Ballarat Faces Mounting Phishing Threat

The number of phishing e-mails hitting Ballarat (Australia) has been increasing, as reported by The Courier on May 27, 2009. Via these e-mails, criminals trick bank customers into revealing off their passwords and other accounting details.

In the wake of rising phishing assaults, people are being made aware of the professionalism such phishing e-mails depict and are asked to remain cautious. As per reports, phishing e-mails are so carefully crafted that they appear to come from some leading bank. They contain contact numbers, corporate logos and web links.

According to the reports posted on ballarat.edu on May 28, 2009, majority of these fake e-mails purports to be pouring in from the Commonwealth Bank.

Officials involved in the investigations, revealed that cyber criminals are using advanced and highly sophisticated tactics for creating phishing e-mails, giving an authentic and real look to fake e-mails.

Leigh Vincent, Information Security Officer of ballarat.edu, informed that the investigations to uncover the phishers were still on the way, so in case, users receive e-mails asking for personal details, they must delete them immediately and avoid responding, as reported by ballarat.edu.au on May 28, 2009.

Robert Layton, Security Expert, Ballarat's Internet Commerce Security Laboratory, also verified that the phishing e-mails have surged from nearly 2 to 24 in past few days and the newer versions of these e-mails appear legitimate in every aspect, as reported by The Courier on May 27, 2009.

Layton also stated that some people in Ballarat have already lost their hard earned money to these attacks. The major thing of concern is that the phishers are using key words to dodge spam filters by making use of smarter technology. For instance, phishers are using word "spam" in the title of phishing e-mails, which makes it easier for them to evade spam filters.

David Bell, CEO, Australian Bankers Association, suggested the people who gave away their personal and confidential details should inform their bank, as reported by The Courier on May 27, 2009.

Additional investigations discovered that majority of phishing e-mails evolved in the Eastern Europe. Internet users were asked to see www.protectfinancialid.org.au to get security advice.

» SPAMfighter News - 6/2/2009