Fair Trading Cautions about Online Scams

Fair Trading released a security alert, according to which, scammers posing as bank employees alternatively representatives of Fair Trading were defrauding Internet-users through different scams aiming at residents of Australia's New South Wales, reported Skynews.com.au dated December 19, 2011.

Notably, Fair Trading facilitates NSW netizens with information and help in connection with consumer affairs, real estate & tenancy, credit, motorcars, amongst others.

A particular instance of the above mentioned e-mail scam, which Fair Trading outlined, had a manager of the agency get an e-mail that ANZ Bank apparently dispatched, directing him that he should confirm the details of his credit card. However, following a non-response by the manager, one more message came into his inbox informing about an alleged suspension of his card citing that he had not answered the first message.

Subsequently a third electronic mail arrived, which repeating about the card's suspension, asked for his particulars. However, on verifying with ANZ Bank, the manager learnt that the e-mails were a fake.

Remarking about these Internet frauds, Rod Stowe, Commissioner of Fair Trading New South Wales stated that there were many variations of phishing scams, while most related to exclusive web-links embedded on text messages or e-mails towards persuading end-users that they were in touch with an authorized source. Cowracommunitynews.com published this on December 19, 2011.

Indeed, any e-mail directing the recipient to confirm, validate or update his bank account particulars alternatively seeking other private information should be treated with suspicion, Stowe added. News.ninemsn.com.au published this dated December 19, 2011.

Stowe further added that web-links as well as attachments within spoofed (or phishing) e-mails might have spyware too; therefore, it was advisable that users avoided opening such web-links and/or attachments sent through uninvited spam mails.

Furthermore, Fair Trading assures consumers that it doesn't anytime ask for money transfers to claim refunds of bank-fees, an idea that was nonsensical and simply reflective of fraud, the Commissioner indicated.

Conclusively, any recipient of Fair Trading scam e-mails must instantly notify the agency of the incidents in order that the perpetrators of such messages can be caught while victims bequeathed their due justice.

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» SPAMfighter News - 12/29/2011