The Star: February 22, 2018
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5<br />
AvoIDINg<br />
tHoSE NASty<br />
Internet scams<br />
BY KEVIN MEDRI<br />
Kevin has had a varied career in many<br />
different industries where he successfully<br />
implemented many IT related systems<br />
and processes, as well as being hands-on<br />
in the field.<br />
“I understand the frustration and<br />
anxiety computers can give you, because<br />
I have been there."<br />
More recently Kevin has established<br />
a computer and IT repair business in<br />
Rangiora, North Canterbury where he<br />
and his staff successfully help people<br />
with their computer needs.<br />
So we have all heard about it, seen it in<br />
the media, someone we know has been<br />
affected by it, then one day, wham, it hits<br />
us – an online scam.<br />
We all think at our age we should<br />
know better; well the truth is we are<br />
trusting, sometimes too trusting, we<br />
were probably brought up that way. So if<br />
you been affected by a scam of some sort,<br />
don’t fret.<br />
I get fed up with the tactics used<br />
by the scammers, so thought I INSERT PIC 04 HERE<br />
would share some handy tips<br />
Notice the word online before the .asb.<br />
with you. If we get that email<br />
co.nz. This is perfectly ok because the<br />
with an offer too good to be<br />
asb. Is still followed by co.nz. However,<br />
true, it usually is. <strong>The</strong>se can<br />
what is not ok is a link the may be<br />
arrive and look very convincing<br />
pretending to be ASB's login:<br />
and even appear to be from a<br />
legitimate source, like a power INSERT PIC 05 HERE<br />
company, lawyer or bank. <strong>The</strong>y<br />
Here we have online.asb but then it<br />
will always contain a link for you<br />
goes on to .scam.co.nz, and because the<br />
to use to go to a website to enter<br />
.scam.co.nz comes after asb, the actual<br />
Now<br />
your details.<br />
Open<br />
website name is scam.co.nz, and we don’t<br />
<strong>The</strong> trick here is to hover your mouse want to go there do we!<br />
curser over the link without clicking,<br />
Just as a side note, internet banking is<br />
look at the bottom of your browser<br />
very safe if used properly. Never save the<br />
where, a website address will appear, this<br />
username and password in the browser,<br />
tells you exactly where you are going.<br />
you know the annoying popup that asks<br />
Let’s look at how a website address you every time you login somewhere.<br />
works – we will take ASB bank as an<br />
example:<br />
INSERT PIC 03 HERE<br />
Let’s just look at the address (URL,<br />
Uniform Resource Locator for the<br />
techies) https://www.asb.co.nz. Https<br />
stands for hyper text transport protocol<br />
secure, (yawn), sorry that’s the boring<br />
bit over, www stands for world wide<br />
web – we are getting somewhere. Now,<br />
for the important bit, asb. Note the full<br />
stop at the beginning and the end of the<br />
letters. This is the name of the website<br />
and it usually represents the name, in<br />
this case ASB bank, and directly after the<br />
full stop must come the domain type, i.e<br />
.co.nz, .org.nz, .com, .org etc. <strong>The</strong>re may<br />
also be something after the .co.nz, which<br />
will always start with a / like the example<br />
here. Sometimes there may be something<br />
before the first full stop like when we<br />
want to login:<br />
Never click yes, and when you click no<br />
if prompted by the statement ‘never save<br />
password for this site’, click the box. Most<br />
banks now offer a secondary security<br />
measure, like texting you a secret code<br />
that you have to enter before any money<br />
leaves your account.<br />
What about the phone call? "Hi I'm<br />
calling from Microsoft and you have an<br />
issue with your computer that is affecting<br />
your neighbours." Firstly, Microsoft will<br />
never call you out of the blue; secondly,<br />
no one will know you have a problem<br />
with your computer unless you tell them.<br />
However, they can be very persuasive<br />
and sound convincing and even<br />
threatening. Keep a whistle by the phone<br />
and blow it as hard as you can down<br />
the phone – that will keep them away.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y have no idea who you are or where<br />
you live, they are simply calling random<br />
numbers in the hope to catch someone.<br />
No legitimate company will ever ask<br />
you to give your login details for your<br />
bank, credit or debit card over the phone<br />
by text message or by email.<br />
Another tip is if you know the domain<br />
name of the website you want to visit<br />
type it straight into the browser bar:<br />
<strong>The</strong> search bar is used when you are<br />
trying to find something like a local<br />
garage to fix your car, or a restaurant.<br />
<strong>The</strong> internet can be a great place to<br />
look up or research something, to go<br />
shopping, connect with family and<br />
friends, plus a whole host of other<br />
things. Don't be afraid to have a go – all<br />
you need is a desktop computer, laptop<br />
or mobile device like an iPad and a web<br />
browser.<br />
At the age of 34,<br />
Kevin Medri moved to<br />
New Zealand from the<br />
UK along with his wife<br />
and four children in the<br />
year 2000.<br />
He now has five children<br />
and four grandchildren, and<br />
just in case you are wondering,<br />
yes he still has his wife of nearly<br />
30 years.<br />
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