The Newest Terrorist Threat - Online Identity Theft

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 13 Aug 2004 12:32

Recently (this week) my wife's identity was stolen online resulting in fraudulent activity on our bank account. Here is how the scam works and why I think this particular scam is used to fund terrorism.

A fake email is sent you by eBay with info stating that your account is being used by somoone else and you need to dispute the claim. A link is provided that looks real enough. Once you are at the site that looks just like eBay you are asked for social security #s, etc...

We would not have even realized our mistake had it not been for a sudden cash withdrawl of 1k from our account through an online wire transfer through Western Union. We disputed the activity and luckily got our money back. Unfortunately now we are in the process of changing accounts and reestabilishing relations with creditors who debit the account.

At first we thought it could be a simple mistake but then my wife's online id for our bank had been changed without our knowledge.

Here's where the terrorism thoery comes into play. The US govt. has recently raised the terror threat levels for both homeland security and Cyperspace. The ID name that appeared on our online banking account was of all things Balibasha12. Which sounds pretty middle eastern to me. Not to go around profiling, but this is criminal activity so I must assume the worst.

Upon further investigation of my own using the Web skills I use everyday as a Web Designer, I inspected the so called fradulent links. Halfway through the link was a site redirect to an IP address, so I looked up the number and found that it belonged to Asia Pacific Networking Information Centre. Bam I have a match. And asian hosted website and a middle eastern ID name.

I have received at least 6 of these emails all with differing IP addresses that no longer work. The ebay markings (graphics) used in the email are placed in by PHP and also no longer work.

After thinking about this for some time I have come to the realization that this could indeed be viewed as a way to steal money from Americans to fund terrorism.

My question is this, what do you think about attacks like this one, and what does it say about the enemy's method of making or rather stealing from Americans to battle Americans?

wolfpac444 · Post by **wolfpac444** » 13 Aug 2004 12:47

In the parlance of our times, "WTF Mate?"

I find the leap from a standard phishing scam to a terrorist scheme trying to get steal Americans' money fairly absurd. Just because the guy has a "Middle Eastern-sounding" name does not automatically make him a terrorist. They aren't all out to get you...

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 13 Aug 2004 12:54

I think a fool and his money are soon seperated.

You should know better than to give your SS number out to anyone online. I suspect you will have fun with this for a long time.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 13 Aug 2004 12:56

Oh, and I don't think this is a terroism related activity. It's a well advertised scam.

I would be more likely to believe the Bush administration is taking peoples money through a foreign ISP using a middle eastern name to boost morale in the war against terrorism, than to believe a terrorist took your money.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 13 Aug 2004 13:55

Here's where the terrorism thoery comes into play.

Yeah I realize it is quite a leap to judgement, which is why I labeled it a Theory and not a Fact.

Actually I am more apt to believe this was done by a random programmer who just happens to be middle eastern, rather than terrorism. It's just with all that is being uncovered and the intricacies of the scams that it seems all too easy to make millions off of unsuspecting Americans over the internet. And why would one guy need millions if not to fund some big project? Just sayin . . .

What lead me to the theory was the association with an Asian Networking Company as opposed to some random fly by night server (which Cameron carries under his arm). As if the someone who works from within the network company (an employee, not necessarily the company itself) is using the companies resources to pull off the scam from such a server.

And Cameron, I promise you I did not release the SS#, my wife the eBay shopper did. I don't buy jack off the Web, except for shoes.

And I realize this was in the news. I was just curious to know what people thought of such a form of terrorism not that this is terrorism.

So you can calm you WTF - Mate.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 13 Aug 2004 14:14

I would be more likely to believe the Bush administration is taking peoples money through a foreign ISP using a middle eastern name to boost morale in the war against terrorism, than to believe a terrorist took your money.

I thought about that too, what if the bank did it just to get us to buy extra protection. What if the CIA did it and is using the money to fund illegal WMDs (that we aren't suppose to have) and making appear like an overseas scam.

What if, Bush himself did it

, as if he could find the power button on a computer.

