AT&T Warns of Hike in Online ‘Phishing’ Messages

AT&T lately alerted its Internet service clients that phishing e-mails were rising in volume that attempted to trick them into revealing their member identification, password as well as other details.

States the company, these fraudulent messages try to collect account or personal information while pretending to be from a high-profile firm such as AT&T. Furthermore, these request for a response to confirm the account details.

Additionally, according to AT&T, there are several variations to the e-mail scam. One of them announces a lottery award, while another one says that a plane accident has killed a relative who has left a huge wealth and that because the recipient was supposedly the closest to the deceased person, the wealth, which is in certain foreign bank, is all his.

However, if anyone replies to the messages, he would end up being asked to deposit some money as tax, processing fees, lawyer's charge or something else.

Also, AT&T emphasized that generally it didn't request members to confirm or furnish member ID or password through electronic mail.

It stated that although there might be a need to e-mail members occasionally asking for their up-to-date payment or personal details, but those requests invariably guide clients onto a secure AT&T website like the Member Center.

Thus, if any client gets an e-mail that asks for such details, then he must neither respond to it nor supply his password or account information, the company urged.

Said Vice-President of consumer data products for AT&T, Bob Bickerstaff, that they wished their clients had no anxieties while surfing on the Internet and that their PCs as well as private information were protected from online miscreants, reported Reuters on October 29, 2009.

Bickerstaff added that for the said secured online surfing, the company provided its clients a strong security package to help them avoid possible online threats.

Meanwhile, phishing scam threats have become increasingly prevalent nowadays. The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) recently reported that during January-June 2009, there were as many as 49,084 phishing websites, the next maximum total since record 55,643 reported in April 2007.

Related article: AT&T Website Faces Hackers’ Axe

» SPAMfighter News - 11/9/2009