TRA in UAE Cautions Users of Phishing Scams

The Computer Emergency Response Team (uaeCERT) of UAE TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) has issued a warning to the netizens of online scams that hackers have been launching recently.

The warning comes after TRA released a statistical report during mid-January 2010, which indicates that the Authority itself observed 51 incidences of online crimes during 2009. These include theft of personal data, hacking into websites and banking accounts, and sending scam electronic mails, amongst others.

As stated by TRA, e-business providers and banks forward large amounts of e-mails to the Authority regarding scam and fraudulent websites, which pose danger to their businesses.

Mohammed Gheyath, an official at TRA, in January 2010, highlighted this crucial problem along with its destructive consequences for individuals and businesses alike. Thus he said that a highly escalating cyber attack was with respect to 'phishing e-mails, as reported by Arabianbusiness.com during the first week of February 2010.

Gheyath also stated that phishing related to the offensive process of fraudulently trying to obtain confidential information like usernames, passwords, or debit/credit card details after sending e-mails supposedly from an entity of repute, as per the news published by Zawya.com during the third week of January 2010.

The official further said that communications that claim to be carried on from IT administrators, popular auction websites, social networking sites, or Internet payment processors are dispatched to entice unwitting victims.

Hence, because of the severity associated with such cyber-crimes, which cause trouble to innocent people, TRA urged for vigilance and extreme caution on the part of computer users as a regular practice.

The users are highly recommended to immediately report the illegal operation to his bank's relevant department. in case there is a doubt of some scam in the Internet account.

Additionally, the victim must withdraw maximum possible cash, and immediately change the online account's password. He/she could also request the bank to temporarily disable the account. On a suggestion from the bank's authorities, he must as well freeze his other accounts with that bank. While the anti-fraud division of the bank will probe into the scam, the victim shall also contact the police in case it involves huge account balance.

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» SPAMfighter News - 2/11/2010