Batelco Warns Customers About Phishing E-Mail

Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunication Company), a major internet service provider in Bahrain, warned e-mail account holders on October 21, 2008 about a new phishing scam making rounds in the kingdom.

In a statement, the organization said that it has come to their notice that some of their customers have received scam e-mail directing them to provide their updated e-mail account information including their username and password. Using the title "Webmaster E-mail Account Upgrading", the message stated that old Batelco.com e-mail accounts that were not active would be deleted so that more space could be created for fresh accounts. Furthermore, the message urged users to confirm their updated account details so that they can continue using the organization's services, Batelco said while giving the details of the scam e-mail, as reported by Zawya on October 22, 2008.

However, the officials at Bahrain Telecommunication Company urged its users to ignore the malicious e-mail and not answer it, as responding to the e-mail could be harmful. They further called on the users to understand that the scam e-mail was sent by a third party for collecting data to be used in unethical marketing. On the other hand, Batelco would never request its customers to provide personal information like username and password over e-mails and such an operation was called 'Phishing', the organization said.

Moreover, 'phishing' involves fraudulent method of acquiring users' private and sensitive details like usernames and passwords by pretending to be a genuine and trustworthy party via an e-communication, according to the security experts.

Security specialists also stated that cyber criminals sending fake e-mails are not just using new tactics to spread their malicious acts but are also innovating social engineering techniques to cleverly trap both businesses and consumers. An unwary user thinks that the message is genuine and reveals his private information.

Additionally, security specialists revealed that Batelco is not a target of phishing for the first time. In May 2008, there was a similar e-mail with the subject line 'Verification Department'. It sought recipients' confidential and personal information.

Related article: Batelco Blocks Spam Spewing Accounts

» SPAMfighter News - 11/1/2008