Archive of Tricks & Places


John M Peckham III


Jack Peckham ( ) is the Executive Director of the Real Estate CyberSpace Society, based in Boston, MA.

TRICK#1: Stay On Top Of Hoaxes
TRICK#2: Police Auctions On-line
GREAT PLACE #1: Where The Real Estate Pros Shop
GREAT PLACE #2: Gone Phishing

TRICK#1: Stay On Top Of Hoaxes
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
"Microsoft wants to send you $800". "Federal Bill 602P 5-cents per E-mail sent --" You've seen a few of these -- or the many virus hoaxes.

Here's an authoritative site you can trust whenever you're not quite sure. These folks at Symantec uncover e-mail hoaxes on a regular basis and urge you to disregard and delete them as they contain bogus warnings designed to frighten or misleading recipients.

Simply refer to this resource whenever you are in doubt regarding a message about a new virus that will "wipe out your drive", or a promotion that sounds too good to be true.

TRICK#2: Police Auctions On-line
http://www.stealitback.com/
"Steal it back." That's what these folks offer -- a chance to "steal" back these stolen goods at bargain auction prices. They make arrangements with law enforcement agencies that have property rooms full of stolen or forfeited goods that, after due process, must be disposed of properly and swiftly.

This is an intriguing site with everything from motorcycles to diamond jewelry offered at opening bids starting as low as $1. Certainly worth a quick visit --even for the entertainment value.

Consumers and investors can also poke their heads in to see what's up in the real estate world. The Exposition will feature over 300 Booths with the latest and greatest real estate tools and technology. In addition over 30 national speakers will share their tips and tricks. Easy to visit -- No travel! No hotel bills! No time away from home -and no aching feet. Just the biggest real estate convention in the world -- and there is no cost. Your pass is at: http://www.REcyber.com/preconvention/

GREAT PLACE #2: Gone Phishing
http://www.antiphishing.org/
Unless you've been living a cave you have received notices urging you to update your account information -- even if you don't have an account with the senders -- most of whom are well know companies like Wells Fargo, AOL or eBay. This important place is an authoritative resource containing a depth of information on these dangerous ruses known as "Phishing".

The Department of Justice defines "Phishing" as "a general term for criminals' creation and use of e-mails and web sites - designed to look like e-mails and web sites of well known legitimate businesses, financial institutions, and government agencies - in order to deceive Internet users into disclosing their bank and financial account information or other personal data such as user names and passwords. The "Phishers" then take that information and use it for criminal purposes, such as identity theft and fraud."

Here you can see alerts regarding new Phishing attacks detected plus a ton of additional information regarding the nefarious activities of the Phishers.

Real Estate CyberTips are provided with compliments of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society.