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Phishing Attack Aims at Brazilian MasterCard Subscribers

Investigators from Commtouch are cautioning that phishers are targeting credit cardholders in Brazil through a fresh assault by sending them fake electronic mails supposedly from 'Surpreenda,' an advantage program of MasterCard.

Surpreenda, notably, allows credit cardholders to gain reward points based on the volume of purchases they undertake.

State the researchers that the new phishing message invites recipients to the program, directing them to follow a given web-link and registering their credit card on the related website. Thereafter, whenever they'd make a purchase, they'll gain one point. By presenting the transaction vouchers, they can earn such points. And if they'd register the voucher pertaining to a service/product bought within the promotion, they'll gain one more point for free, the e-mail explains.

In addition the e-mail explains, there'll be no redemption of accumulated points for vouchers that are converted into those which vie for pre-paid credit cards, two in all, valuing $50,000 each, and drawn every month. These cards shall be one for gifts favoring individuals the cardholder appoints, and the other for the card owner himself.

However, the said web-link leads users onto a fraudulent, phishing site masquerading that of MasterCard, produces a form, which asks for the users' credit card information along with their Natural Persons Register Number corresponding to the American Social Security Number.

Emphasize the Commtouch researchers that if cardholders don't follow the e-mail's instructions, they won't be in any danger. Strangely, the scammers in the new attack rather than threaten recipients of their accounts' suspension if they don't access them, attempt at luring them via an encouraging proposal. Commtouch.com reported this on January 19, 2011.

Regrettably, it's because of the above kind of phishing assaults that there's been an extraordinary rise in phishing just as Commtouch examines and concludes within its Q4-2010 Internet Threats Trend Report that suggests that daily in Q4-2010, spam accounted for a mean 142bn phishing/spam mails in contrast with 198bn in Q3-2010.

Ultimately, for remaining safe from the aforementioned type of attacks, Commtouch recommends Internet-users that they must never hand over their financial information, while also deploy high-quality security software for effectively blocking phishing/spam mails.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 1/27/2011

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