Online music service Spotify has announced that it now has one million paying subscribers across Europe.

News of the milestone comes as Spotify continues a fund-raising from investors in advance of a launch in the US.

The Anglo-Swedish company has 6.67 million users, the majority of whom use a free service subsidised by adverts.

Spotify's profitability depends on users switching to premium services that remove adverts and allow listeners to use smartphones.

The company announced on its website's blog: "It seems like only yesterday we were hatching ideas for a new music service in a tiny office-cum-apartment with a broken coffee machine.

"So it's with a sense of real pride and excitement that we can announce a new milestone today, having welcomed our millionth paying subscriber to the service. "

Spotify is in the process of a $100m funding round that analysts estimate values the company at $1bn (£616m).

The company's plans to launch in the US have been delayed by concerns at the big music labels about the success of its business model.

Spotify pays royalties each time a song is played on its service.

Last year, it was estimated that the subscriber base represented about 7%-8% of Spotify's total user base.

But with one million subscribers, that percentage has risen to about 15%, the company said.

Facebook is launching a system that allows users to report friends who they think may be contemplating suicide.

The feature is being run in conjunction with Samaritans, which said several people had used it during a test phase.

Anyone worried about a friend can fill out a form, detailing their concerns, which is passed to the social networking site's moderators.

It follows reports of several cases where Facebook users announced their intention to commit suicide online.

The reporting page asks for the address (URL) of the Facebook page where the messages are posted, the full name of the user and details of any networks they are members of.

Suicide-related alerts will be escalated to the highest level, for attention by Facebook's user operations team.

Police alert
 
"When a report is made, they then assess whether they need to call the police immediately or forward it on to us," said Samaritans' Nicola Peckett.

Facebook said that it had always been its policy to notify police if a user was at risk of imminent bodily harm.

 

The system had been operating in a trial mode, without publicity for three months, during which it received several genuine reports and no hoaxes, according to Samaritans.

It is hoped that the new reporting mechanism will help prevent cases like that of Simone Back, who died on Christmas day after taking a drug overdose.

The charity worker from Brighton had written about her intention to kill herself on her Facebook page.

Several of her friends commented on the message, however no-one raised the alarm.

Samaritans said that the new system was not launched in relation to one specific case, but to raise awareness of the ways in which people could get help.

Apple is being warned against trying to squeeze cash out of the newspaper industry by controlling subscriptions for iPads and iPhones.

The European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA) says it is concerned by the company's plans to direct online sales through iTunes.

If that happens, the ENPA warns, a large cut of their profits would go to Apple.

However, the technology giant insists it wants to give customers choice.

Several European Newspapers claim that Apple has banned them from offering free electronic editions to their print customers.

The move sparked industry speculation that a further clampdown was imminent.

 

  

 

Publishers' main concern is that users will not be allowed to subscribe via newspapers' own websites.

In a statement, the ENPA said: "consumers may only have access to the newspaper of their choice via the iTunes store, where the transaction would be subject to commission."

Apple currently receives a 30% share of revenue from apps and eBooks sold this way.

Official investigation

Publishers are also worried that if Apple takes control of sales, they could lose access to subscribers' personal information.

Details such as age, sex and location are useful when selling advertising.

Apple declined to comment on the ENPA's criticism.

The company has previously denied that it plans to stop users from buying subscriptions through publishers' own websites.

However, it has introduced a rule that newspaper apps must include an option to purchase through iTunes.

Critics argue that the ease of "in app" subscription means most users will opt for Apple's preferred method.

In a related move, Belgium's economy minister has called for an official investigation into Apple's plans to sell e-newspapers.

Vincent Van Quickenborne has suggested that the company may be abusing its dominant position in the market.

Material that is published on Twitter should be considered public and can be published, the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has ruled.
The decision follows a complaint by a Department of Transport official that the use of her "Tweets" by newspapers constituted an invasion of privacy.

Sarah Baskerville complained to the PCC about articles in the Daily Mail and Independent on Sunday.

The messages included remarks about being hungover at work.

She complained that this information was private and was only meant to be seen by her 700 followers.

Ms Baskerville said she had a clear disclaimer that the views expressed by her on Twitter were personal and not representative of her employer.

The disclaimer currently reads: "Scottish & Sober-ish.. Civil Servant. This is my personal account, personal views. Nothing to do with my employers. What I retweet I may or may not agree with."More...

As usual, year 2010   also has seen Nigerian fraudsters in full flow. Encouraged by their stupendous success in cheating mobile and internet users, Indians have also successfully indigenized their technology.

