If your computer is infected with a certain kind of malware, it may not be able to connect to the Internet as of July 9, 2012.

 

A sophisticated Internet fraud began in 2007. Rove Digital, a group of foreign nationals mostly from Estonia, hijacked computers and re-routed Internet traffic to certain websites or ads, allowing the group to be paid, according to the FBI.

Don’t forget! Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13, and whether you’re giving flowers, jewelry, or other gifts, be sure to make smart shopping decisions.

Celebrate Older Americans Month by talking to your friends and family about sweepstakes scams and grandparent scams.

 

Sweepstakes scams continue to target older adults, and in 2011, Ohioans reported losing about $2 million to sweepstakes and prize scams.

 

As older Ohioans seek to supplement their incomes or find work to end long-term unemployment, scam artists increasingly are targeting them with offers of online business opportunities or other work-at-home jobs.

You park your car in front of the restaurant where you and your friend are meeting for lunch, but you decide to run next door to pick up a card for another friend’s birthday. Then you go back to the restaurant for lunch, but your car is gone.

 

April is Financial Literacy Month, and many Ohioans may be seeking additional ways to make money. Phone calls or e-mails saying you’ve been selected to receive a grant may sound promising, but if the grant offer requires an upfront payment sent to another country, it’s almost always a scam.

In February 2012, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, in conjunction with the federal government and 49 state attorneys general, announced a $25 billion federal-state agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers — Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorganChase, and Wells Fargo.