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‘Puget Sound Energy’ Alerts Customers to Phishing E-mail

The most ancient local energy facility of Washington State, Puget Sound Energy has cautioned consumers for remaining wary of a fake electronic mail imitating a bill-payment alert, reports ISSAQUAH PRESS.com on December 14, 2011.

Apparently, PSE dispatches the notification to Internet-billing consumers at the time their energy usage invoice is all set for viewing as well as for being paid. The e-mail consists of PSE's logo along with a few genuine web-links taking onto PSE's site.

Understandably, electronic mails, which spoof names of lawful organizations or government agencies, frequently attempt at garnering secret financial details out of victims.

The above mentioned fake e-mail has landed into the inboxes of certain PSE clients along with people belonging to other states. While being element of a countrywide e-mail fraud, the phishing message asserts as being from reputable firms such as PSE.

Further, it tells the recipient that his PSE bill is currently all set for viewing and that he should open a given file attachment for knowing additional details, paying his bill, as well as handling his account.

The e-mail gives one account number also viz. 136545567 and adds that 'The Amount Due' refers to the aggregate sum the accountholder (e-mail recipient) is entitled to, MINUS scheduled payment(s) incase any. Finally, the e-mail asks the reader that he shouldn't answer the message as all responses will go to an unmonitored e-mail box.

Meanwhile, PSE's personnel stated that the company during billing notifications over e-mail strictly used the full name of its customers instead of writing "Dear Customer," that was an evidence that the e-mail was fraudulent. Also, the boldfaced text including "Refer to the attached file" is another sign that the electronic mail is a fake.

PSE also stated that the scam was somewhat less harmful as the phony message didn't affect PSE consumers' accounts that were safe-and-sound.

Still to ensure complete safety, PSE suggested clients call 1-888-225-5773 for any clarification or further information.

In the meantime, security specialists said that incase the PSE gets the phony e-mail on its website that might carry a virus, then site visitors must erase the e-mail notification instantly.

Related article: “Loopholes did not cause online banking thefts”: ICBC

» SPAMfighter News - 12/28/2011

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