Old Nokia 1100s prized by criminal underground

Got an old Nokia 1100 sitting around? You may be sitting on a fortune... albeit with a catch.

Certain circles are said to be paying upwards of $32,000 for the handsets, at least those made in Nokia's Bochum factory in Germany.

Why? According to reports, the criminal underground has found a way to hack into the phones' firmware to allow for illegal bank transfers by reprogramming the phone number on the handset.

Changing the phone number would give hackers the ability to send and receive text messages via the handset, which would in turn open the door for completing basic bank transactions, particularly in Europe.

The details of the hack involve the transmittal of something called a mobile Transaction Authentication Number (mTAN), popular in many overseas countries, which are one-time codes that are sent to customers via text message and are used to complete financial transactions online. Having the mTAN gives hackers the final piece in the puzzle they need (assuming a user ID and password have already been obtained) to drain a bank account under your very nose.

Sounds like the usual criminal shenanigans, but there's a catch... according to an interview with PC World, Nokia says it has no idea why criminals want the 1100 model phones and insists that the software on the phone is not vulnerable to attack -- at least not in any way the company has been able to identify to date.

Meanwhile, Nokia continues to look into the matter, and third-party technology and security outfits are also currently baffled as to how the alleged hack is done -- but many are now also collecting Nokia 1100s for themselves to work on.

The 12 scams of Christmas

'Tis the season for joy and giving -- but for malicious types hanging out in cyberspace it's also a time to take advantage of naive web surfers. Scams run high leading up to and over the holidays, Here are 12 scams to watch out for to ensure a Merry Christmas for yourself.

Not everyone is feeling the festive spirit, as many scammers are attempting to take advantage of your kindness. Here are of 12 scam warning signs to watch out for.

Charity Phishing Scams

How it works: The hackers send fictional emails that appear to be from well-known charitable organizations, such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Oxfam that direct consumers to fake websites designed to steal their money.

What to do: Don’t ever click on a link sent in email -- type in the name of the organization directly.

Email Banking Scams

How it works: the bad guys send an official-looking email that asks consumers to confirm account information, including their user name and password. These emails often try to fool consumers into thinking that if they don’t comply with the instructions, their account will become invalid.

What to do: Don't ever click on a link sent in email. Visit your bank website directly by typing in the name in your browser. Call your bank by telephone if you’re concerned about your account. Never give your account details out as a result of an email request.

Holiday e-cards

How it works: Scammers may send you an e-card that appears as if it’s coming from Hallmark asking you to download an attachment to pick up your e-card. However, the attachment isn't really an e-card -- it's a Trojan.

What to do: A few clues that an e-card is not legit are spelling mistakes, errors in the message, unknown senders or senders with bogus names and odd-looking URLs. When in doubt, don’t open it.

Fake Invoices

How it works: The bad guys create a fake invoice or waybill and send it via email as an attachment. Once the consumer opens the email attachment there are a few variations -- the recipient may be asked to confirm or cancel an order, they may be told that the parcel service was unable to deliver a package due to having an incorrect address, or the recipient may receive a customs notification about an international package.

What to do: Never give your financial details over email to an unknown recipient or open a suspicious attachment. If you want to ensure you are reaching shipping sites like FedEx or UPS, open a browser and directly access the website.

You’ve Got A New Friend!

How it works: As the joy of the holiday season brings people together and reignites old friendships, many of us are excited when alerted with a message that says, “You’ve got a new friend!” when using popular social networking sites. Sadly, in some cases, after clicking on the notice, you NOT only do not have a new friend -- you have downloaded malicious software that you can’t even detect. Of course, it’s designed to steal personal and financial information.

What to do: Delete the email immediately. Stay away from “friends” you don’t know.

Dangerous Holiday-Related Search Terms

How it works: You get an email or see a pop-up window that says "Free Santa download” or "Free Santa holiday screensaver" but when click on it and download the proam, it's malware.

What to do: Don't trust these emails or pop-up windows. If you want to download holiday-themed PC extras, go to a legit site like Download.com, which houses files that contain no spyware.

Coffee Shop Cyber criminal

How it works: An attacker might set up a rogue wireless access point nearby a coffeehouse. If somebody unwittingly connects to the attacker’s network, the thief can watch just about everything that goes on while that connection is in use and can redirect traffic, sending the unknowing user to the dark alleys of the Internet.

What to do: Make sure you have a firewall install and stick with wireless networks you know and trust. Free is tempting, but could cost you a lot in the end.

Password Stealers

How it works: A North American holiday shopping survey found that 53 percent of consumers admit they use the same password for multiple websites or online services. If someone finds out (or guesses) one of your passwords, it could put your entire digital life at risk.

