BEWARE: Unionbank EON Ebanking Phishing Scam

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Mhel Ignacio | 0 Comments

This has been going on for a long time, but looks like the scammers are not quitting anytime soon. And I’m afraid to say that it’s because people are still falling for this old trick – Unionbank EON EBanking Phishing scam.

How Does the Unionbank EON Scam Work?

First off, you’d think that the scammers need to know the email address you used to register your Unionbank EON account online. But, the truth is, though they can get it from you in many ways, they don’t necessarily have to use your email to scam you into giving them your account information. All they need to to is make you believe that the email they used was your EON email and that you are using the actual Unionbank EON website.

There were rumors that a certain third-party advertising network was hacked and the email addresses of their members were used to send a phishing email like the one pictured below. That’s why, again, like what I said in my tips on keeping bank accounts safe online, use a separate email address for online banking.

Before I continue on explaining, here’s a quote from the Unionbank EON Ebanking phishing email I received. You can see a screenshot by clicking here.

Note: I removed the link for your protection.

Dear Michelle (your full name here, with middle initial)

Due to concerns for the safety and integrity of the Union Bank account we have issued this warning message.

It has come to our attention that your Union Bank account information needs to be updated as part of our continuing commitment to protect your account and to reduce the instance of fraud on our website. If you could please take 5-10 minutes out of your online experience and update your personal records you will not run into any future problems with the online service.

Once you have updated your account records your Union Bank account service will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.

To update your Union Bank records click on the following link:
FAKE UNIONBANK EON E-BANKING LINK HERE

Our communication channels are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Thank you for banking with us!

From the Union Bank of Philippines
DISCLAIMER : This message (and any attachment hereto) may contain privileged and/or confidential information and is meant solely for the perusal and use of the intended recipient. If you are not the addressee of this message, you may not copy, disclose, distribute or disseminate this message (and any attachment hereto) to anyone. Instead, please destroy this message (and any attachment hereto), delete the same from your computer, and notify the sender by reply e-mail.
Unauthorized access, reproduction, disclosure and circulation of this e-mail and/or any of its attachments or any information contained therein by any unauthorized persons is strictly prohibited and is punishable under R.A. No. 8792, otherwise known as E-Commerce Act, and other related laws.

If you’ve checked the screenshot of the email, you’d see that the link is set to the WRONG Unionbank EON website. The real Unionbank website is www.unionbankph.com, NOT .com.ph like what it’s indicated in the email:

The phishing email links to a fake Unionbank EON eBanking website

On Online Contests : Part 1: Top Prizes I’ve Won So Far

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Mhel Ignacio | 10 Comments

In my last post back in April (oh my, it’s been that long?! ) about making money online through online contests, I have laid out some facts, reminders and tips about participating in these promos. I also shared my success stories and some outtakes while joining some of the contests over the web. So, if you haven’t read that post yet, click here. I bet I can convince you that joining online contests is fun. Think of all the free stuff you’d get!

Now, if my post about how you can make money online from joining online giveaways didn’t influence you enough, I’m hoping that with my next posts about this topic, I’d be able to encourage you to jump in and participate too. I’d be telling you about my experiences in joining contests, including the frustrations of not winning or being cheated in the hopes that you’d be better educated when you do join contests.

By the way, before I start, do you know that there’s now a term to refer to online giveaway joiners?

Professional Contest Joiners

I can’t really consider myself as a professional contest joiner. This title is usually given to those who have a dedicated blog, Facebook, Twitter or email account for participating in online giveaways and really spend most of their time (and, sometimes, even money) and wide network to enter.

Some giveaway hosts though frown upon the practices of these professional contest joiners that’s why they have strict qualifications for the participants. They’re also usually the ones who have multiple, fake or spam Facebook or Twitter accounts.

I’m not a hater. I know how fun it is to win something so I understand why they do what they do. There are many giveaway hosts who do not allow them to join in their giveaways so they can ensure they provide quality exposure to their sponsors.

Online Contests Post Series

This will be a series of posts so I hope you stay tuned for the next parts:

Part 1 – This will focus on my most expensive prizes SO FAR. This will be updated from time-to-time. Read my stories about my experiences as well as I share tips on how you can increase your chances of winning.
Part 2 – Prizes that are priced Php 500 or lower and some that I didn’t bother or haven’t claimed or received yet. Will be updated too whenever I win something new.
Part 3 – Stories from my fellow online giveaway / contest joiners.
Part 4 – Hosting your own giveaway / contest where I’ll give tips on how to gather sponsors (especially when you’re just starting), and everything else you might need to know about holding contests, all based on my experience and some inputs from friends.

Without further ado, let’s start with my major winnings…

Part 1 – My Top Prizes

These prizes may range from gadgets to gift certificates from different online contests I’ve joined.

Nokia 5230 – DJ Mo Twister’s Twitter Giveaway

Me and a friend were avid blog and Twitter followers of DJ Mo Twister of Magic 89.9. When we saw him hosting a giveaway, I jumped right in. It was a daily giveaway for a month, I think.

After a couple of disappointments, I thought that possibly, if I blog about him and his giveaway, I’d get his attention. So, I did that and informed him through Twitter, not really expecting he’d notice ‘cause of the hundreds of participants.

Guess what… I won! Eerrr… okay, it might just be coincidence and I was actually picked at random, but still, I was ecstatic. Well, it was mainly because my old phone just gave up on me and it was the PERFECT timing that I won this new phone.

TIP: Yes, a little brown-nosing may help you win SOME contests / giveaways. Remember that whenever you write or prepare your contest entry.

