RECENT DOWNTIME

[FW Admin]

For the past two weeks, we have been at the receiving end of a concerted, very heavy DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack that was originated out of the Russian/Eastern European country block.

Unfortunately our previous hosters were not particularly efficient in dealing with the problems, which is why we have now moved to an exclusive dedicated server that houses our site.

We apologize for the downtime, but it seems that we have created enough problems for the criminals on the internet that they have found it necessary to resort to internet terrorism to try and silence us.

We are back and we are running, and we appreciate all of your input, efforts and endeavours to stop this criminal cancer from becoming an accepted facet of our ever changing world.

We shall continue to monitor the attacks, and try to deal with them as best we can; if the site is unavailable or seemingly slow to you, please bear in mind that this will be yet another attempt at closing us down. We will do whatever we can to resolve the situation and maintain our presence on the internet for you all.

The attacks are using what are called "zombie" networks, or "botnets". This involves the process of using computers that have been "hijacked" by placing trojans or worms on them by means of opening or downloading files/attachments sent via email, or visiting a website that downloads malicious script code onto the person's computer. These are then used by the criminals to send out data packets to pre-arranged IP numbers without the knowledge of the owner.

It is strongly suggested that everyone who has a computer that connects to the internet, seek professional IT consultancy to ensure that they are fully protected with a properly configured firewall, and up to date dynamic anti-virus protection on their operating systems.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and resolve.

[brrrrrr]

Perhaps you've noticed, the same happened to aa419.org, scamfraudalert.com and scam.com (maybe more?). They are still completely down, you apparently still have some problems too.

I know that this year scam.com has been attacked a lot by (I think) the same outfit, and they even have been threatened with legal action by the assigners of the attackers.

If you ever get such threats (very possibly by William Stanley (Klagenfurt, Austria), Robert Russo (Portland Maine US) or Alex Finch (Orlando Florida US)), please be advised to publish them openly, consequently wipe your *** with them and bring in the Feds.

Good luck keeping up this great site.

[antiphishing7]

For the past two weeks, we have been at the receiving end of a concerted, very heavy DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack that was originated out of the Russian/Eastern European country block.

[Damn those botnets ]

Unfortunately our previous hosters were not particularly efficient in dealing with the problems, which is why we have now moved to an exclusive dedicated server that houses our site.

[Good choice in Dedicated hosting,but the Name Server for your domain name is a little confusing ]

We apologize for the downtime, but it seems that we have created enough problems for the criminals on the internet that they have found it necessary to resort to internet terrorism to try and silence us.

[You call it 'internet terrorism', I call it Hacktivisim ]

We are back and we are running, and we appreciate all of your input, efforts and endeavours to stop this criminal cancer from becoming an accepted facet of our ever changing world.

[ In my humble opinion , I think that I need to hammer the ISP's in West Africa even harder to get my point across that that the criminal element that perpetrate 419 on the internet will not be tolerated ,now or in the future]

We shall continue to monitor the attacks, and try to deal with them as best we can; if the site is unavailable or seemingly slow to you, please bear in mind that this will be yet another attempt at closing us down. We will do whatever we can to resolve the situation and maintain our presence on the internet for you all.

[ The Whole Worlds Watching, The Whole Worlds Watching ]


The attacks are using what are called "zombie" networks, or "botnets". This involves the process of using computers that have been "hijacked" by placing trojans or worms on them by means of opening or downloading files/attachments sent via email, or visiting a website that downloads malicious script code onto the person's computer. These are then used by the criminals to send out data packets to pre-arranged IP numbers without the knowledge of the owner.

[Don't open up email attachments, phony greeting cards, or click on links
that are in junk email ]

It is strongly suggested that everyone who has a computer that connects to the internet, seek professional IT consultancy to ensure that they are fully protected with a properly configured firewall, and up to date dynamic anti-virus protection on their operating systems.

[Use Linux and Mozilla Firefox, update Microsoft updates if you use Windows OS,use spy-ware, Trojan , malware , rootkits software protection. Never surf the internet using the Administrator/ root account in Windows. Don't use Java and Active /X controls. Close all open ports in Windows, Scan your computer for open ports on a regular basis, never click on spam links or put them in the browser to access them. Banks never send you emails about your account(s), don't open phishing scam links]

[Rob]

sterling job fw admin, good to see that we're back again. Let's hope it stays this way.

[FW Admin]

Thanks Rob - me too I've been spending most of last night (to 6am) and from around 10am today checking the site and blocking the zombies that have been coming through. I've sent a number of abuse emails to the ISPs of many of those IP numbers from the US responsible for the attacks.

brrrrrr - indeed, it's very sad that the means adopted by these criminals should take those fine scam-fighting sites down, but the upturn is that obviously someone is hurting badly enough to want to spend the time and effort organizing such a cowardly attack. I sincerely hope that they too will be back online very quickly.

antiphishing: the server belongs to the tech guy who does the oily rag stuff

[jamal]

fw team you guys are doin a great job- so happy to see site back online.

It is strongly suggested that everyone who has a computer that connects to the internet, seek professional IT consultancy to ensure that they are fully protected with a properly configured firewall, and up to date dynamic anti-virus protection on their operating systems.

Im thinking whether this is the reason my pc is slowing down/ having trouble /taking ages to load site pages e.t.c

P.S the scam war is the real 'war' govts should be fighting<-sorry if thats a bit too political comment..please delete mods admin if its not allowed.

[Oriana]

'Great to see FW is back with a vengeance and quicker then the others taken down as Brrrrrr mentioned.

Astounding work!

[ThatGrrl]

Brilliant, Admin! It's great to see that we're back up and running (and hitting the lads where it hurts once again)

[Curious Nelly]

Thanks for all the hard work and sleepless hours. All of your efforts to get the site back up are really appreciated!