An Important Decision re: ING Discussions (UPDATED 1-20-06)

[BethR]

When asking the WMs about allowing DISsers to put "ING Member" into our signatures, it prompted a discussion by our Tech People about the safety of referral links.

Here is a quote by WebmasterCricket:

Public widely used sites (like ING) are prime targets for things like this from offshore scumbags to attack. What they can do is duplicate parts of the ING site like the sign up pages and account information screens under a very similar domain name. Then they start to prey on unsuspecting people like our budget board crowd looking to get into something they believe to be innocent. A new user could be asking what they believe to be another new user for a referral and it can look nearly identical to a real referral email but it's entirely fake. Once you have given the fake ING your bank info, the next ACH transaction day BAM, no money. It's a federal crime, but in most cases, it's too late and the funds are harder to recover than they are worth.

It's a fairly rare case that this happens, but IT DOES HAPPEN

Ebay account scams are the more popular ones right now because they don't involve a bank, but the scumbags are getting smarter and better at doing it so watch out.

NEVER USE LINKS IN EMAILS WHEN MONEY IS INVOLVED. NEVER EVER EVER PERIOD! Always go to the relavant site and navigate through your account to get where you need to go.

So please be very cautious if you are ever sent a referral e-mail from someone that you do not know personally.

Also, like any other referral program, it is against DIS Guidelines for Posting to solicit others to use you as a referral or to ask others to send you a referral.

Thank You.