Inspector Warns Public about Internet Scam Artists

By Alastair Bland

On Tuesday evening, July 19, at the Richmond Police Station community room, Inspector Earl Wismer gave a presentation on safeguarding oneself against Internet scams and other fraudulent profiteering.

A dozen local residents seated in the classroom-sized community room listened as Wismer began with a briefing on counterfeit currency. At the lower right-hand corner of the front side of a monetary note, he explained, there is a number printed in gold, which represents the value of the bill. When tilted away from the eye, the gold number turns into a dark gray-green.

"If that number does not change color," he said, "it's a counterfeit bill."

Wismer moved on to lecture for nearly an hour on Internet safety.

"People who get victimized by e-mail frauds are usually people who live alone," Wismer said. "They're people who don't have friends or neighbors to discuss this with, and they react to the personal, friendly nature of the e-mail. This is an example of social engineering. The scam artists convince you that they're the good guys."

Wismer explained that the most successful Internet scam artists would develop a relationship with the e-mail recipient that may last months, or even years; fortunes are not made through one e-mail.

"They hook you and build a relationship and build up your trust. There was a gentleman in the Bayview District who developed a correspondence with one of those highly placed officials from Nigeria. The guy said he was involved in the oil business. They started an e-mail relationship that went on and developed for five years."

Wismer said he learned of these proceedings and tried to dissuade the San Francisco resident from communicating any further with the scam artist.

"But he trusted the guy on the computer so much that he was convinced I was the bad guy. He ended up losing $120,000."

Wismer said that some scams are actually legal.

"There are hundreds and thousands of groups out there that solicit money for a charitable cause and pocket the bulk of it. But as long as 10 percent of the proceeds are given to the said cause, the operation is legal in the state of California.

"If you want to donate," advised Wismer, "donate straight to the organization. That way they'll get 100 percent of the donation."

One man in the audience asked how to protect oneself from viruses on the Internet.

"You can't," said Wismer. He explained that new viruses are created every day and no matter how diligently one updates software protection programs, there will always be a slight risk of infection.

"The bad guys out there are really, really good. They could make money legitimately, but they find it fun to do it illegally, to ruin people's lives. Sure, maybe you're too smart - maybe you won't give out information on the web, but just by going to their web link, you've opened yourself up."

Wismer also warned the group of listeners not to download music. "With each song you download, you're picking up spyware."

"What about through itunes or Napster?" a man in the front row asked.

Wismer explained that any reputable Web site does its best to keep its antivirus software up to date, but there are hackers constantly at work, and even itunes and Napster may get infiltrated.

"If there's a new virus that the companies haven't learned about, you can't stop it."

Addressing the issue of online purchases with a credit card, Wismer said, "Well, we all do it and if you know the Web site, it's OK. But do not use offered links. Web links can be disguised, and so can the site."

Wismer explained that many people give their credit card information to what they have been fooled into thinking is a legitimate Web site.

"So type in the web address on your own. Don't use their links. Type in the address, and that'll get you to the site with no danger."

The inspector said the safest measure to take in keeping out of reach of "spammers" who send unsolicited e-mail messages is to unplug your computer before going to bed.

"The spammer is often a 14-year-old kid, or a 16-year-old kid, who's got an inquisitive mind. They're experimenting and it's fun. They're up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., so if you've got something like 'The Grapes of Wrath' downloading for several hours at night, your door is wide open," he said. "A lot of this scam-work takes brains and time, but the guys out there doing this stuff have got nothing else to do."

For more information, contact the SF Police Department's fraud detail at (415) 553-1521.