Help…. And a Craigslist Warning to all.

[noinfo]

Ok, so I have been a PERB member for 5+ years, but keep a very low online profile. This is my first post ever…so figure how seriously I am taking this.

I’m hoping that there may be an IT expert out in PERBert land that may offer up an idea or two, but I suspect I am out of luck in any case.

So… this morning I respond to a craigslist add on a bit of a whim….looked good…but not much info. http://edmonton.en.craigslist.ca/ers/1360889113.html

Get a response and she (assuming it’s a she) adds me to MSN chat. One or two brief exchanges…. She wants prepayment via Interact because “too many guys not showing up or not bringing enough money”. Ok….I have been around for a while….don’t see this happening any time soon. Not giving banking info of any kind. Well “she” gets a little upset…. I sent you pictures and you are not going to book. She then says we have a problem here. “She” then proceeds to say “Well I am going to log you out now!” at which point my MSN Messenger closes! I’m like what the….! I try logging in again and it says that I am already logged in….nope not me. Try again and then it says password is not recognized!! This all happens in the order of 2 or 3 minutes. I’ve never even heard of this happening before or that it was even possible.

I happened to be chatting with another person at the same time who I knew quite well. Well this craigslist person has now hijacked the conversation with my other friend… I get a text message from my friend….they were immediately aware it was not me. But here is the person from craigslist conversing with my friend using my account telling my friend that I had better email them with some money or I am in deep SHIT! WTF! They obviously have access to all of my email and account information….they have changed my password and login information, etc. Telling my friend things I know that even my friend don’t know. Nothing super sensitive on the account, but could be rather embarrassing with some friends. I do have some information from other SP’s that I have contacted in the past…probably a few phone numbers and such. But what a piss-off.

Is there anything I can do? The craigslist person originally contacted me using email Jolene_peterson@live.com and is trying to blackmail me, for lack of a better term. So watch out guys. If anyone has any suggestions I’d appreciate a PM.

 

[lurker416]

That's unfortunate but did you actually execute a file which was sent to you by the "girl"?

NEVER run an executable file which come through via Messenger. Even if it's from your best friend, mother, etc.

In any event, it sounds like you installed a trojan horse onto your system. That "girl" will be able to see what you're viewing, see what you're typing, etc.

Disconnect your computer from the internet and disinfect it asap! You're obviously not running an anti-virus so install one right away and scan your system.

 

[xxxbrian]

Also, I have a seperate email for pooning. if this happened to me they can email as they wish i would not care ( as much ) as no friends / family emails are in my pooning email account. Sucks that it happened to you, but don't use an email that you email family and buddies for pooning. they probably changed your PW before they logged you out. i would think it might even not be a woman, could be a PC wiz kid trying to make a easy buck.

Crazy world out there. We just read about those 2 youngin's who jumped in BigBills car at the gas pump - now this.



I even have a different email for early dating ( meaning before meeting them ) Even we guys can meet weirdo women on dating sites.

 

[yobkadon]

Best prevention I personally use

I've found that the best protection against this kind of stuff is to use a Virtual Machine (VM). Software like Microsoft's VirtualPC and VMWare's WMWare Workstation fit the bill quite nicely. If I get a serious infection I just create a new VM. All I install are the OS + IM apps + a couple virus/adware type apps.

As for hijacking your IM account, the VM won't help there. Yahoo has had a long history of these types of attacks where other people can "close" your session. Never heard of anyone getting your password. Years ago when I seriously used Yahoo's IM, there was an addon you could buy that prevented these kind of attacks and other types too, don't remember the name. Make sure your IM is up to date with the patches they put out.

If you haven't updated your system in a while, there was a security hole a while back about JPG files, I believe in XP, that the image could contain a virus. I only mention this because you said she had sent you pictures. Those pictures could have been carrying a virus.

 

[FloridaGuy]

Just plead ignorance. Your friends will assume its spam or phishing or that someone stole your account details. Don't even mention escorts or massage parlours etc. Deny deny deny, but not too forcefully, and people will not only not think anything untowards about you, but they will double-check their own online security measures so they don't get their info stolen by some weirdo in God-knows-where, the way you did.