FIFA World cup Fans Hacked by Cyber Felons

An Internet security firm has informed that hackers have started attacking Football fans all over the world with a rise in bogus offers and spam e-mails, as the arrangements for the Football World Cup in South Africa are on.

Internet analysts with the security software firm Symantec have captured several phishing mails and disclosed hundreds of bogus sites directed at fans, which are curious to obtain the game tickets or to enjoy watching them online.

Symantec researchers have also found an illegal network of scores of systems hit by hackers for sending spam e-mails, wherein the World Cup is the one and only focus.

Shantanu Ghosh of Symantec informed the reporters that they have lately discovered one botnet which specializes in distributing FIFA-related spam e-mails, as reported by AFP in the third week of March 2010.

He added that the hackers concentrate on attacks particularly around the World Cup.

Ghosh further said that football fans looking for the World Cup tickets, transportation and lodging can come across phishing websites - as bogus merchants set up to extract bank and credit card information - and get spam e-mails specifically designed to entice users into disclosing their private details.

Reportedly, the bogus e-mails offer affordable hotel accommodation, low-priced flights rates and VIP membership card providing bizarre benefits.

A security expert at Symantec, Grant Brown, stated that the firm observed a 60% hike in activities such as Web-based attacks, phishing, and other cyber crime throughout 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the FIFA World Cup is comparatively a bigger event, as reported by Fin24.com in the third week of March 2010.

He added in the context of FIFA World Cup that there will be around 1 Billion soccer fans that will actively follow the event, indicating an opportunity for hackers.

Brown said that hackers gain the attention and attract victims with e-mails that appear to relate to the contemporary news.

Therefore, Symantec asked soccer fans not to click on unfamiliar links. Symantec also added that users should not fill out forms in e-mails that ask private and financial details. A well-known charitable firm will never ask for private information through an e-mail.

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

» SPAMfighter News - 4/2/2010