SMISHING- A New Way of Phishing

The other day I received a text message on my phone that said:

"WELLS FARGO ALERT: Your CARD starting with 4868 has been DEACTIVATED. Please contact us at : (local phone number)."

Well, I don't have a Wells Fargo account, so that brings suspicion right away. So I DID NOT call that number.

On Friday, the Washington State Attorney General's Office issued a warning to the public about "smishing" schemes. Smishing is a take off of "phishing". A phishing scheme sends out emails that claim that there is problem with your account or that there is a hot offer. They want you to click on the link provided. If you do, you might be directed to a web page that looks like a legitimate company's web page. This fake web page will ask for personal information like your SSN, account number, etc. The link could also download, without you knowing it, malware that takes your personal information, including id's and passwords off of your hard drive.


(Attorney General press release: http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?&id=29042)


(Article from The Herald: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111010/BIZ/710109921#New-con-via-text-message)


Smishing is merely phishing migrating to your text messaging on your cell phone.


This round of smishing started in Oregon, Utah and South Dakota about a month ago and migrated to Washington, Colorado and Iowa last week.


(Article from MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44846369/ns/business-consumer_news/t/western-us-hit-smishing-bank-scam/)


Local law enforcement authorities usually do not have authority to investigate or prosecute phishing or smishing scams. If you have been victimized by a phishing or smishing scheme make a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm.

THE FALLS- Totem Falls Elementary School’s Red Ribbon Event

Tomorrow morning, residents of The Falls may see what appears to be police activity at Totem Falls Elementary School. This will be a planned event according to this information from the Totem Falls administration:

RED RIBBON EVENT

TOTEM FALLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 at 9:10 A.M.

On Friday, October 7, 2011, Totem Falls will participate in a Red Ribbon Celebration sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Their goal is to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and encourage prevention and early intervention. It is the largest, most visible prevention awareness campaign observed annually in the United States.

At 9:10 A.M. Totem Falls students will gather around the bus driveway to watch a “parade” of DEA vehicles which will include two Snohomish County Sheriff motorcycles, a hummer, a K-9 marked unit, Washington’s Most Wanted vehicle, Fire Department Aide Vehicle, and a D.E.A. Lab truck. The drivers will be introduced and the MC will share information about their jobs.

Weather permitting, a D.E.A. helicopter will do a fly over and the pilot will give a message to the students through a public address system on the ground. At the end of the 30 minute “parade”, the vehicles will turn on their lights and sirens and the students will file into the gym for an assembly.

For more information about the Red Ribbon Celebration and drug prevention go to:

·         DEA Red Ribbon Factsheet:

·         http://www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/redribbon_factsheet.html

·         DEA Drug prevention information:

o   http://www.justthinktwice.com/

o   http://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com/

o   http://www.justice.gov/dea/resources/drug_prevention.html

·         Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)

o   http://www.mfiles.org/index.htm

·         Snohomish Regional Drug and Gang Task Force:

o   http://www.srdtf.org/