On Fri, Jul 08, 2011 at 12:04:19PM -0400, Brenda J. Butler wrote: > > Yes, I'm trying to determine if a notice I got from GOC (paper, via > postal mail) is valid ... it looks real, but the person and phone > number are not in GEDS (Government Electronic Directory Service). > Gut feel is that it's real, but how on earth can I verify without > using the phone numbers on the letter? > > ... I've asked my MP but no answer yet. I might need to call back > and ask again. I don't think I'd go through my MP, but that's one route. I'd try to contact via the published contact information for that GOC ministry/department in the blue pages. Problem is frequently that said institutions are training people to ignore this type of careful checking by employing non-standard domains and contractors. There are similar problems with door-to-door salesfolks for third-party energy resellers who ask to see your energy bill to get account information. I've also recently gotten a number of automated phone calls from credit card debt consolidators that sound official without actually naming your credit card, then ask you for those details. Whenever I ask on behalf of whom are they calling, they hang up immediately. It is everywhere. > bjb > > On Fri, Jul 08, 2011 at 09:19:59AM -0400, Raj wrote: > > I don't think there's any harm in repeating these warnings. If the > > phishing emails didn't work, they wouldn't be there in the first place - > > there are people still falling for them. And don't forget that spear > > phishing can get quite sophisticated. > > > > --Raj. > > > > > > On 11-07-08 09:12 AM, Singer X.J. Wang wrote: > > > I'll chime in here and agree with Richard here. Should we start warning > > > about every security risk? > > > > > > - Do not shout out your DEBIT CARD NUMBER and PIN for your debit card. > > > - Do not write down the DEBIT CARD NUMBER and PIN of your debit card on a > > > piece of paper and mail it to Richard Briggs > > > - Do not write down the DEBIT CARD NUMBER and PIN of your debit card on a > > > piece of paper and mail it to me > > > - Do not write down the DEBIT CARD NUMBER and PIN of your debit card on a > > > piece of paper and mail it to Stephen Harper > > > - Do not write down the DEBIT CARD NUMBER and PIN of your debit card on a > > > piece of paper and mail it to Jay Leno > > > - Do not write down the DEBIT CARD NUMBER and PIN of your debit card on a > > > piece of paper and mail it to Madonna > > > > > > These phishing emails are so normal now and everyone (specially those on the > > > list) knows about it that there's no need to email it again. > > > > > > On Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 08:58, Shawn H Corey <shawnhcorey [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com> wrote: > > > > > >> On 11-07-08 08:36 AM, Richard Guy Briggs wrote: > > >>> Even if I am my own system administrator?!? > > >>> > > >>> Even if I don't even have an account with said institution?!? > > >>> > > >>> Even if I've already received thousands of such emails already?!? > > >> > > >> <sarcasm>I'm sorry I ruined your day by post an alert about email > > >> phishing. After all, since you know everything there is to know about > > >> security, why would anyone else on this list be interested in it?</sarcasm> > > >> > > >> Such rudeness is not appreciated. Please refrain for doing so in the > > >> future. slainte mhath, RGB -- Richard Guy Briggs -- ~\ -- ~\ <hpv.tricolour.net> <www.TriColour.net> -- \___ o \@ @ Ride yer bike! Ottawa, ON, CANADA -- Lo_>__M__\\/\%__\\/\% Vote! -- <greenparty.ca>_____GTVS6#790__(*)__(*)________(*)(*)_________________