Using my rights of freedom of speech on a Google controlled forum to complain about Google seems rather churlish - after all most of the time Google provide a good service that is very convenient since I use Android and a chrome book as well as Google mail, Google chrome, maps, translate, wallet and a whole bunch of other services including blogger.
Let me tell you the tale - last week I had an e-mail purporting to be from Google wallet saying that changes to European laws on banking I need to click on this link.
Now - elementary internet security advice from anti virus people, security advisors, banks etc is that if you get an e-mail NEVER, EVER CLICK ON THE LINK - And this still stands as sound advice.
Should you get an e-mail from any institution saying your account is about to be suspended the advice is go to the website and log on as you usually would, this should have the information and if you can find nothing it is a fake e-mail.
Clicking on the link - remember the e-mail address can be faked quite easily, will take you to a website that will in all probability look like the website of the institution you are familiar with. You enter your details onto the site and all of a sudden bad people have your details and will empty your bank account and steal your identity.
I followed the sage advice above, checked my Google account and wallet and all the settings I could find and nothing appeared to be amiss.
Next thing I cannot buy anything on Google play my payments are declined - no reason is given and no clue on the website that the account has been suspended. I found out what had happened when I PHONED Google and spoke to somebody.
For some reason Google needed me to prove my identity to buy a £0.69 app. Presumably I might have been laundering money?
I have asked Google privately what is the European Banking legislation and how does it apply to me? - Guess what - no response
I asked Google privately what they would use my proofs of Identity I was forced to send them, for and where they would be stored?
Guess what - no response
NOW LISTEN GOOGLE - PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.
Also - FOR GOODNESS SAKE GOOGLE WHAT MADE YOU THINK THAT GOOGLE ARE IMMUNE FROM PHISHING? Clicking a link in an e-mail that is unsolicited and unexpected, threatening to suspend my account is usually an invitation to identity threat.
Just for once the e-mail was correct, and the ONLY way was to follow the link, but for heavens sake - why not use the web account page to give this message - after all my bank does that,
Let me tell you the tale - last week I had an e-mail purporting to be from Google wallet saying that changes to European laws on banking I need to click on this link.
Now - elementary internet security advice from anti virus people, security advisors, banks etc is that if you get an e-mail NEVER, EVER CLICK ON THE LINK - And this still stands as sound advice.
Should you get an e-mail from any institution saying your account is about to be suspended the advice is go to the website and log on as you usually would, this should have the information and if you can find nothing it is a fake e-mail.
Clicking on the link - remember the e-mail address can be faked quite easily, will take you to a website that will in all probability look like the website of the institution you are familiar with. You enter your details onto the site and all of a sudden bad people have your details and will empty your bank account and steal your identity.
I followed the sage advice above, checked my Google account and wallet and all the settings I could find and nothing appeared to be amiss.
Next thing I cannot buy anything on Google play my payments are declined - no reason is given and no clue on the website that the account has been suspended. I found out what had happened when I PHONED Google and spoke to somebody.
For some reason Google needed me to prove my identity to buy a £0.69 app. Presumably I might have been laundering money?
I have asked Google privately what is the European Banking legislation and how does it apply to me? - Guess what - no response
I asked Google privately what they would use my proofs of Identity I was forced to send them, for and where they would be stored?
Guess what - no response
NOW LISTEN GOOGLE - PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.
Also - FOR GOODNESS SAKE GOOGLE WHAT MADE YOU THINK THAT GOOGLE ARE IMMUNE FROM PHISHING? Clicking a link in an e-mail that is unsolicited and unexpected, threatening to suspend my account is usually an invitation to identity threat.
Just for once the e-mail was correct, and the ONLY way was to follow the link, but for heavens sake - why not use the web account page to give this message - after all my bank does that,
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