Do scammers hack into computers for other information?

[andfox]

I just got scammed-- I should have known better-- by escrow-ltd.com The guy's email address is basketes44@cs.com. I sent him a package worth $2,000 to Spain. I just got an email from customer@escrow-ltd.com asking for my banking information so that they can release the funds. Obviously, this guy is going for blood. What I am wondering is can he, or his group, hack into my computer and steal my information? I've got all kinds of personal information stored on here and don't know what my next step in protecting myself should be. Any advice?

[peg]

What I am wondering is can he, or his group, hack into my computer and steal my information? I've got all kinds of personal information stored on here and don't know what my next step in protecting myself should be. Any advice?

This is a loaded question. Depending on the ability of the scammer and the security of your computer, the answer is a resounding MAYBE.

First thing I would suggest would be to "Check" your system. You can do this by going to http://www.grc.com/default.htm . From there, scroll down to the "Hot Spots" section and then click on the "Shields UP!" link.

This will take you to a spot that you can test your system. It will probe your system and check the ports. Just follow the directions and click Proceed on that page. Ultimately it will give you some results about how secure your system is. Don't be alarmed if your system FAILS (Even if you accept a PING request, they consider that a fail). It's important to see WHY you failed. If you failed for a PING that's not bad. If you failed because port 139 is open (That will allow access to your local drive).. Then that is VERY bad.

Other things you can do is to make sure you have a password on EVERY account on your system. Make sure the password is NOT the same as the account name. (i.e. Logon: Administrator Password: Administrator) No blank passwords, and no password of PASSWORD. I know these seem obvioius but it's amazing how often it happens.

Finally (if you want), I have (currently) a tool here where I work that can do a much more IN DEPTH scan of your system. If you would like you can PM me and we can coordinate a time that I could run it on your system. Last time I ran it on my server... it took over 40 minutse to run.

I hope this helps.

[JaxHot]

If you registered for the site using a common password then you need to change ALL your passwords and secret questions BEFORE the scammers access your accounts.
The scammers running that particular site are Romanian.
The site is hosted in China.

[Eric Brewster]

Eric Brewster:
It is a big, "Yessssssssssssss!" that hacker Scamartists hack into the internet, onto anywhere and use whatever programs they can to find YOU and learn as much as they can about FOOLISH YOU. It can be anything about you, that gets out on the internet that the scammers see!

They will respond to it, get lists with your name and your internet email address on it, it is as much as they are imaginative about what they can do with a computer and typing skills at hand to attempt to successfully DEFRAUD YOU for every penny that they can squeeze out of you and your resources.

Hummmmm it depends on what software that the hacker scammer has bought and how much programming goes into it, does it create specific worm viruses that he or she can send that will go to your email addresses and hack into the programs there and then infiltrate your email information to your users's password, user name etc........of course it costs money for the internet scammer to buy this stuff and to know how to use it properly.

andfox, never never give out any user info nor banking info unless your sure whom this person is that is emailing you, you can do searches as I had too very reciently.