AFP Abused in Latest E-mail Scam

An alert has recently been issued by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to the netizens in Australia that a fake e-mail abusing the name of AFP is currently making rounds in the Internet world. The e-mail claims that the credit card of the user had been used in criminal transactions.

Purporting to be coming from Scott Sykes, coordinator of the operations monitoring centre of AFP, the fake e-mail warns the user that nine transactions on their credit card were found related to some infamous criminal groups. As per the reports, some of these groups were under investigations in case of recent cyber assaults on the Commonwealth Bank.

The fake e-mail informs the recipient's case had been under code 2 priority and is being suspected of helping some of the nastiest criminals. It also states that his card access might have assisted criminals in their assaults.

The e-mail suggested user that his assets would stand freeze until the investigation ends. It informed that if the bank or any other authority is contacted, then the user will be charged with "obstruction of justice". The message said the user should click a link provided therein to prove their innocence.

The AFP, in a media report released on July 2, 2009, has urged users receiving any e-mail of such kind should immediately delete it instead of opening or replying. It also noted that usually such fake sites and e-mails try to trick customers into disclosing their confidential details or into downloading some malicious software that tracks and transmits user's key strokes.

The police officials highlighted that such e-mails also ask for the financial details of the user, such as banking account or credit card details. But, the exposure of these details can result in heavy financial loss or identity theft.

The AFP officials further assured that they would never ask for the personal and financial details of anybody through e-mail.

Security experts asked users to be cautious of such e-mail scams that are widely in practice these days. People should also update their PCs' anti-virus software to make their systems safe from malicious attacks.

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» SPAMfighter News - 7/6/2009