Apart from deviant MBA students, Engineers and MCA graduates, even small time crooks are copying the “patented” Nigerian techniques with alarming ease, causing havoc among   newbies to email and SMS scams.

In several instances, the Nigerian mails are copied, edited and circulated, offering fraud jobs, lottery prize  etc. Other than  the underlying theme, the other noticeable commonality is bad grammar!

For example mail announcing “You have been short listed for job in Maruti Suzuki” is signed off wishing “Best of lucks!”

Complaints-India.com  Report is based on the frequency of Fraud Emails and SMS received by the website users

 Number1. International Lottery Sweepstakes. “You Have Won Lottery”

 The lottery fraud comes in several  hues and shades. It would say “Your mail Id or mobile number has  won  British Pounds ------------”  The names of well known companies are used and for better effect, names are combined!

Coca Cola , Hewlett Packard (HP), Nokia Mobile, Yahoo MSN Lottery (!), Yahoo Microsoft Windows Live, BMW Company, Texaco Petroleum, Gmail / Rediffmail Lottery(!), Google Incorporation(!), Microsoft Mobile Draw, British Telecommunications,  BBC Online Lotto, Irish Lottery, Common Wealth Games Lottery, World Cup Football Lottery, 2011 Cricket World Cup Lottery…..its along list indeed!

 

The mail ask for personal details. Once someone replies, the fraudsters trap him by informing that Cheque has been sent and  RBI, Diplomat etc will contact! The trapped fellow is forced to shell out lakhs as one fee or the other,  till he gets wind of the fraud.  In the process he will be called by “RBI Officers” and “Diplomat” who has come to India with the cheque!!!

 Number 2. Getting that Dream Job  now is so easy!.  “Videocon Direct Recruitment Offer”

 This is   a clean copy of Nigerian Fraud mails which offer jobs abroad. Local Cyber Crime Syndicates have opened thousands of fraud accounts in ICICI, SBI , Axis and other banks to receive money transferred by victims of fake job offere emails /SMS

 

The Crooks keep sending mass mails or SMS in waves,  changing Company Names, Address and Account detail, often.  Names of Videocon, Wipro, HCL, Maruti Suzuki, Skoda India, Toyota India, L&T, Bajaj, Tata Group, Volkswagen etc have all been used to promote the Fraud Job offer business of the criminal syndicates

 

The mail declares that the company has seen the user’s resume in job portals and the candidate has been short listed for interview. The Salary offered is absolutely mouth watering. The company offers full refund of travel expenses. To show commitment to attend interview, candidate has to pay Rs.10,500  or whatever, to the  account  of designated company HR department officer!  OOPS!

 So the trapped job seeker who has been waiting for a good job offer, rushes to bank and sends money to the crook’s account.  

 Number 3. Fake Marketing Campaigns offering Free Items

 The criminals use SMS for this fraud, extensively. SMS received states that the user has won some item as part of company marketing exercise during launch of new product. For example, Airtel Set Top Box free or a Philips DVD Player Free!. Need to pay only service tax! Victims who respond are given bank account number to transfer money. Off course after transfer, there will be no further contact. Thousands of people fall prey to these frauds which again comes in waves.  At a time, the criminals are able to collect large funds, though the individual amount paid  is small.

 Number 4. Mobile Tower Installation Fraud

Instead of mass mail,  the criminals use classified ads in local news papers to trap victims. They know the targets are small time land / building  owners  in small towns and they can not be targeted using email.  The innocuous looking ads declare that certain company is looking for sites to install Mobile Towers on behalf of telecom Companies and invites land /building owners to reply. To convince people,  a website address is given to make the business look genuine. (Company names used are Khan Gold Care, Sky Network, MSN Tower Company, GR Communication, Nextgen Towers etc)

Once contact is established, the crooks ask for DD  for certain amount to send Site Survey Team which never arrives, after payment. 

 

Number 5. Work From Home Scams. Paid Survey, Form Filling, Mail Reading, Typing, Clicking etc

 

People get easily attracted to easy money making offers by working part time at home. The scamsters advertise in   classified portals and news papers. The fact that people who respond forgets is that there is actually NO WORK. The intention is just to grab registration fees from victims.   If someone pesters after paying Registration fees, some carp job is given which will not be accepted and paid for. Once trapped, the registration fees is gone for ever. The scam is operated by criminals generally without any fixed office so that they can not be traced. They run elaborate websites to fool people. Incidentally many people who area trapped are turned into agents to trap more people and the agents are given a cut. So it also operates like an illegal MLM scheme.

