BPI Express Online Phishing Email

I received this email from "expressonline@bpi.com.ph" with the subject line "Credit Card Fraud Alert. Please Verify Your Credit Card Infomations" last night before I went to bed. The email says:


Dear BPI customer,

We have recently detected unusual activities from your credit card. We
sent you this email for you to please update all your credit card informations.
Your card will be disabled until you complete the verification process. In order
to verify your card, please click the given link below.

BPI VERIFICATIONS 

We are hoping for your cooperation. Thank You
Should you have comments, questions or complaints regarding this particular transaction, please e-mail us at 
support@bpi.com.ph.



Thank you for banking with us!

From the BPI Express Mobile Team


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Want to know more? Visit www.bpiexpressonline.com. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Reminder: Logoff and close the browser after completing your transactions.

I once worked at PayPal so I know what a phishing email looks like. That was an advantage for me. But not everyone can be as meticulous as those who worked under this department. Hackers made the email look legitimate and were even able to mask the email address to appear that it is indeed coming from BPI.

BPI has this so called "BPI-EOL" that allows you to access your online statement through your PC or other electronic devices. It allows you to do online payment, money transfers to enrolled third parties and many more. However, if you have your BPI EOL activated with 'Transfer to anyone' option, this may become a big problem  when a hacker gets a hold of your information.



How I was able to know this is a phishing email?

1. BPI and other banks will always address you with your first and last name. Not with "Dear BPI Customer". (E.g. "Dear Gandara Park,")

2. For any detected unusual credit card transactions, your bank will call you and ask if you did that transaction.

3. I don't have a credit card. (So joke is on you, hacker!)

4. Banks do not allow links in their email to view a certain transaction. They will encourage you to go to their website directly.

5. "Informations" is grammatically incorrect.

6. The "Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter" doesn't have a link. But if it does, don't go clicking still.


I've been seeing a lot of news recently about people complaining that they lost a big sum of money even without leaving their houses or going to ATMs. I'm thinking probably these people do online banking and stuff.

But the ATM card tampering is also a different story.

So yes, if you know someone who owns a BPI account and has access to online banking, feel free to share this info.

My First US Tourist Visa Application - DENIED!

That blue paper they hand you slapping your visa denial right in the face.

I may not be the only one but, unlike most Filipinos, I never really dreamed of going to the US to live the "American dream". I would have rather gone to France, Italy, Japan, or maybe even Korea, to explore more about food and anime. I actually do pretty well as an online freelancer and had no dreams of living in the United States. That was until I met Alex, his family, and his wonderful friends.

I had always thought Americans were very hard to deal with. I've worked at 2 different call centers in the past dealing with irate American callers every single day. But when I met my boyfriend's family and friends, that all changed. Now, I actually want to go the US (particularly WI) so bad just to meet all of them. So Alex and I planned for another vacation here in the Philippines, so he can help me get a US tourist visa. Only to find out that he is not allowed to enter the establishment.

So I did what I had to do. I gathered all the documents needed: DS 160 online application form, passport, 2x2 photo, proof of payment for appointment reservation and some supporting documents. Also asked papa to give us a ride there at 5 am in the morning, because my interview was at 7 am. Alex, papa, and mama could only stay in the car praying I would get approved.

I was allowed to enter the building at 6:45 am. All Non-Immigrant Visa applicants were put into separate lines, arranged into work visa, fiance visa, and other immigrant visa types. In there, you were not allowed to bring any metallic objects or electronics. You will be better off if you only bring your papers in.

According to the signs that you can find almost everywhere, you need to undergo 5 steps:
1. Pre-screening
2. Finger Scanning
3. Consulate Interview
4. Oath Taking
5. Finalizing of Documents

Pinoy S'mores - Gandara Cooks!

You know that a good warm S'more is something that melts like this and is perfect for cold seasons. Its a harmonious festival of gooey chocolate and melting marshmallow. Add to that the crisp of the biscuit. Be careful. Its a devil in a sweet disguise. Do not indulge too much!

Great thing is that you don't have to setup a campfire or do a lot of effort when you crave for that sinfully sweet S'mores. You don't even need to have expensive ingredients to make some. You'll only need 3 ingredients and 1 tool.

If you live in the Philippines like I do, you'll find these ingredients everywhere. And they're very cheap too!

Female Character Customization - The Secret World MMORPG

Customizing character in the game "The Secret World" is not the focus of the game. Male and Female character customization is quite limited compared to other MMORPG's like Tera, Aion, Perfect World, Age of Wushu and others. 

You are limited to selecting pre-designed choices which can be around 5-7 selections for the head type, lips, jaw, nose, and eyebrows. If you wish your toon to look like a cute teenager from Japan, I'm sorry, its not gonna happen. I would say that all of the choices (for females at least) would look like they're somewhere between 28-35 years of age.

Mini Corn Muffins Baked in Oven Toaster

Oven toasters indeed have more potential than just toasting bread. This recipe was taught to me
by my best friend Noah and this is half of the recipe he use to make. For students or individuals who'd like to try this out, here's the exact measurement:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 egg
1/2 cup washed or white sugar (add 2 tbsp of sugar if you want it sweeter)
1/2 cream corn kernels
1/2 vegetable oil
1/2 milk
1/2 tsp of baking powder, baking soda and salt
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

MERS-CoV in San Pedro Laguna - Read and Be informed

Any contagious virus that has no cure and will eventually kill will definitely make people panic. An OFW nurse who flew back from Saudi Arabia has been diagnosed to carry such disease and admitted here in San Pedro. Right now, hundreds of people from Pacita to San Pedro Laguna, as well as the nearby towns are greatly concerned about the news that the virus is in our area now. 

Picture taken from 
scoopnest.com

I am from San Pedro. I have a baby nephew. I am concerned. I am worried!

A screenshot of the text message from a nurse state it so. The text message sounded quite

Picture taken from
ofwkuwait.net

alarming which makes people like us (with less or no clue about what the virus is) panic immediately. On top of that, news from the media announced that DOH had confirmed that 11 patients are showing MERS-CoV symptoms. These 11 out of the 56 are the people that that Filipina nurse have come in contact with. 

Medical masks are almost sold out too.

So I did a little research about what and how MERS-CoV spreads and how to atleast protect yourself and your family from it. I got this info from cdc.gov. There's a lot to know about Coronavirus but below are the FAQ's I've chosen.

AGE OF WUSHU: How Me and My Darling Met!

Photoshopped picture of me as Emei and Alex as Beggar
from Beggar Sect

It’s not unusual for Filipina women and American men (or vice versa) to date online. I mean, there’s a lot of dating websites online that allows people from different parts of the world to get to know other people of different races and cultures, and elevate that online friendship into something more profound like Love.

But me and my darling have a different story. It was an online game Age of Wushu from Snail Games that started it all. I played as an Emei/Palace Girl (IGN ChingMei to WinterAngel) and there’s this player from the Sect of Beggars whom I despised the most. His name was Canisjacens.