Scammers Abusing Major Sporting Events

For duping innocent netizens, hackers are exploiting various sports events like FIFA World Cup and IPL, stated security experts.

Trend Micro's product marketing manager for APEC, Abhinav Karnwal, stated that hackers have started sending spam mails and have poisoned search results for stealing private details, money as well as for hijacking systems remotely, reported mydigitalfc.com on March 11, 2010.

Karnwal said that spammers had already begun their work and were sending e-mails providing discounts on various goods and tickets. He also added that through these mails criminals acquire all the private information like e-mail addresses, debit card pin and back account number, reported The Hindu Business Line on March 10, 2010.

Clarifying the reason, Ratnamala Dam Manna, director for security responses and technology, Symantec, informed that the scammers are very smart at taking advantage of the excitement around the IPL, World Cup and the growing broadband subscriber base. The IPL can prove to be a perfect theme to lure Indian netizens. He further said that they have already observed spam offering netizens IPL alerts, as reported by mydigitalfc.com on March 11, 2010.

For instance, one of the spam claims about an advertising subscription for IPL match alerts for $5 and a chance to win two tickets and lodging for the finals in Mumbai.

Symantec researchers have encountered an e-mail which offers cheap hotel lodging for the FIFA World Cup tournament. The e-mail provides recipient an opportunity to book low-priced lodging at the World Cup.

Similarly, the soccer World Cup 2010 has already seen its very first wave of classic lottery scam. As per MessageLabs Intelligence, netizens are being targeted with an e-mail allegedly from the "Canada Lottery - Soccer World Cup 2010 Promotional Draw". The basic assertion is that the user has won a huge amount of money, and to claim the prize, the user is asked to contact someone or send his/her personal information via an e-mail to a given e-mail ID.

Therefore, the security experts suggested netizens to be cautious to avoid falling for such scams. They claimed that no technology or tool is risk-free and same is the case with the Internet. Thus, there is a increasing need to stay protected while using the Internet and revealing any sensitive information.

Related article: Scammers Exploit Tax System Resulting in ID Theft

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