The news is out now about Monster.com being hacked. Monster has mailed a letter advising a large number of their users that their personal information may have ended up in the hands of phishers.  This information may then be used in scams that look like contacts from legitimate sources, your bank or credit card company for example.

Phishers are able to use your personal information to convince you that they are who they say they are, and request additional information.  They can also link to a legitimate site and then have their own pop up with blanks to fill in information they want to steal.  In addition to online Phishing, these communications can come in the mail, or by telephone.

The reason I bring this up is that in seeking a position with the Riverside County we will never demand that you give us personal information “up front” that could be used in identity theft.  You never have to fill in or give out your social security number, except to complete in-office hiring paperwork, or after the initial interview process for background checks (for example law enforcement related positions).  Neither would you have to give us your mother’s name, bank account, or credit card information (and never, never your password to anything) when you apply for County jobs. 

If you have a resume on a job posting board, and if the Human Resources Department has made arrangements to access job seeker resumes, you may receive a phone call or mailing inquiring whether you would like to also have your resume in our Job Match candidate database.  Often this will be in regard to a current recruitment underway, but again, you will not be asked personal information. 

I wanted you to know that you could interact with Riverside County with confidence, but to protect the other parts of your life you may want to research this subject further.  National Public Radio (NPR) has done a number of pieces on this subject, so you might like to take a look there first to become generally informed on what is taking place.

I have sort of come to the end of this subject and you know, I think it is about time I had a snappy closing line for this blog.  Too bad Good Night and Good Luck, was already taken by Edward R. Murrow. 

I don’t know how I could work this one in, but, “Say goodnight, Gracie.” is another I am fond of and which is already taken by George Burns (Burns and Allen).  Being a boomer I am now starting to appreciate some of George’s later stages of life humor. 

My favorite quote is, “First you forget names, then you forget faces. Next you forget to pull your zipper up and finally, you forget to pull it down.” 

Now if you didn’t think that was funny, immediately turn off your computer and pull the cord with the pronged thingie out of the wall; you shouldn’t be allowed to surf the net.

I know, I know… I know I am getting off the track… yes, there have been a number of great signoffs including Jimmy Durante’s "Goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are."  But I need something fresh, hip, now, in tune with today, and the only thing I came up with on my own, “blog off “just sounds too course. 

I need some suggestions sent in from my friends (heck, I’ll even take them from my enemies if they are good ones).  Anyway, “I’ll keep a light on for you,” the computer monitor of course. 

P.S. How about “Gone Phishing”?