Chris Pirillo » scam

Phishing Scam Spreading on Twitter

Chris — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:15:36 +0000

Phishing Scam Spreading on Twitter is a post from Chris Pirillo

A few minutes ago, I received a direct message from one of my twitter followers:

hey! check out this funny blog about you… jannawalitax . blogspot . com

And there’s another one:

Hey, i found a website with your pic on it… LOL check it out here twitterblog . access-logins . com / login

DO NOT VISIT the URL in question. It will redirect you immediately to a suspicious domain: twitter . access-logins . com – notice the subdomain? Worse yet, here’s what you’d see there right now:

This is NOT the Twitter login page, and it smells completely phishy! Suggestion: do NOT log in to your Twitter account through any site other than Twitter.com. This may go without saying, but consider how many third-party Twitter services you use? Seems it’s about time for some kind of verification / validation for applications using the Twitter API – so you can be sure you’re passing your credentials to the right people. I’m guessing this particular phishing scam is not using the API (but there’s no way for a user to properly verify).

This phishing domain appears to be registered in China, and I’m about to report ‘em to OpenDNS (via PhishTank.com):

Organization : zhang xiaohu
Name : zhang xiaohu
Address : changningzhonghuainanlu192hao
City : changning
Province/State : Hunan
Country : CN
Postal Code : 421500

Please, tell your followers to NOT VISIT or LOGIN THROUGH that site! Watch out for these direct messages. If you did happen to visit one of the offending URLs, you should be safe so long as you didn’t try to log into your Twitter account there.

What are Popular Home Repair Scams?

Chris — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:06:39 +0000

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The last time I changed our furnace filters, I sliced my finger open. I’m not a handyman by any stretch, but I do attempt to take care of things around my house. There are times, though, when you just have to call in someone else to fix something. How can you be sure you’re not getting ripped off? Tedd wrote in to tell me about his brother-in-law’s construction company, and to give us his top tips on what to watch out for when hiring someone to work on your home.

Leaky Roof: A con artist will try to convince you that water is seeping through the shingles, so you should have the shingles removed and replaced. This can cost $5000 or more. Most of the time, the leak is caused because the sealing around vent pipes and chimneys has deteriorated, or the connections between roof sections have eroded. Replacing the sealant or flashing is a cheap and easy fix. Normally, an asphalt roof lasts 10 – 20 years. You should replace the roof when you see curling or missing shingles, or a large amount of granular material from the shingles collecting in the gutters. Don’t get talked into having the old roof removed, which can raise the replacement price by 50%, unless your building code demands it. Many towns allow a second, or even third roof to be installed on top of each other, as long as the framing can support the extra weight. Beware of a roofer that says you need an entire new deck, which is the wood beneath the shingles. This is needed in only about one out of a thousand times. Usually only a portion of the deck will need replaced, and then only if it is rotted.
Basement Water: If your basement is chronically wet, con artists will attempt to convince you that they need to dig out your entire foundation and waterproof it. This can cost anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 dollars. More often, the solution is simple and costs very little. Many basement leaks are caused by overflow from clogged gutters, misrouted downspouts, unsloped land around the house and even poorly aimed sprinklers. Damp walls may be caused by humidity. To test, simply tape a piece of aluminum foil to the wall. If moisture shows up after a day or two on the patch, it’s just condensation. You can then start shopping for a dehumidifier. If water is still seeping in, repair cracks in the masonry with hydraulic cement, and apply a quality waterproof paint.
Termite Problem: There are a lot of myths about termites. One of the most common myths is that termites can bring down a house in as little as 6 months. Con artists use this incorrect information to scare you into paying up to $3000 for unnecessary and shoddy work. The most common termite in the USA is the Subterranean, of which there are two main kinds: Workers and Swarmers. The Workers hollow out the wood, while Swarmers mate and produce new colonies. They burrow through the soil until water and wood or wood-like products are located. To get into your home, they usually build moist tunnels across the foundation, a clear sign of infestation. Be wary of exterminators showing you termite colonies on wood piles or fences not connected to your house: This may be a scam. You have a problem only if there is evidence of termites inside your home or close to the foundation. Bugs flying in the home during the Spring are another sign of a problem, but these may simply be flying ants. Termites have full waists and long wings. Ants have a pinched waist and back wings shorter than the front wings.
Mold: Since Hurricane Katrina, con artists have been playing up fears about disease from mold in the home. They try to convince you to pay $300 – $600 on tests to identify the mold, and recommend a company to remove it which they are in cahoots with. The truth is, healthy people usually don’t have anything to worry about. If your immune system is compromised, or you have asthma or allergies, it might cause issues. Other than that, mold is not dangerous. The CDC doesn’t recommend that you get the mold tested, because if it is a problem to the occupants, it should be removed no matter what kind it is. All you need to clean the mold from small areas is soap and water, followed by a mixture of one cup bleach with one gallon of water. To prevent mold growth, keep the humidity between 40 and 60 percent, promptly fix leaky roofs, windows, and pipes, and ventilate shower, laundry and cooking areas.
Chimney Sweep Swindle: A chimney sweep knocks on your door and says he just fixed a neighbor’s chimney and offers you an inspection for the low price of $39.99. Once inside, he finds a problem and tells you that you need a new liner for instance. Suddenly, that $39.99 becomes thousands of dollars. Chimneys can indeed be dangerous, and occasionally a blocked chimney causes carbon monoxide to come into the home. This doesn’t happen as often as chimney sweeps want you to believe. Experts recommend annual inspections to check for creosote buildup and structural soundness. This costs between $100 and $250 dollars. If cleaning is required, an additional $100 – $150 should be expected. Hire only those that are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Also, lately sweeps use cameras to complete their inspection. Ask to see the video, and have him explain it as you watch. If he balks, he’s scamming you.