Number 6. Bank Security Upgrade Notice. Phone / SMS Phishing for Password

 The user gets call /SMS  purportedly from   Security Department of the Bank or Customer Care stating that the Security system is being upgraded to ensure that third party transfer is secure. Then  SMS will be sent asking to reconfirm passwords.  Bank customer feels happy that his bank is doing good things. After sometime he gets SMS of money withdrawn. Then panic starts.

 Number 7. Foreign Job Offers. Foreign Fund Transfer.  Nigerian Attack

 Job offers from reputed Hotels in UK, Canada etc lands up in mail asking for personal details, pass port copy etc. The Hotel name and website address given could be correct. But the mail ID to which reply goes will be that of the Nigerian gangster behind the scam.  Victims are asked to send Visa Fees, legal fees etc to account in India. The accounts are leased by Indian crooks to  Nigerains for a fee. (Oftem10% of money collected).   The personal details collected is misused by the criminals to open new bank accounts take SIM cards etc

 The classic Inheritance Fraud mail, asking for victims account to park huge inherited money is still in circulation, though it has lost novelty value!

 

Number 8. Indian Crooks Using Nigerian Trick. “You have been selected for grant of Rs.85 Lakhs by Govt of India”

 

This is an indigenized fraud. The receiver is pleasantly surprised to note that he has been selected by Govt of India as one of the grantees of Rs.85Lakhs!

 

The message which comes purportedly from RBI, goes like this. “To help Indian job seekers to setup their own business   of their choice, Govt of India is granting sum of Eighty Five Lakhs (85lahks). Be informed that your email was chosen as one of the great beneficiaries. Your email was selected among the job offers resume that you have posted”.  The victim is asked to sent personal details.  

 

The excited receiver of the email sends in personal data and then rushes to bank to transfer fees to “RBI” officer’s personal account!

 Number 9. Fake Online Shopping Sites / Online Classified Ads

 While there are good number of  genuine online shopping  websites, there are numerous fake sites too. These fakes display a number of items. Visitors unknowingly place orders and pay by credit card. There will be no response to any mails or calls after payment. The contact numbers, mail Ids etc will all be fake.  Such online fraud sales are also done through classified ads. The offer will be irresistible like the victims of recent Apple IPhone Ads found.

 Number 10. Fraud Loan Offers  by Classified Ads 

 

The offer for extending lakhs at cheap interest rates traps many people. The criminals sets up temporary office in a town, publish  loan scheme. The crooks operate for couple of months. Collects processing fee from many people and then will shut office and vanish. Simple strategy. But  rakes in lakhs, in couple of months.

  Other popular fraud offers:

  - Walk-in Job Offer (Invites candidates by Local Ad / SMS as IT Company. Collect Registration fees and Vanish from one town to reappear in another)

 -         Holiday Home/ Time Share offer (Makes phone calls asking to attend meeting with company staff and get surprise gift. The weak ones are offered fancy schemes and membership is charged to credit card. That would be the last the victim hears of the company)

 

-         Fake Share Trading Companies  (Lures people by Mails/SMS and classified ads to fraud website to become members. After taking registration fees operates for few months, shuts down and disappears)

 -         MLM Schemes (Most people know for sure that MLM schemes are illegal and will fold up any moment. Still they seem to have thrill in signing up and losing money! For example Visarev scheme)

 -         Offer to Sell Machinery to make different Items like Paper Cups  (The buyer tries to contact the seller who vanishes in quick time after the buyer finds out that he has bought junk)

 -         Offer to  source chemicals and other materials from India  (The victims would have paid legal fees and other charges before realizing that they are being led up the garden path!)

Complete report with Links

Facebook was forced to take itself offline after a staff member accidentally leaked internal product prototypes.

The social network was unreachable for about 20-30 minutes while the mess was cleared up.

The outage happened as the site introduced redesigned brand pages, a revamped photos section and a new page management feature.

 In a statement on its blog, Facebook apologised for the brief downtime.

"For a brief period of time, some internal prototypes were made public to a number of people externally." read the message. "As a result, we took the site down for a few minutes. It's back up, and we apologise for the inconvenience."

The BBC understands that the problem arose when code for a number of new products was exposed to the public before they were ready to be launched. This included a feature called "memories" that indexed what people have done on Facebook chronologically.More...