What to do: Be sure you use have an updated comprehensive security software suite to help prevent access to password-stealing malware -- this includes anti-virus, anti-spyware and a two-way firewall. And create complex passwords such as h@ppYh0lid@y$

Fraud Via Auction Sites

How it works: Shoppers on auction sites must be aware of scammers who will use the increased activity of the holiday season to prey upon new victims. Be sure to read the security and safety policies from such sites as eBay to learn how to protect your account and buy safely.

What to do: eBay’s Online Safety Advisor, Rich LaMagna, recommends to use your common sense (if an item looks too good to be true, it probably is), carefully review the seller’s ratings and feedback to be sure that he or she has a positive rating and pay with a safe payment method such as PayPal or your credit card.

Holiday-themed email attachments and spam

How it works: A recent holiday survey found that 49% of consumers have opened or would open an email with a holiday themed attachment. Consumers should beware of emails that prey upon their holiday spirit.

What to do: Be weary of friendly-looking emails from strangers that say something like “Happy 2009 to you!”, “Merry Christmas, friend!” and of course don’t open attachments or click links that take you to a website.

Online Identity Theft

How it works: McAfee says online shopping offers the 3 Cs: cost, convenience and choice -- but there’s one more we learned about from the recent McAfee Shopping Survey: Concern. For example, sites that store your personal information can be vulnerable to cybercriminals who hack in to steal your identity.

What to do: look for the mark of trusted security approvals, such as McAfee SECURE, which appears on more than 80,000 sites that pass daily testing for more than 10,000 known hacker vulnerabilities.

Laptop Theft

How it works: While you're out enjoying the festivities of the season, someone is looking to take home YOUR laptop as their gift.

What to do: Make sure to be particularly vigilant at this time of year and never leave your laptop in sight in your car. For further protection, be sure to purchase a product that safeguards important files – including photos, music and bank/credit card statements, in the event your laptop is stolen.

Why do people shoplift?

Shoplifting is one of the biggest issues faced by most the retailers.

A study found that the average shrinkage rate (stock loss from crime or waste expressed as a percentage of retail sales) for Canadian retail businesses is 3.80 per cent of sales.

First of all, What is shoplifting? Shoplifting is the act of stealing goods that are on display in a store.

But why do people shoplift? Is it a need, or is it greed or is it something entirely different that tempts approximately 23 million people to steal from retail stores each year. Except for the drug addicts and hardened professionals who steal for resale and profit as a business, most shoplifters are decent, otherwise law-abiding citizens. The vast majority of adult offenders have no idea about how or why they become a thief, or why they continue to shoplift, even after getting caught.

Losses in retail prove to be hazardous for retailers as it results in a pure loss to the organization. The people involved in this activity could vary from the actual thieves, to the organizers, decoys and unscrupulous sales personnel who get the merchandise back out to the market.

One of the studies threw some interesting facts about the nature of shoplifters and their interests across continents.
While Asia Pacific loves stealing alcohol the most like the Europeans, North Americans prefer stealing cosmetics and skincare products. Ladies apparel seems to be the preferred choice across the world as it is in almost equal demand among the shoplifters in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Malls are easy targets and a favorite destination for shoplifters.

The types of shoplifters:

People who steal from stores can be of any age, race, gender and social and economic background. Shoplifters generally fall into following categories:

1. Professional shoplifters: These people usually steal expensive items, like clothing, electronics and jewelry that they can resell easily.

2. Amateur shoplifters: They are the casual shoplifters who don't usually go into a store with the intention of stealing — they simply see the opportunity to take something and do.

3. Addicted shoplifters: They are also found to be addicted to certain things such as drugs, shopping, drinking, overeating, gambling, etc. They shoplift just to lose out their repressed negative emotions like anger or frustration. They generally indulge in this crime for others and have careless attitude towards themselves.

4. Needy shoplifters: There are certain people who steal because of the lack of resources with them. Their preference is generally for items of basic necessities like food, toiletries, diapers, etc.

5. Thrill seeking shoplifters: These shoplifters generally shoplift in groups. The age group of the shoplifters in this category is generally teenage. They steal to satisfy their urge of thrill and excitement, they get a sense of victory when they do so.

6. Absent minded shoplifters: Sometimes people don't do it deliberately, either they are in a hurry or due to effect of some medication they have memory loss whereby they forget to pay for the item.

A person might shoplift for any reason. But there's no way around the fact that shoplifting is stealing; and in most places there are heavy penalties for it, including being arrested and possibly charged with a crime. The following are some of the reasons that lure people to shoplift:

- Temptation: Many people have a desire to get something for nothing.
They don't want to pay money for it and so then indulge into shoplifting. If they are not caught, they don't get the feeling of guilt or moral fear.

- Justification: Some shoplifters feel that there is nothing wrong in shoplifting and give justifications to defend their act.

- Motivation: The primary motivation for shoplifters is that no body is watching them and their act will not produce any negative or harmful result. The

These are some of the reasons that lure people to shoplift as they feel that they are not hurting any body by indulging in such an act. But they fail to understand that shoplifting rarely affects the store as much as it affects the people who shop there.

