The Internet provides us a convenient method to communicate. Along with legitimate email, on occasions we receive email offers that appear fraudulent or at least of questionable value. One of the common messages received by campus email users is a plea for assistance from a foreign government official. Typically, this request for assistance requires you to send personal financial information to the email originator. The email originator in response for your help promises to share some large sum of money with you in the future. Please be aware that these schemes are usually fraudulent. You will not receive large sums of dollars for your participation. Victims of such schemes often find their bank accounts have been drained or their credit cards have been used for unauthorized purchases. The FBI has published information about these schemes, referred to as the "Nigerian Letter or "419" Fraud." (http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/phnx/pxfraud.htm#Nigerian%20Letter) The FBI along with the National White Collar Crime Center also publishes information about fraud committed over the Internet. Information describing some of the more common reported fraudulent acts is described on the web site of the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/strategy/fraudtips.asp)
Robert A. Ono, CISSP Information Technology Security Coordinator Information and Educational Technology University of California, Davis (530) 754-6484 Desk