Seeing as how terrorism is a big topic, I thought it might make for good discussions. There have been no terrorist attacks since 9/11 on America, or have there???hmmmm.... Got me thinking anyway.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 13 Aug 2004 16:11

I'm suprised this isn't a hotter topic. I had my identity stolen a few years back. Someone got my CC ## and ordered some L.A.S.E.R. equipment in florida.

HighDemonslayer · Post by **HighDemonslayer** » 16 Aug 2004 09:32

I got an email from Paypal about a class action lawsuit. I'm not sure if I qualify, but it seems to good to be true.

It's looks totally real and legit, but I think it's fake. They only way to qualify is to login someplace.

-n

p.s.
For info. security maybe we should all use fake identities to do our online shopping. That way if out credit rating goes to hell,so what?

ted · Post by **ted** » 11 Sep 2004 10:46

FlexThis wrote: I think this particular scam is used to fund terrorism
...
Which sounds pretty middle eastern to me.
...
Bam I have a match. And asian hosted website and a middle eastern ID name.
...
this could indeed be viewed as a way to steal money from Americans to fund terrorism.

I can't believe you actually posted this. Are you really that scared?
Spend less time with Tom Brokaw, less time monitoring the terror threat levels, more time shredding, and more time considering who your far-off, faceless enemies might be and why they might do things you thing are wrong.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 16 Sep 2004 07:14

Terrorist!

-jk

I think it is worth looking into. Not all scams or dirty deals are terror related, but not all terror attacks are as big as 9/11 either. An earthquake can take out a city block, a virus can take out a race.

That's all.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 27 Sep 2004 10:15

Some fucking terrorist cleaned out my account over the weekend.

Citi bank cashed a check for 700 that I never wrote. They seem to have lost the original, and the debit was processes electronicall. I do not, nor have I ever had a citibank account.

Hopefully this works out before I'm out on the streets.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 27 Sep 2004 10:28

Damn Cameron!

See skeptics, terrorists I tell you.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 27 Sep 2004 10:53

My terrorist infiltrated the US postal system and stole my checks from the mail. I never received a box of checks I ordered. Slightly different, and a more evolved form of terrorist i think.

Lesson: Even if you go into your bank and tell them that the box of checks never came, YOU are responsible for making sure the teller actually VOIDS the box of checks.

It took about 3 hours for them to put the cash back in my account, no major harm done. . . I hope.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 27 Sep 2004 11:14

I had my checks and NEW ATM card sent to the bank and I picked them up in person. I also added a 3 digit security code to my account, in addition to all the other ways they check identity.

Just in case.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 27 Sep 2004 11:20

My bank doesn't allow clients to pickup checks at the bank. Sucks, because I specifically asked for that before this happened.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 27 Sep 2004 11:31

PO BOX and a key.

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 27 Sep 2004 11:40

Yeah, yeah. Generally one should not have to purchase a seperate address to have a bank account. So far they have handled it as their fault and everything is going well.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 27 Sep 2004 11:47

Until it writes another check, or better yet opens an account in your name at another bank. Or waits outside your mail box for the next set of checks to arrive.

For all you know, it's the neighbor kid stalking your mail box.

I had to close my account, open a new account, cancel all direct deposits, cancel all direct debits, have new direct debt forms sent, have new checks sent, blah blah blah.

To this day I am still not back to 100% bill paying power yet. Makes you want to choke the little Fucker that is disrupting your life.

FlexThis · Post by **FlexThis** » 27 Sep 2004 11:50

Oh yeah, and now I have a firm respect for those identity theft commercials. Makes you wonder if they are secretly responsible(the bank). They already have all your info and could easily disrupt your life, but will stop for a monthly payment of 7.95.

With the Enrons of the world out there, I'm suspecious of everyone and everything.

...Are you the thief?...

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 27 Sep 2004 11:55

I don't think you can't open an account in someone else's name without a drivers license and social security card, that I'm aware of. I'm equally paranoid though. I fully expect this to haunt me for many months.

I'm definately not at 100% bill paying capacity. I had to borrow dinner from torch last night, because I only had $3.00

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The Newest Terrorist Threat - Online Identity Theft

The Newest Terrorist Threat - Online Identity Theft

Re: The Newest Terrorist Threat - Online Identity Theft