DIA Cautions New Zealand Companies of ‘Whaling’ Attacks

Wellington (New Zealand) headquartered Department-of-Internal-Affairs has issued an alert to everyone for being wary about targeted e-mail assault referred to as "whaling" which can result in considerable financial losses for organizations in the country, reported nbr.co.nz dated September 9, 2015.

One form of phishing campaign, 'whaling' attacks executives at high positions.

Starting September 2015, 5 organizations have informed the DIA that the kind of assault has knocked their inboxes.

In the current scam, the e-mail ids masquerade as that of Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer alternatively someone of similar position with the messages dispatched to Senior Accountant, Chief Financial Officer else somebody similar making an immediate request of so-called money-transfer. This money for getting sent seemingly is different for different companies- between NZ$24,500 and NZ$89,400.

Whaling assault typically has the e-mail starting with one easy-to-understand query by the chief executive officer to chief financial officer about whether the amount of money requested for transfer is available so the sum can be immediately sent.

Advising people generally, DIA states that anyone being requested for immediately sending the money through e-mail else through any other medium electronically, he/she must re-check no matter whether the e-mail id looks genuine. At best he/she should verify from the fake writer of the e-mail either over telephone or mobile phone else in person for making sure the fund-transfer requested is lawful.

Out of the 5 instances brought to DIA's knowledge, 4 related to organizations where the positions and names of the staff members could be easily found on the company sites. And as the information on the websites helps the companies' clients in knowing the personnel's details for contacting, one must be wary that the same as well creates an extremely simple way for the e-mail fraudsters in knowing the personnel's position and deciding whom to attack through whaling.

DIA urges anyone getting a message electronically that's a whaling assault for sending that message at the Department's scam@reportspam.co.nz.

But, suppose the message recipient has already transferred the money then he/she must instantly inform his/her bank as well as inform about the fake money-transfer to the Police in New Zealand.

» SPAMfighter News - 9/24/2015