On an another security issue, I was very surprised today that my smart card had already registered on a trader's reader as I was taking it out of my wallet, maybe before. I was standing back from the reader too.

Craig, NEVER call the bank back, even by phone using a number in the email.
Look up their number in the phone book or in some previous correspondance.
They set up fake offices.
Also watch the email addresses, I had one that looked genuine from
Telstra, but on the bottom it had;

"Telstra trade mark of Bigpond Corporation"
Now it happened that I knew "Bigpond is a trade mark of Telstra
Corporation", not the other way around.

There is another one doing the rounds purporting to be from the
Australian Tax Office. I had an amount of $365 due to me and they
wanted my bank account details so they could send it.
The real funny bit here was that the email address was ATO@addidas.com

The banks have a lot of software watching transactions.
I had a telephone call asking if I had been in the UK.
They probably picked it up because I had made a credit card
transaction the previous day and would not have had time to get to the UK.

One transaction was for $6000 worth of jewelry, two plane tickets,
which they tried to cash in the next day and surprise surprise
paid their rates at Camdentown Burrough council !!

I asked the bank if they got caught but the bank could not/would not say.
I have never had trouble giving my credit card number over the phone
or in email. The bank carries the risk anyway. The card number is
everywhere you go so on its own it is no risk. Just make sure the pin
is never allowed out. Paypal is of course the way to go.

Hi there CRAIG MINNS...

Many thanks for relaying the details of an attempted fraud on your Westpac Card. It always good to hear the Bank's are on the ball (generally) when it comes to unlawful use of your Card.

Interestingly, I received an Email, from a bloke describing himself as the Honolulu Airport, Baggage Controller. He claimed I had a box that had been consigned to me; waiting for either my personal collection, or arrangements to be made to have the article retrieved on my behalf, by another acceptable means ?

Apparently it contained valuable material, as the insurance slip (attached thereto) was for the amount of $11,500 USD, coverage, in the event of loss or theft ?

This fellow, (benevolently) suggested to me, as it was obviously too costly and inconvenient to travel personally to Honolulu, he could arrange for an approved 'bailee' to take possession of the parcel on my behalf, and he could then send it on to Sydney, through the regular US(insured)Postal service ? A small fee of $77.56 USD needed to be paid, for both the Honolulu Airport, 'release from Bond' fee, and the normal USPS fee would need to be incurred ? A credit card would be accepted to make this payment ?

Well, it was a new one on me, and most elaborately conceived I must admit. I was not expecting anything from the US, so unless I had an unknown, but generous benefactor who was sending me the household silver, or something similar, I don't know ? I would love to entertain myself with people like this, but my computer skills are poor, and I'd probably give the game away the moment I acknowledged his original Email. Still...?

Then there are the phone calls that when answered there is no one there.
Wait a little and someone will come on and say.
"I am so & so from Microsoft and there is a problem with your computer"

Oh I say, what is the problem.
We have detected a fault. Can you press the windows key and the letter
R at the same time.
OK I say, done that.
What is on the screen they say, Nothing I say. I once got the
"supervisor" on after a lot of this!
Oh. try again and after about five minutes of this, I ask is it a
problem with my windows ? Yes they reply; Oh ok I will check.

I then go and make a cup of coffee, come back and say,
Well I have been all round the house and the windows are OK.

Sometimes this elucidates a string of abuse, other times they are
even dummer and don't pick up on what I have said, their english is
usually poor.
If I don't go on with that routine I let them think I am trying to
help them until I usually say, I have wasted enough of my time
wasting yours so get stliuygktfd !

Another way out is I say windows, that is rubbish, I use Linux. Ta Ta !

For the last three weeks I have been getting these calls usually
between 5pm & 6pm. In the background it sounds like a call centre.
I also hear my voice at a low level coming back with about a 2 second delay.

Anyway if you get these calls make up your own game with them.

Good onya Bazz. Man after me own heart. I luv 'em.

One bloke called with the usual, I'm from Microsoft, etc. He tells me I got a virus. I say, I've got bugs? No way I've sprayed with Mortein Surface Spray & all the bugs died. A virus he says Oh OK, I'll give it a squirt with Glen 20. That'll fix the viruses. Thanks for the warning.

There's another that tells you the Tax Department owes you $3/5/7297.32. I like this one. I tell them they offered the lady down the road more than $9000. Why can't I have $9000. They ask about Bank details & I make up some & a strange bank details. Then they ask me to call the Supervisor. I tell them, that because I haven't been able to pay my Bill I can only take incoming calls. Use another family members phone. No, we are all in the same boat. I tell them to post it as they have my address. They say they can't. They say they need to verify that it's me. That's when I get all excited & demand they send me the money so I can pay my phone bills. Send me my money! Send me my money. You said it's my money so send it! I want my money!

That's when the ba$ta#ds hang up. I'm still waiting for the money. I love door knockers too. Poor Ba$ta#ds.

Craig I've had several calls over the years from cities bank basically asking if I was overseas or if I had mad a particular purchase. But it's always god to be the ball.