Phishing E-mail Using Mobil Oil FCU Name Targeting Unsuspecting Consumers

According to the news reports from Beaymont Enterprise published on January 5, 2009, scam e-mails are being circulated in the Beaumont (Texas, United States) claiming to be sent from the Mobil Oil Federal Credit Union. The messages are coming in for the 2nd time in a month, the first lot having been distributed in early December 2008.

State the reports that the fraudulent e-mail asks the recipient to verify his Mobil Oil FCU account by calling a phone number (toll free) either on 866 alternatively on 877. But when anyone calls the numbers, the person at the other end asks for the caller's personal account details, his payment card number along with its expiration date and PIN, and then abruptly hangs off, according to the area police.

Say the security specialists that the act is part of phishing through which the criminals are attempting to grab the consumers' sensitive and confidential information. The area police also stated that they were constantly receiving complaints of the new phishing scam.

Meanwhile, according to Officer Crystal Holmes of the Beaumont Police Department, a majority of the people being attacked does neither have nor have ever had a private account with Mobil Oil Federal Credit Union. Beaymont Enterprise reported this on January 5, 2009.

Holmes further added that there were people who had provided information, however, the Mobil Oil Federal Credit Union had measures to avert the fraudulent activity therefore if anyone had given out details he needed to contact the credit union in order that the affected account could be flagged.

Furthermore, the police said that the Mobil Oil Federal Credit Union had no association with the e-mails. The e-mails were probably being spread in mass to random PCs in anticipations that they would reach at least some real customers.

Meanwhile Holmes himself received two e-mails on the morning of January 5, 2009. Accordingly he advised that no person should share his private information with anyone who establishes a contact for the purpose.

He also reiterated that no financial institution would ever contact a consumer and request for private account details already in confidential records.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 1/12/2009