Thanks so much, Tedd, for sending in these tips. I know that when we first moved into this house, we had to deal with a lot of contractors. The ones we went with, were the guys who talked us down in price. They were honest, and good at what they do. We interviewed four contractors (always good to get more than one bid), only ONE of them was talking us out of spending more than we needed to spend. We have been recommending him to people ever since.

Watching out for scams is something we all have to be cognizant of. It’s embarrassing when we get caught… and can cost us money and time. Be alert, and do your homework.

FirstRSS+ThunderIT AWS HMAC ERROR: "http://xml-us.amznxslt.com/onca/xml?AWSAccessKeyId=05G128QTRXN0J06J6PG2&ContentType=text%2Fxml&Keywords=home%2Brepair&Operation=ItemSearch&ResponseGroup=Large&SearchIndex=Blended&Service=AWSECommerceService&Signature=07C4HdIgmIb2NK1IpFsLdcueB3P4%2FPxNaZ8gP9pZ%2BPM%3D&Style=http%3A%2F%2Ftagjag.com%2Fcss%2Famazon.xslt&Timestamp=2009-11-25T18%3A36%3A28Z&Version=2005-07-26" NOT FOUND!

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Are Those “Free iPod” Websites Legit or a Scam?

Chris — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:47:25 +0000

Are Those “Free iPod” Websites Legit or a Scam? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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You know the sites. You see them everywhere. “Sign up and get five of your friends to sign up… and you’ll win!” It’s not as easy as they make it sound. With so many sites who do the same thing, you’ll have a hard time trying to find even five who want to sign up under you.

I received an email earlier in the week from Tom, asking me if these “freebie” sites are legitimate or not. I personally tiptoe very cautiously around things like these. The odds are not in your favor that you’ll really get something for free. It’s quite difficult to get enough people to buy in to whatever it is the site in question is selling or advertising. Most people will fail in getting the ‘free’ product. Yes… there are legitimate sites giving away real products. Just read the fine print. Make sure you fully understand the requirements that are laid out prior to getting involved. Heck… why not ask your friends BEFORE you sign up if they’re even willing to follow your lead and try to get something for nothing?

Don’t throw away your money. Be smart. Stay away from all those scams out there.

Anti-Scam Manual For Online Dating.

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Optimus Maximus Keyboard: Horrible Customer Service

Chris — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:25:39 +0000

Optimus Maximus Keyboard: Horrible Customer Service is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Yes, you read that right. I’ve had it with this company. Their customer service is absolutely horrible. They have canceled my order twice now for the Optimus Maximus keyboard. I’m not a very happy Geek at this point.

A few months ago, this news was huge. Any Geek knows what I’m talking about. However, I feel this is a complete ripoff. This isn’t because of the price. If the keyboard is as it is promised, then the cost is worth it. That’s not the issue I have. I placed one of the first orders, and they sent me an email back saying the order had not gone through. I argued with them, because I know that my credit card was valid and so on. After a lot of going back and forth, they said they had simply canceled my order.

What? Even though I was mad, I lusted after the keyboard still. So, a few months later, Ponzi placed an order to try and buy it for me for Christmas. The problem is, even using a different credit card, the order was again canceled. WHAT?? Something just isn’t right here.

I’m not the only one this has happened to!

I feel this is a scam, and that you should be very wary. If anything, their customer service is just plain bad. The whole ordering process is jacked. Twice now, my order has been canceled for no good reason. If anyone actually orders or has ordered this keyboard… good for you, and good luck to you. However, I’m telling you that you shouldn’t bother.

I feel ripped off, even though they never actually took my money. This product is just so unbelievably amazing looking, and they can’t even be bothered to actually sell it! What’s the deal?

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Is GeekSquad a Sham?

Chris — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:45:57 +0000

Is GeekSquad a Sham? is a post from Chris Pirillo

http://live.pirillo.com/ – Would you trust Geek Squad?

The value of Geek Squad really boils down to the management of the local BestBuy store. To make a sweeping statement about them would be unfair to each individual unit. Having no experience with them, we can't speak positively or negatively about them.

We'd recommend getting involved in local computer groups before using the Geek Squad services. While you may think Geek Squad is staffed with the best technicians, your local geeks may have another opinion.

Do you have any opinions?

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How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

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Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.