Spam Emails to Identify Theft

[jetho1680]

This morning I contacted a Government Dept to report a scam email that appeared to come from “mygov”

I was fortunate to speak with a person who was very helpful and explained in detail how a scam first starts from when there is a digital breach of a server or from just about anywhere on the net where a person has entered email addresses, personal information etc,  which can result in anywhere from spam and scam emails to full identity theft and often will happen long after a breach has happened.

I was given a web site address, entered my email address and it showed the details of  2 breaches had happened earlier in the year and two months apart. It was suggested  that I change my passwords if they are the same at the time breaches occurred as a precautionary measure.

Web address  

https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Passwords can be checked for breaches and recommends changing or not to use them.

[imastawka]

I'm unsure that I want to enter my email addy into an unknown email addy to see if I've been hacked or not.

[ambercat16]

I'm with you Stawka.  Isn't that exactly what they tell us not to do?

[sandypebbles]

Agreed 

[domino-710]

I don't usually - but I seemed to trust the source.

Mine came up with 3 - all remembered sites - but only from 3 years ago.

Not bothered - have very good security.

Except for the now ongoing - persona non gratis with Westpac - they have a current glllitttz.

After 30 years of banking - I can log in - but can't pay a bill etc - seems I'm a scammer.

I have rung twice - yep - fix on it's way.

Stupid thing is the site asks me to go down to my branch - ID myself - which isn't going to happen - why ?? - cause if it is an IT glitzzzz - there is nothing to be gained - they would be helpless to do anything till the prob is corrected.

Their problem - told them they would pay any late fees on accounts not paid or late. 

[imastawka]

I don't do on-line banking, but can you set up BPay while you're arguing about it.?

At least the bills get paid that way.

Unless, of course, the glitch rules that out as well

.....or is it BPay that's the problem?...........

[shoppingbag*]

I get notified of  "so called" breaches every now and then, and I have learnt to ignore them. It used to tell me that someone else had logged into my email account from an unknown device. I started keeping a diary of the time and day every time I checked my emails, and lo and behold IT WAS ME! Stupid computers sometimes think you are on the other side of the country and on another device, and it has claimed logins from as much as 2,000 kms away at the very time that I had logged in. I did a little research online and found that others had discovered this has happened to them. Also, every now and then when I am logging into one of my usual sites it will tell me that I am logging in from an unknown device, WRONG..it is me, same computer and same person logging in. While I am not totally discounting what you are claiming, as I am sure there are breaches that amount to problems, just recounting my experiences. I have ignored these so called breaches now for many years, and no-one has stolen my identity or caused me any problems. I don't keep personal details in my computer and follow all the usual rules about keeping safe online.

[shoppingbag*]

Just an added note to my last reply. Have any of you noticed when you are searching Google for products that the computer gives you all the stores the other side of town to where you are, like it cannot identify your location! This happens to me all the time.

[lionrose.7]

Yes I live in The Bay of Plenty and on my face book I kept getting things from cafes and businesses in Christchurch, not even the same Island LOL

[davewil1964]

I use my phone as my internet connection since my modem died. Google still thinks I'm in Sydney, which it always did due to the fact that mobile modems use dynamic IP addresses from an allocated block, registered in Sydney in Telstra's case.

I have no problem finding a store in my vicinity. I know where I am, and I know where they are.