Make Money by Joining Online Contests / Giveaways

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Mhel Ignacio | 11 Comments

It’s been ages (read: over a month) since I last updated this blog. My apologies, I’ve just been really busy. Anyway, I’ve got topics already lined up so I promise to keep this more updated, especially after I’ve met a couple of people who have told me they’re actually following this blog. What a surprise!

Back in 2009, I’ve been seeing a lot of contests / giveaways online. At first, I ignored them. I’m a li’l paranoid when it comes to online security, you see, so I thought they were a bunch of scams.

If you’re still a non-believer like I was back then, YOU MUST READ ON! I’m starting to sound like one of those ads you’d see at PTC sites.

When did I start getting addicted to joining online contests/promos? Late in 2009, one of the blogs I follow, Yugatech, hosted a Christmas giveaway. I joined and won Php 500 worth of prepaid load.

The realization that winning that prize actually saved me money from buying load made me want to join more online contests. And that’s when I started scouring the web for local and international giveaways that I can join to win gadgets, Paypal cash, etc.

Whoever said that getting anything for FREE isn’t awesome is just crazy. I know a lot of people who are rich and hold high-paying jobs who still love joining contests. Participating in online contests can be a lot of fun and getting freebies is just as exciting.

Making Money Online Through Online Contests

There are tons of online contests where you can win straight cash prizes AND gadgets or items that you can sell or keep for your own use.

Would you believe that ever since I started joining online contests in December 2009, I’ve already won over Php 50,000 worth of prizes?! I might have even won more, but I already lost count. I will share with you all the prizes I’ve won so far in my next post. Keep posted for that!

Now, how exactly can you make money online by joining these online contests? Let me explain that part better through sharing my experiences…

I’ve hosted 2 blog contests already on Just Another Pixel – Make a Wish and Thirty on 30. In both contests, Paypal cash was a major part of the prizes for the winners.

Most contest hosts have also recognized how much Paypal cash as prizes can draw in more participants so expect to see more Paypal cash giveaways/contests.
I’ve won two (2) Nokia 5230 cellphones last year. The first one, I won in DJ Mo Twister’s Twitter giveaway. I’ve been using it for months when I won another of the same model from an international contest, by F-Secure. We decided to sell that phone for Php 10,000. Minus the Php 2,000 I paid customs for the shipping of that phone, I got a profit of Php 8,000. So, it’s like I won that amount from that international contest.

You can choose to sell or use the prizes you’ve won. That’s one way of making money through it.
I’ve always wanted an iPad so when I saw Sulit’s blog contest with that as grand prize, I decided to join. I won. Yes, I got my iPad for FREE. It’s like I won Php 20,000+ cash to buy me that iPad. Cool, huh? One of my friends even won a brand new Mac computer in Sulit’s Christmas card-making contest (shout out to sis Grace!).
Winning gift certificates from my favorite restaurants saves me money. Just like when I won Php 1,500 worth of gift certificates from Pizza Hut. My long-time friends and I have been planning on a get-together. We got to enjoy free pizza and just paid for our booze instead.

That’s just a few of the perks of joining online contests. Did I say it’s a lot of fun, especially when you start winning?!

About Contest Alerts Blogs and How Pinay Reviewer Started

In June 2010, I finally decided to start my own contest alerts blog – Pinay Reviewer. It was initially just a review blog, but I decided to transform it to my own contest alerts blog.

Pinay Reviewer was inspired by these blogs that I still follow. They are the other contest alerts blogs that I’m currently subscribed to. Make sure you check them out since promos or contests that I’ve already seen on them, I usually no longer post on Pinay Reviewer.

Make sure you subscribe through email to all those blogs’ feeds, including Pinay Reviewer’s, so you’ll be updated with the latest promos online and offline.

Aside from the above-mentioned sites, where do I find out about other promos/online contests? Well, I happen to follow hundreds of Facebook pages and I’ve categorized them depending on which ones usually offer promos or online contests to their fans/followers. When I see an ongoing contest / promo, I immediately bookmark it for posting later on Pinay Reviewer.

I also check out what other people in my Facebook network (read: friends list) are doing. There are times I find out about a contest because someone in my network posted a status or shared it on his/her wall. I also see what FB pages they follow / just liked. Stalker much?

Make Money Online with Nuffnang (Philippines)

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Mhel Ignacio | 9 Comments

Update: As of October 2012, I have officially removed all Nuffnang ads on my blogs. After further analysis, I realized that it’s not worth it to keep their ads since their system, in my opinion and in all honesty, is too subjective. So, PLEASE TAKE NOTE that the blog post below was my past review of Nuffnang. I don’t recommend them anymore as one of my top online money-making site. Make sure you also read the comments.

Blogsvertise Payment Proofs – $52.50 on October 22 & 29, November 5, 2010

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Mhel Ignacio | 5 Comments

Click here to join Blogsvertise

My apologies if I haven’t been posting on this blog for quite sometime now. There was a problem with the database, which resulted to me losing some of my posts. I tried to restore them from my backup, but there was an issue with the last one so I couldn’t fix it. I finally gave up and so I’m re-posting my payment proofs from October ’til recently.

I have received a total of $52.50 from Blogsvertise, one of my highly recommended paid review sites.

Since the first week of October, I haven’t received any new paid opportunities from Blogsvertise, even after I’ve added my other blog. I’m guessing there aren’t that much paid opps for all their members that’s why you’d usually see the same advertisers buying paid posts/reviews from you. It could be because most of the paid opps are priced at $10.00 each, which may be a little pricey for most advertisers. I hope there’ll be some improvement soon.

If you’re a member of Blogsvertise and haven’t received any paid posts yet, I suggest you check the other sites that I’ve listed on my recommended paid to review sites list ’cause you might just be luckier with other sites.

Here are my last 3 payment proofs from Blogsvertise. Click the images to zoom in: