Mutation Of Old Phishing Scam Resurfaces

Another variant of the previous phishing scam has just re-emerged. Similar to infinite early phishing scams, this fake bank announcement seeks your confidential data.

The message - apparently originating from Bank of America - states, "While conducting our usual updation and confirmation we could not confirm your present telephone number. You are asked to verify your telephone number directly "or your account will be closed down forever," according to reports in the May 8, 2007 edition of Msnbc.

Stop! Don't act according to the instructions. This message isn't from Bank of America and the phone number doesn't go to their security section. It's a Skype number that proceeds directly to the phishers who could be just anywhere across the globe.

This latest phishing was detected by Mal-Aware.org, a team that concentrates on malware movement on the net. "This is the foremost instance involving specifically forwarding of your telephone number," avers Lance James, Mal-Aware's mastermind, as stated in reports by Msnbc on May 8, 2007.

An identical phishing scam occurred in February 2007; wherein the "Bakersfield Police Department" kept alerting the people against a bogus message in their inboxes claiming to be from Bank of America's security division.

The message had the bank's emblem and seemed authorized, however Bakersfield Police labeled it as a "phishing scam." The electronic message required receivers to divulge their access data in order to ensure swifter online banking facility and warning them of a short-term shutting of account if they did not oblige.

The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), a syndicate of innumerable banks, electronic-retailers, technology firms and government bureaux, cautions that a rising number of phishing strikes are being planned to purloin user's confidential data by transferring crime-ware onto his/her PC. This crime-ware slip across the PC of the user when the link, that's implanted in the scammer's message, and that's purported to direct the user to the financial organization's site, is opened.

"If they can download this crime-ware onto your PC, then they don't have make extra efforts to befool you," clarifies Peter Cassidy, the APWG's (Anti-Phishing Working Group) Secretary General, as indicated by reports issued on May 8, 2007 by Msnbc.

Related article: Modeling Agency Scam attacks Australia

» SPAMfighter News - 5/18/2007