MultiChoice Raises Warning Against Fake E-mail Scam

MultiChoice, a South African firm, which operates the DStv satellite television service, has recently cautioned their customers regarding a fake e-mail scam. In this fake e-mail scam, customers are asked to click on a link and furnish their personal details, like their credit card details, as reported by DStvafrica on March 07, 2011.

As a matter of fact, one of the customers stated that, he received a spam e-mail from MultiChoice every month and he always fell prey to for it and used to pay R594 to a strange account, as reported by MyBroadband on March 07, 2011.

Moreover, MultiChoice notified regarding the same scam in 2010, wherein customers got e-mails purporting them as are one of the winners of the DStv electronic's end of the year lucky draws. That time, MultiChoice notified customers that neither DStv does not have any sort of DSTV Online Promotion program nor any of its associate firms.

Commenting on the matter, the company stated that, MultiChoice never asks for customers' personal and financial details through an e-mail or through telephone, unless customers have made a telephone call to their Call Centre. The firm further highlighted that, if customers have clicked on the attached link and furnisher their personal or financial details, they must immediately cancel their credit card with their bank and if they are registered for self-service on the DStv website, they must reset their password, as reported by MyBroadband on March 07, 2011.

As a matter of fact, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the U.S witnessed same type of e-mail scam, wherein users were getting bogus scam e-mails purporting to be from IRS.gov and asking for users' private and financial details. The e-mail comprised a link, which if clicked, directs the taxpayer to a website that seems quite similar to the official website of the IRS, however, in reality, IRS does not dispatch taxpayers e-mails that need private information.

MultiChoice further commented that, it takes these scams quite critically and is taking important action. The Company stated that, they want to request all their customers to protect their private details at all times, as reported by DStv forum on March 07, 2011.

Meanwhile, to be protected, it is suggested to add the dispatcher of the e-mail in blocked e-mail or SPAM e-mail list or removing it completely. Besides, customers should never ever click on suspicious web-links coming through unwanted e-mails; instead they should directly visit the website through manual entry of the URL into the web browser's address bar, thus confirming the e-mail claims from there.

» SPAMfighter News - 3/17/2011