60. Been online for 5 years. Knows about as much as most “baby boomers” know about the Internet. And shes the mom of a dude thats been on CNN MSNBC FOX News and a bazillion publications on information security and identity theft prevention.

She does not have stupid written on her forehead. Shes just as naive, kind and cordial as most of her peers. She reached out to me because a piece of my advice to millions of others rubbed off on her.

I’m telling you, call your mother right now and tell her not to respond to any emails or phone calls or snailmail that are from anyone but her closest friends. I’m receiving more emails from victims and seeing more news now of people getting scammed than in any time in my adult life. It will get worse, it wont get better, and somebody you love will get scammed if you dont inform them of whats up.

Many agree. Another blogger added a very pertintnet comment to a recent post;
“With the Russian economy evaporating we can only expect a resurgence in scams coming from there, and in fact everywhere. With the public image of banks never worse and religious leaders announcing fatwa’s encouraging the cyber-attack of western commerce, I expect 2009 will see new records for fraud exploits. Perhaps not in value, because of diminished wealth of the victims, but certainly in the number of attacks.”

Yup. Cold War 2.0

Its Tax Time for Scammers in the USA. And I’m getting a flood of emails from scammers posing as the IRS. They are taking a low tech tact. They are including Word Docs that the victim fills out and faxes back. I sacrificed my security and went against my own rule and opened the attachments in the last one. I scanned them first and so far I think I’m good. And please dont send me comments telling me I have stupid written….

The attachments and note came equipped with a real fax number with an area code from the Bronx, New York USA. Cant blame the Nigerians or Russians for this one. Unless of course they live in NY ;)~

Make sure Mum has McAfee or another no brainer anti-virus provider on her PC automatically updating with every phish filter running.

See below.

DOC 1

Sir/Madam,

Our records indicate that you are a non-resident alien. As a result, you are exempted from United States of America Tax reporting and withholdings, on interest paid you on your account and other financial dealing to protect your exemption from tax on your account and other financial benefit in rectifying your exemption status.

Therefore, you are to authenticate the following by completing form W-4100B2, and return to us as soon as possible through the fax number: +1-646- 519-7245.

If you are a USA Citizen and resident, please complete form W-4100B2 and fax it to us, please indicate “USA Citizen/Resident” on the form and return it to us.

When completing form W-4100B2, please follow the steps below

1. We need you to provide your permanent address if different from the current mailing address on your Form W-4100B2 , you must indicate if a non-USA resident, your country of origin to support your non-resident status (if your bank account or other financial dealing has a USA address for mailing purpose).

2. If any joint account holder are now USA residents or Citizen, or in any way subject to USA tax reporting laws, Please check the box in this section.

3. Please complete 1 through 19 and have all account holders, sign and date the form separately and fax it to the above-mentioned number.

Please, complete Form W-4100B2 ‘attached” and return to us within 1 (one) week from the receipt of this letter by faxing it, to enable us update your records immediately if your account or any other financial benefits are not rectified in a timely manner, it will be subject to USA tax reporting and back up withholding (if back up withholding applies, we are required to withhold 30% of the interest paid to you).

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us protect your exempt status and also update our records.

Sincerely,

Laura Stevens
IRS .Public Relations.

_____________________________________________________________________
DOC2

FORM W-4100B2 (US Tax Recertification)
Request for Recertification of Foreign Status
W-4100B2 Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner
(Substitute form) For United States Tax Withholding
Part I Identification of Beneficial Owner
(JAN-APRIL. 2009)
1. Name of individual or organization that is the beneficial owner
2. Sex: □ male □ female
3. Type of beneficial owner □ Individual □ Corporation □ Complex Trust
□ Simple Trust □ Grantor Trust □ Central Bank of issue
□ Government □ International organization
□ Tax-exempt organization □ Private foundation
4. Date of Birth
5(a). Nationality: 5(b). Place of Birth:
6(a). Country of permanent Residence 6(b). Passport No.
7. Mother’s Maiden Name:
8(a). Spouse Name: 8(b). Spouse date of Birth:
9.Permanent resident address (street, apt, or suite no, or rural route).
Do not use a P.O.box or In-care of address
City or town, state or province, include postal code where appropriate
10. Mailing address (if different from above)
City or town, state or province, include postal code where appropriate
11. Social Security Number □SSN or ITIN □EIN
12. Profession: 13.Day time phone/ fax Number
14.(a) Bank Name(s):
15. Account number(s):
16. Branch Address:
17. Date Account(s) was opened:
18. How often do you come to USA and when did you arrive last?
19. ATTACH PHOTOCOPY OF PASSPORT OR US DRIVERS LICENCE FOR PROPER IDENTIFICATION
Part II Certification of Beneficiary Owner
Under penalties of perjury, I decided that I have examined the information on this form to the best of my knowledge and believe it is true, correct and complete.
I furthermore certify under penalties of perjury that:
. I am the beneficial owner (or am authorized to sign for the beneficial owner) of all the income to which this form relate.
. The beneficial owner is not a U.S person.
. The income to which this form relates is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States or is effectively connected but
subject to tax under an income tax treaty, and
. For broker transaction or barter exchanges, the beneficial owner is an exempt foreign person as defined in the instructions.
Furthermore, I authorized this form to be provided to any withholding agent that has control, receipt or custody of the income of which I am the beneficial owner or withholding agent that can disburse or make payments of the income of which I am the beneficial owner.
The Internal Revenue Service does not require your consent to any provisions of this document other than the Certifications required to establishing your status as a non-U.S person and, if applicable, obtain a reduced rate of withholding.

Sign Here ____________________________________________________________
(Signer #1) signature of beneficial owner or individual authorized to sign for beneficial owner Date

Sign Here ____________________________________________________________
(Signer #2) signature of beneficial owner or individual authorized to sign for beneficial owner Date SEND FAX TO: +1-646- 519-7245

Heres a video of fraud around Tax Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSyPQnXNido