Qtel Customers Warned of Phishing E-mails

Telecommunications service vendor Qtel is warning internet users in Qatar about a new wave of scam e-mails that purport to be from Qatar Internet Services and try to get personal information from consumers.

The fraudulent e-mail supposedly offers a new and enhanced internet service, but also warns that if the recipient ignores the message, he might have his Internet and e-mail accounts permanently suspended. The e-mail displays the headline "The all-new Qatar Internet Services! You must be a part of it to avoid de-activation of your internet Qatar e-mail."

However, Qtel has confirmed that neither Qtel nor any known Qatari company has sent the e-mail. Moreover, it is an addition to the growing wave of online ID theft scams, also referred to as "phishing".

Adel Al Mutawa, Qtel Executive Director, Group Communications, said that Qtel would never request its customers for passwords and personal details over e-mail or via text message. Mutawa assured that his organization is doing everything possible to prevent such kinds of scams from occurring in Qatar and seeking to cooperate with its customers in detecting and mitigating the threat, as reported by The Peninsula on December 18, 2008.

Moreover, the security specialists said that the fake e-mails try to trick unsuspecting users into revealing their personal and secret data like date-of-birth, username and password that could be utilized to pose as the user and steal information and money.

Besides, the text used in the current phishing attempt displays considerable sophistication as it tampers with public awareness of Qtel's ongoing initiatives to improve its widely used e-mail service by offering a number of new utilities for people's e-mail and internet accounts.

The Qtel official said that Qtel's team of internet security personnel is working to trace down the e-mail sender's actual IP address to block his Web access and find his precise location.

Additionally, Qtel is actively repeating to customers about the significance of being cautious with the fraudulent e-mails that try to capture personal data.

Also, customers are encouraged to report the scam at Qtel's web page namely http://www.qtel.com.qa/CustomerCare.do.

Related article: Qtel Accelerates Drive Against Phishing Mails

» SPAMfighter News - 12/22/2008