Top Fake E-mail Scams in 2008

According to researchers and analysts working for the Website IT Wire, the launch of phishing frauds pretending to represent hurricane recovery donations is a major e-mail security incident of the current year 2008 so far.

According to reports, security agencies have reported the launch of Hurricane Katrina scam along with eleven different types of Hurricane Gustav scams.

Security researchers and analysts said that the latest phishing attack relies on the ever-popular practice of targeting international events that are of interest to both businesses and consumers.

Another phishing fraud that caused enormous chaos in the US was in March 2008. It targeted the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax submission by the US taxpayers. In that scam, consumers were sent fraudulent e-mails appearing to come from the IRS but in reality were sent by phishers attempting to steal users' personal information.

Further, security researchers at IT Wire point out a particular phishing scam that enticed people into giving up their personal details to scammers tried to get users to load and watch the sex video of presidential candidate Barack Obama. However, no such tape was actually found, indicating how hackers use sensational headlines to grab credentials from unwary internet users.

Meanwhile, the security breach into Sarah Palin's e-mail account highlights how easily hackers penetrate weak passwords to subsequently compromise accounts.

Finally, the tale of a computer virus penetrating the International Space Station through a laptop computer emphasizes how poorly secured e-mail on individual systems can compromise the entire network, according to security investigators and analysts.

And in the latest phishing incident targeting celebrity accounts and showcasing poor internet security occurred during the 3rd week of October 2008, the victim was Nicolas Sarkozy President of France. Mr. Sarkozy had personal bank details phished off with small amounts of cash withdrawn from his account as part of phishers' activity.

However, with 2008 yet to end, security experts are hoping that no big e-mail scam occurs leaving innocent users as victims of data theft and fraud.

Related article: Top Law Enforcement Office Fails to Recognize A Phishing E-Mail

» SPAMfighter News - 11/4/2008