Beware of Phishing Emails

First let us understand the meaning of "Phishing" or "Phish".
Phishing means stealing passwords and personal information on the Internet.
"To Phish" is to set up a phony URL (Web Site) or to imitate or to impersonate one original site which people sign in to by giving their passwords or credit card details.

Phishing emails are fake emails, presumably from your friends, indicating a financial problem and requires help or giving you instructions as to how to pass the money (or send the money) over.

To give you one possible example, let's say your computer and/or your friends' computers are infected with "malware". They have "fish" out your "contact list" or address book and even know some of the email passwords. Now what the scammer will do is first to "create" one NEW email account, very similar or close to your best friends (whom they think are most likely have financial trouble).  Don't forget this scammer can read and monitor all your networking emails.

What the scammer has done is setting up an email account, very similar to one of your friends, say, your friend's email address is "geokcheng396", the scammer will create one as "geokcheing396" and with the same service provider. If not careful, when you respond, you will fall into his trap, as like all of us, we usually click "REPLY" to reply the email of our friends without even checking who we are talking to.

How to reduce the risk of getting into trouble when using the Internet to network?

1) When you receive a Phishing Email involving one of your friends, pick up your phone and contact her. Is it true you sent out this email.
2) For sensitive emails relating to confidential information or financial matters, do check who you are "replying" or talking to. Do not just click the "Reply" button. Also, do check carefully the email address. It may not be your friend's.
3) When transmitting money, don't just believe what is said in the email instructions - even though they may be from the right person. Pick up the phone to "re-confirm" the instructions given.
4) Evaluate the minimum risk involved in transmitting money through the bank. You have the bank TT and the Bank Draft. Doing it yourself through your own computer, online, may not be the best option available.
5) For you and/or your friends, try not to use those free and public email accounts to discuss and give instructions on confidential and financial matters. Use PacNet, SingNet, StarHub and the like for better traceability in event of a problem.

Photography Field Trip - Chinatown

Houses built around the 40's are normally walk-up units
(Click picture to view movie)

Some Photo Tips:

·        Try to take candid pictures without Flash.

·        Try not to take pictures with the camera facing the sun. You will not get good pictures. But if you have to, in particular taking a portrait, then turn on the flash for the face.

·        Place your main subject with the one-third rule.

·        For those having trouble holding the camera steady or if you want a sharper image, try setting the digital camera program to “Sport” mode.

·        Set the image quality to high. That is, the image should have an image size of near to or more than 1MB (resolution). As a guide, if you want to reproduce any picture to paper print (post card size), it should at least have an image size of 300K bytes.

·       Pictures tell a thousand words.  So, how do the professionals do it? View their works and learn from them. Pictures form a very important part in communicating with us. Every one of us sees and interprets a picture differently.  A picture/photo is like the music and the art. It has depth, space and evokes our feelings besides bringing the facts in front of our eyes.

Making a few colour prints from your digital camera

Nowadays, making a 3R (89x127) mm or 4R (102x152) mm colour paper prints can be done instantly and automatically by most computer printers in Photo Shops. For larger sizes, e.g. 5R and above, because is not in demand, is normally done manually by photo shop’s assistant.

Irrespective of the number of prints required, photo shops in HDB highlands or shopping complex only charges $0.50 per copy for 3R/4R instantly printed photos. No other ancillary charges are involved. However, some shops do require a minimum of 4 copies for the $0.50 rate. If less than 4 copies, a higher rate at $0.70 per copy may be applicable. Likewise, for more prints, a better rate (<$0.50 per print) can be negotiated.

But if you go to any photo shops in tourist areas, e.g. Orchard Road, these shops may set additional conditions to charge you more. For example, they may charge you additional $3.00 for less than 30 copies printed (they called this the “Base Price”) or $0.60 a copy if you request for “instant” service. Anyway, any picture on 3R/4R is printed automatically and instantly by the computer printer, provided by the photo paper supplier. So what is the justification to charge 10 cents more if you request it to be done instantly.

So, it is still best to get your service done in HDB highlands or shopping complex and avoid those photo shops in tourist areas.