AOPA Credit Card scam

On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 15:00:35 -0500, Peter Clark
wrote:

On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 12:09:52 -0500, Jay Somerset
wrote:

On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 07:51:37 -0500, Peter Clark
wrote:

They're also pretty easy to pick out because the link has an IP
address rather than a name. Sending you to http://1.2.3.4/whatever
and sucking the information from inattentive people is much easier
than having the link point to http://www.mbna.com and attempt to
redirect the real sitename to their data-gathering box.

Unfortuantely, not true! There are ways to fool your browser (any browser)
into displaying what looks like the legitimate URL in the status/message
bar, but which really is not. Uses special characters that have a defined
meaning in URL syntax, but are not displayed, and not widely knowm.

Perhaps I'm spoiled by Eudora, but I don't even click on an emailed
link unless the preview of what it's going to launch to
Explorer/whatever shows up with proper English characters, and a real,
known, sitename.

What would you do in my case? I go to a number of Asian and Indonesian
sites and receive legitimate e-mail from those areas.? :-))

Last year my Daughter spend over a month in mainland China and nearly
three weeks in Indonesia. (She left for home just one week before the
Tsunami)

The food caught up with Kevin on a long flight from Tibet to the
coast. They travel enough it usually doesn't stay with them for long.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Boils down to if it doesn't seem/look right, it's not. Any question,
just launch the browser yourself and go to the site directly.

"Jay Somerset" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 07:51:37 -0500, Peter Clark
wrote:


They're also pretty easy to pick out because the link has an IP
address rather than a name. Sending you to http://1.2.3.4/whatever
and sucking the information from inattentive people is much easier
than having the link point to http://www.mbna.com and attempt to
redirect the real sitename to their data-gathering box.

Unfortuantely, not true! There are ways to fool your browser (any
browser)
into displaying what looks like the legitimate URL in the status/message
bar, but which really is not. Uses special characters that have a defined
meaning in URL syntax, but are not displayed, and not widely knowm.

Bruce Schneier covered this URL hack in his latest
security report. Write-up and very convincing fake
paypal page he-
http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0503.html#6

Be careful out there.

"George Patterson" wrote in message
...
AOPA warns that someone is trying the scam of spamming pilots saying that
MBNA
needs for them to verify their account info. These mails are not from
MBNA. Do
not click on the link.

This, by the way, is true of every similar scam. No legitimate company
will send
you mail asking for account info by internet.

From the AOPA web site --

Urgent member advisory: Credit card fraud

Members with AOPA credit cards are warned to be on the lookout for e-mails
that
appear to be from MBNA asking you to confirm or update your personal or
credit
card information. These e-mails are not from MBNA. They are attempts by
criminals to gain access to your personal credit information in order to
defraud
you. If you receive such an e-mail solicitation, you are warned not to
respond
or provide any personal information.

As stated on MBNA's Web site:

MBNA is committed to ensuring that your personal and account information
are
protected, both off and on the Internet. MBNA will never ask for personal
or
account information to be submitted via e-mail. MBNA will never provide
personal
information, such as an online account password, via e-mail.

This type of e-mail and Web site fraud, known as "phishing," is
increasingly
prevalent with the scammers posing as a wide variety of businesses -
banks,
credit card companies, insurance companies, and auction sites. There were
an
estimated 20 million phishing e-mails in 2004, and the number is
increasing
rapidly.

If you receive an e-mail that asks you to click a link and provide
personal or
financial information, or suspect any fraudulent activity related to your
MBNA
account(s), please contact MBNA immediately at 800/653-2465.

George Patterson
I prefer Heaven for climate but Hell for company.

in reality the only real credit card scam is being run by the credit
card companies themselves. if you happen to keep a balance on your card i
suggest you read that multi page fine print thing called terms and
conditions. that is the real scam. it is designed to get you in debt and
keep you there.

tony zambon
grumman 9941L

In article ,
says...


in reality the only real credit card scam is being run by the credit
card companies themselves. if you happen to keep a balance on your card i
suggest you read that multi page fine print thing called terms and
conditions. that is the real scam. it is designed to get you in debt and
keep you there.

tony zambon
grumman 9941L

How do they make one buy things?

wrote in message
h.net...
In article ,
says...


in reality the only real credit card scam is being run by the
credit
card companies themselves. if you happen to keep a balance on your card i
suggest you read that multi page fine print thing called terms and
conditions. that is the real scam. it is designed to get you in debt and
keep you there.

tony zambon
grumman 9941L

How do they make one buy things?

Have to agree... Having to pay an interest rate is a known fact to having a
credit card. Who in their right mind thinks that they will not be paying
interist rates on the card? Now where i do think things get fuzzy is when
they advertise a 0% 2.99% or whatever, then in the very very very very fine
print you find a fixed monthly service fee, and that the rate is only valid
for a few months before jumping massively. But then again... those are so
common who gets a 2.9% card without the expectation that its an introductory
offer? I carry two cards, I have a balance on one, and yes a rather
considerable part of each monthly payment goes to pay for that interest fee,
BUT i do that willingly to have the convinience of a line of credit, comes
in hand now, especially in online commerce and when cash/check isn't
feasable. I personally don't buy an item on the credit card unless the
convinience of using the card for that purchase is worth 12.98% of that
purchase price over a year. Do the cards themselves put you in debt...
NOPE.... bout like blaming the pencil for spelling errors, the purchasers
puts themselves in debt, its how they manage that debt that can actually
affect how much interest they pay, be irrisponsible with the debt and that
rate goes through the roof, pay on time and a good history and you may be
able to qualify for a lower rate, the ball is in the purchasers' hands. Now
you want to know of a good psuedoscam in finance? Look at home loans that
offer an amazingly low interest rate, but want a points fee..... got news
for you... that points fee is an interest rate you can't escape! traditional
interest expenses (not rates) can be lowered by paying off a loan early, but
since those points fees are wrapped up into the principle of the loan your
stuck paying them, even if you pay the whole enchilada off next month (which
in some states means you can be stuck paying a prepayment penalty... another
load of crap if you ask me.) Bottom line... know your loan be it a credit
card, HEL HELOC or whatever... if its worth it its your own damn fault you
are in debt.