Cybercriminals Exploit Natural Disaster which Struck Uttarakhand

Security firm observes that cybercriminals are trying to make money out of natural calamity, which has struck Uttarakhand in India recently.

In June 2013, a fierce cloudburst happened in the state resulting heavy damage and hundreds of deaths.

McAfee, the security company, said that many fake donation websites are emerging in cyberspace and cautioned Internet users of scam emails as well as posts on social networking sites asking for donations towards fake relief funds.

Cybercriminals often use such natural calamities by asking financial help and lure innocent people who give out their financial details to help victims but unfortunately fall in the trap of such wicked tactics of cybercriminals.

Many people are not aware that such links could be loaded with malicious software or malware, which are designed to steal passwords and personal information. McAfee warns that anyone who visits these websites or clicks these sites could end up with a malware-ridden computer and loss of personal data.

It is not just McAfee which has detected such fake websites exploiting the natural calamity of Uttarakhand but also the Indian Air Force (IAF), which played a major role in rescue operation at Uttarakhand. It (IAF) recently complained to Delhi Police that several fake sites have been set-up and webpages have been created on Facebook in IAF's name requesting for donations for Uttarakhand victims.

ZEENEWS.com published a report on 4th July 2013 quoting a complaint filed by Wing Commander Tejveer Singh of alleging that shady websites have used the IAF logos to look legitimate and put up bank a/c (account) numbers in which people can donate money for the Uttarakhand victims.

In addition to this, Commander Singh also gave out intricate details of two bank account numbers that are being run online. Delhi police is probing the matter and suspects that both the bank accounts are being managed by same person with the first name 'Aditya'.

Delhi Police and McAfee have cautioned Internauts not to pay any attention to such requests, as it's unlikely that the money donated by them in good spirit is going to be used for relief work of those devastated by the natural calamity.

» SPAMfighter News - 7/19/2013