Phishing alert: Recognizing the latest scam involving AlertPay's name
Posted On: 08 Apr 2011 02:54 PM

Details

Keep reading to learn about the latest scam on Facebook involving AlertPay's name, and how to protect yourself.

Some of you may have heard about a scam taking place through Facebook regarding our payment platform's name. Someone out there has been posting messages on people's Facebook walls telling them about AlertPay's "Own0" contest. The message directs readers to a website that looks just like our login page, but it actually IS NOT in any way affiliated with the real AlertPay.com.

How can you tell if it is not indeed our own website? Well, it's actually quite simple. Our URL is "AlertPay.com", not "AlertPay.own0.com". So if you come across a URL that reads like the latter, DO NOT enter your login credentials as this will compromise your security and the confidentiality of your personal information. Here is what it looks like on Facebook:



It's really quite a clever scam in that the con artist is actually referring to the contest as "Own0" -- the extension at the end of the fake AlertPay URL (what appears after "alertpay"). This subtle move is just enough to convince people that the URL is legitimate when, again, it is NOT.

It's also important to note that the alleged "AlertPay Facebook assistant's" post is not well-written. Although we are far from the best writers in the world (there can only be one Hemingway), but we do pay much attention to spelling, format and grammar.

How it works

If you click on this link, it will whisk you away to a FAKE AlertPay login page and you will be prompted to enter your login credentials. It will appear that the page is reloading and will actually redirect you back to the original login page. Why the reloading? Probably to confuse you. After entering your credentials and clicking on the login button, the scammer is actually recording the information you entered into the "Email" and "Password" fields. Once they capture those details, they can come straight to our website and gain access to your account to do what they please. You do not want this, so do not click on the link. If it does not say "AlertPay.com" or "AlertPay.com/[name of one of our sub-pages], avoid clicking on it at all costs.

Furthermore, our Security team is highly skilled in the art of busting people like this, but this is no excuse to be complacent. Your knowledge of these things is ultimately your responsibility so please do a little homework on the types of scams that can (and do) take place regularly in the online world.

We are not trying to scare you all, but we believe we need to be blunt and just a little frightening to communicate the gravity of these types of scams.

For more information on phishing and how to safeguard yourself against malicious individuals concerned only with personal gain, please visit our Security page.

Thanks for reading and take care! 

AlertPay is proud to announce the launch of our newly re-designed and re-vamped Developers’ Community, which includes many new and exciting features and tools for Developers and Integrators.
The Developers' Community includes brand new documentation for the following APIs:

• Send Money
• MassPay
• Refund
• SubscriptionCancellation
• GetBalance

The community also includes SDKs, guides and how-to guides to our existing features and tools. Go on, take a look!

Popular Knowledgebase Articles  Q: How can I withdraw funds from my AlertPay account?  Q: How do I send money using a credit card?  Q: Is verification necessary to add, withdraw or transfer funds?  Q: What is a Transaction PIN?  Q: What are the withdrawal fees?  Q: What's the difference between a deposit by bank wire and a deposit by bank transfer?  Q: I forgot my Transaction PIN, what do I do?  Q: It is over 5 business days since I created my bank deposit (outside North America). Why don’t I see my money in my AlertPay account?  Q: What is a deposit by bank wire? Latest Knowledgebase Articles Date Added  Q: What Is My IPN Security Code (not for IPN V2.0) 01 Apr 2011 10:40 AM  Q: What identification do I need to provide? 15 Mar 2011 09:52 AM  Q: How do I order my AlertPay PrePaid Card? 15 Mar 2011 09:51 AM  Q: How does my AlertPay PrePaid Card work? 15 Mar 2011 09:50 AM  Q: When will I receive my AlertPay PrePaid Card? 15 Mar 2011 09:48 AM  Q: Can I use my AlertPay PrePaid Card in a store? 15 Mar 2011 09:39 AM  Q: How do I know when I'm verified? 29 Nov 2010 11:53 AM  Q: Will I have to pay the bank wire fee for verification (outside North America)? 29 Nov 2010 11:46 AM  Q: Where is the code on my check (outside North America) 29 Nov 2010 11:44 AM  Q: What is check withdrawal verification (outside North America)? 29 Nov 2010 11:43 AM

https://www.alertpay.com/?Y5uyIVMYKzuHo%2bTgcUmGng%3d%3d

How It Works - Overview

Making and receiving online payments couldn’t be easier! There are only three simple steps:

Step 1: Sender makes a payment

Click on a payment button or the “Send Money” feature. Pay by e-wallet, which can be funded by bank account or check (no personal checks or cash), or pay by credit card.

Step 2: Payment is processed

AlertPay processes the payment in real-time, transferring the money to the receiver’s account. A confirmation email is sent to both parties.

Step 3: Receiver gets paid

The money is instantly available in the receiver’s AlertPay account, which can be withdrawn by bank account, credit/debit card or check.

About AlertPay

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

In 2004, brothers Firoz and Ferhan Patel founded AlertPay with only six employees in Montreal, Quebec. 7 years later, AlertPay now employs over 100 talented and dedicated staff members from various professional and academic backgrounds, and is becoming an industry leader in secure and easy online payments.
We support over six million members in 190+ countries, and offer 22 currencies and localized banking in 46 countries. We also offer e-wallet withdrawals to credit cards and the AlertPay PrePaid Card which can be used for online or in-store spending where Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
AlertPay is also the proud recipient of benefice.net's Tech Company of the Year award for 2010!
AlertPay strictly complies with the regulations of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). In addition, Ceptum AB, with the trade name of "AlertPay.com", is registered as a Financial Institution with the Financial Services Authority of Sweden (FSA).