Hackers Attacked Cox Customers with Fake E-mails

Broadband Internet Service Provider (ISP) Cox's customers are often attacked by spoofed mails. Cox also informs that these fake mails (called phishing schemes) may come in different forms.

Recently, Cox warned its customers about a phishing mail circulating across the web and using its name.

The mail first appeared in the beginning of February 2009 and addressed the customers of Cox with a subject line 'Dear Cox Webmail Account Owner'. The scam mail informs that from Sunday, February 20, 2009 8:00 am to Friday 22, 2009 6:00 pm, all mail hub systems will be processed for regular maintenance. The user will not be able to use their mail at Cox Webmail during this maintenance period.

For giving the fake mail an authentic touch, it claims that Cox is presently upgrading its database and 20 -email account center. Consequently, it is deleting some mail accounts for creating some space for new accounts.

Therefore, it directs the users to respond to mail as soon as possible and reveal their password and mail address for upgrading. Failing to do this, Cox Webmail Team will erase the customer's account and also the details and information present in the account. Thus, the customer's account will be forfeited and mail address deactivated from Cox's database. The mail signs off by thanking the user for accessing the mail account of Cox.

In the meantime, Cox advises the users not to respond to such fake mails and should delete them immediately. Cox also informs not to click on any attached link in the mail as they do not come from Cox.

The Internet provider adds that Cox will never ask a user to confirm their account details through mail. They also said that users should regularly keep checking the mails arriving in their inboxes. Further, they also inform that the users should send the spoofed mails to them by sending the mail as an attachment to phishingreport@cox.net.

Security experts comment that it is unfortunate reality that the Web is used by thieves such as hackers and phishers to target the users' inboxes with inauthentic emails.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 3/2/2009