Reader Digest India Targeted by Phishing Attacks

A report from trend micro has disclosed one such phishing event which engage reader digest India. This attack engaged email messages seeming t be sent by the company informing the recipient that they were chosen as finalist of some sweepstake, according to the news published on tectree.com dated January 24, 2012.

This message then train to click on the link provided by the message in order to reach to the website through which they could qualify for cash prize. But actually this link leads to phishing a site which needs the user's personal information like email address and their likes.

Entering their personal data into this kind of page, the vulnerable information is gathered and sent to cybercriminals behind it, of course for malicious reason. This way, the victims are guided to a webpage where they are asked to verify their suitability to be the winner of reader digest cash award. It also asks the users about their individual information. Not only the promoted email has been verified as fake, it is also confirmed that data revealed in the webpage is forwarded to cybercriminals.

It is recommended to the users to recognize these kinds of posts strictly and not click on the links given in such emails. Hackers generally make use of popular brands like reader digest for tempting contestants to cover their spiteful plans, said by Amit Nath, country manager India and SAARC, according to the news published in Cellit.co.in dated January 23, 2012.

He further said that users should confirm with reliable sources about the authenticity of such ads to shun being a victim. Consulting the company responsible for the email or by other modes like actual on-site visitation, or calling on their hotline would help check whether the post is true or fake.

Particularly this message resembles a collection of a 419 or Nigerian scam or a phishing attack. This is due to the dishonest nature via social engineering and its way to stealing information respectively. Recently a similar 419 scam occurred in the past, which include that the reader won a contest related to London 2012 Olympic Games, again asking the user to give their personal information.

Related article: Router-Hacking trojans Identified as The Latest Online Threats

» SPAMfighter News - 1/28/2012