FTC Warns Computer Users about Economic Stimulus Scam

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning about the latest series of scams appearing online. FTC further revealed that companies and individuals are attacked by hackers with e-mails.

The phishing mails allegedly offer the recipient free money associated with economic stimulus plan given by the US President Obama. Some of the mails even ask the user to reveal their bank account details so that the users' share of stimulus can be deposited directly in their accounts.

The FTC cautioned that the details could be used for ID theft and hackers stole the entire amount and vanish.

Further, some other scams offer links or attachments to tell the recipients how to qualify for the funds. By clicking on these links or attachments, the user can install spyware or malware on his system which is used for ID theft.

Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Eileen Harrington, said that users should not open the mails and links given in them. Instead, they should immediately delete them, as reported by ITWorld on March 4, 2009.

Another scam is taking advantage of stimulus package and is using inauthentic sites to trick users into giving away their personal details. These sites try to trick users into reveal their private and banking details and also prompt users to buy a "Free Grants Kit" for $2.95 and a "Free Google Business Kit" for a $1 processing fees. With the grants kit, users will get a list of grants that they can apply for.

Harrington claims that the economic stimulus scams have shoot up overnight. He also suggested that the users who have already revealed their details should check their credit card bills for unauthorized charges and report the scam to the FTC, as reported by Vnunet on March 4, 2009.

Security experts said that the economic stimulus package has established a platform for hackers who promise to provide funds but steal the private and banking details of users.

Related article: FTC Reaches Million-Dollar Settlement For Spyware

» SPAMfighter News - 3/10/2009