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FIFA World Cup Online Scams on Rise

The FIFA World Cup (2010), which is to be held in South Africa next year (2010), is already used by phishers, spammers and scareware distributors for their malicious ends. As these criminals aim to victimize the maximum number of people, McAfee, an online security company, warns that a few scams have already started circulating worldwide.

As per the first scam, an e-mail announces a huge lottery prize for its recipient from the South African Football Association. But if the recipient gets in touch with the lottery manager, he is asked to remit "transfer charges" or "processing fees" for the dispatch of big sum.

The other scam involves an offer for the user to watch the sporting event live on the Net. Security researchers state that twin offenses occur - the user pays for downloading a player, and instead of the player, a scareware delivered to the computer. A scareware, a fake antivirus software, increasing at a great speed, poses the biggest online threat to modern computer users.

Moreover, bogus club offers have started popping up that target desperate fans with a promise to make match tickets available to them. However, they (criminals) deceived online users to raise subscriptions of their bogus clubs.

McAfee warns football lovers to watch out for these scams as June 2010 approaches because their (scams) number would certainly be increased and would have professional touch in their creation. Users should be extremely careful while thinking of purchasing the South Africa football tickets online. It is also advisable to visit fifa.com, utilize the services of a reputed tour agent, and contact the local soccer/football association directly. It is certain that unsolicited offers via the Internet would almost inevitably be bogus, while auction sites' offers too may not be devoid of risk.

During September 2009, New Scotland Yard traced over 100 fake websites that it shutdown, of which 20 were from Britain. The perpetrators only supported an Internet crime, which is expected to surge again around this World Cup.

Symantec, another security company, also thinks there would be numerous World Cup-related online scams as the game's organizers announce the fixtures and groups for the show.

Related article: FBI’s ICCC Annual Report Discusses Fraudulent and Non-Fraudulent Complaints

» SPAMfighter News - 12/19/2009

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