Hackers Switch to New Mail Scams to Target Victims

Security experts said that new e-mail scams are attacking web users with the latest and sophisticated methods to steal private information.

A Littleton (Colorado, USA) attorney has been the recent victim of a Nigerian Internet scam, and the Judicial District Attorney has cautioned others to ignore e-mails asking for private details as they could become their victims.

Carol Chambers, District Attorney, claimed that e-mails were sent to mail circulation list of attorney Jim McDonough with his name and business leader chief, as reported by 9NEWS on December 25, 2008.

The e-mail said that McDonough is in Nigeria and his money was stolen by robbers. The mail also asks recipients to wire $3,000 or any amount so that McDonough can pay bills of hotel and return to the US. Further, it also adds that he will pay the money back as soon as he returns to the US.

Carol informs that someone succeeded in installing a harmful software in McDonough's system. This software helps the attacker to take control of the system and access the mail circulation list to send fraudulent mails.

In yet another recent scam, a new mail is circulating and promising victims of e-mail scams money as an apology for being hacked, as reported by 9WSYR on December 26, 2008. The mail tells that the recipient name was found on the Nigerian mail scam's victim list and for compensation, they will give $2 Million to the recipient. Therefore, some private details viz. passwords and accounts numbers are required, but this is a scam mail about scam mails.

Security analysts added that new mail scams are discovered by hackers to make new victims. These new e-mail scams have become a major problem in today's times.

Further, security experts recommend that mail users should download antivirus program that detects attachments before they are clicked and also check the software signature. They also added that users should set passwords on the online accounts that are difficult to guess.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 1/8/2009