Phishers Becoming Cleverer, Sending More Convincing E-mails

It is very common for e-mail users to get messages that are not genuine. But now, according to Texas (US) police, it is becoming a common thing to get fraudulent, phishing e-mails, which appear real.

Recently, a phishing e-mail spoofing the Bank of America (BOA) was distributed, which said that somebody had attempted to access the e-mail recipient's account, therefore, the user was required to follow a given link for confirming his account information so that his account remained unsuspended.

The spoofed message states - the BOA regrettably informs the recipient that his online account with the bank has been tentatively withdrawn following a number of failed login trials, which could possibly be to acquire illegal access to the recipient's account and personal information. However, the problem can be resolved if the recipient downloads an attached form and acts as per the ensuing instructions, the message adds.

But the police warned that the e-mail was a phishing scam and it could have a destructive computer virus appended with the attachment. According to them, the scammers by using sophisticated tactics are crafting e-mails that produce the exact copy of BOA's website and also convince the recipient with whatever they state.

The growth of Internet has enabled various remote, legitimate banking facilities to banks and their customers, but this form of banking over the Net has also drawn the interest of criminals.

Besides, Jerry Minton, Fraud Investigator, Plano Police, stated that no credit card firm or bank would ever seek a customer's private information online, just as they would not direct him to click a web-link in an e-mail, as reported by StarLocalNews on August 24, 2009.

Minton further said - whenever anyone requests for a password or banking information, there is a 99% chance that the e-mail is a phishing attempt. Thus, Minton suggests that recipients of such e-mails should instantly report them to the fraud department of the bank/financial company for investigation.

In similar news, Ally Bank customers in August 2009 had been getting e-mails that asked recipients to furnish personal information in a given form in order to enhance the security of systems.

Related article: Phishers Expand Their Sphere of Attacks

» SPAMfighter News - 9/10/2009