What drives people to shoplift? Is it that they don’t have any money? Or are they trying to act cool or daring around their friends? Maybe they do have money, but they’re not in the mood to pay. Whatever the reason, shoplifters affect every and the consequences of shoplifting can be a burden on everyone.

The ripple effect of shoplifting

When people steal from stores, the stores may have to raise prices in order to make up for the lost merchandise. In turn, this affects everyone who patronizes the stores, causing them to pay more for the goods.

When a store notices that many of their shoplifters happen to be teens, they tend to become suspicious of every student that comes into their store. This can be very frustrating for those youth who are paying customers. In fact, it might actually discourage people from shopping there, causing them to spend their money elsewhere. This also results in less business for the store. Stores try to do everything they can to discourage people from trying to shoplift. Most stores have policies about backpacks and bags such as leaving them by the door or behind the counter, so people will be less tempted to put things in their bags. Those people that think shoplifting is acceptable and there are no repercussions, are wrong. Shoplifting is never okay; there are always consequences for peoples’ actions.

Businesses also use other methods to prevent shoplifting, such as cameras, security systems and special alarms that detect people leaving the store with stolen merchandise. Most stores have a zero tolerance policy against shoplifting. If the shoplifter happens to be a youth, a call to the criminal's parents is made, the RCMP becomes involved and the store might press charges. The shoplifter is usually banned from the store for up to a year. They could also end up in court, and, if convicted, a slap on the wrist probably won't be the only consequence.

Stores claimed an average a loss of $6,000 to $10,000 in merchandise due to shoplifters.
Most stores don’t raise prices to make up for losses due to shoplifting. Therefore, the money comes directly out of the stores' profit, making it hard for businesses to thrive in an already struggling economy. Some stores, already have a shoplifting factor built into the prices. Other stores, however, raise prices on everything in the store up to at least 10% to make up the profit lost by shoplifted goods.

Shoplifting not only affects youth criminals, but it also affects student shoppers. "I think it [shoplifting] gives teenagers a bad reputation", says Mike Pearson, grade 8. The majority of students interviewed feel they can comfortably shop in most stores in Port Hardy, but they also feel that they are treated differently than adults by store employees. Some of the students interviewed have been falsely accused of shoplifting; most of them while shopping in a large group. Stores tend to be more suspicious of people in large groups and teenagers are more likely than others to travel in groups when shopping. Many students feel that it reflects poorly on teenagers in general when people their age shoplift. Grade 11 student Sara Campbell comments, "I think it’s stupid for people to shoplift; they make prices go up. I have to spend my hard earned money, they should have to spend theirs". Students also don't have a very forgiving attitude to other students who shoplift and give teens a bad name. "If they get caught, it's their own fault," says Gregor Gamble, grade 10.

Students who shoplift may not realize that their poor choices affect store owners, employers, employees and teenagers in general. Shoplifters don't see that their new CD or shirt just cost the community more money. In the end, nothing good comes from shoplifting; all you end up with is something that will be cool for a couple of weeks and consequences that will last much longer.

But why do people shoplift??

most shoplifters who have developed a habit or addiction believe they should be punished according to the law when caught. What habitual offenders often resent, however, is when they are simply thrown into jail with many hardened career criminals and are never given any help or support to prevent them from repeating the offense.

Shoplifting among juveniles is remarkably similar to adult shoplifting in many ways. However, the primary issues which are related to shoplifting among youth revolve around family pressure, school pressure and peer pressure.

If you were to ask juveniles caught shoplifting, "Why did you do it"? The most frequent reply would be "I don't know". Like adults, the reasons teens shoplifted will vary, but most commonly it is because they wanted nice things, or felt pressuredby friends, or wanted to see if they could get away with it, or were angry, depressed, confused or bored. Sometimes they are just mad at the world and want to strike back.

While teens, like adults, usually know the difference between right and wrong, when their life becomes too stressful they become more vulnerable to temptation, peer pressure and other things that can lead them to shoplift. This is especially true when they feel unworthy, angry, depressed, unattractive or not accepted.

In summary, shoplifting for millions of our citizens, is simply another maladaptive way of coping with stressful life circumstances...ways similar to overeating, drinking, drugs or becoming withdrawn. It is not an issue of good vs. bad people, rich vs. poor people, young vs. old people, or education vs. illiteracy. At any time, or even many times in a persons life, the temptation to "get something for nothing" and reward oneself can easily be present. Although most people believe they could "never" do such a thing, if they do cross over the line, swift and effective action must be taken by both the retailer and the criminal justice system to help these people get back on track. While it is not appropriate for retailers or the criminal justice system to be sympathetic or forgiving after a shoplifting incident, what is appropriate is for retailers, prosecutors and judges to jointly support punitive sanctions along with community based educational rehabilitation programs.