IC3 Alerts US Citizens about Fake Consignment Spam

IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) has warned the US citizens that an e-mail spam purporting to arrive from Thomas S. Winkowski (former Assistance Commissioner of Customs & Border Protection (CBP), US) is presently making the rounds on the country's Internet.

The fraudulent e-mail states that the CBP has identified and stopped a diplomatic consul while he was carrying millions of dollar consignment to be given over to the home address of the recipient. Like many previous scams, the current spam message also directs the recipient to provide personal information in order to access the consignment, IC3 officials disclosed.

Security researchers have said that the e-mail, trying to cheat inculpable netizens, is a typical e-mail scam in which online miscreants exploit the name and position of an official of the federal government to lend a sense of authenticity.

Reportedly, the particular spam campaign has been circulating for last many weeks. It has raised concern among authorities endowed to protect people from getting ensnared into it.

Additionally, the authorities stated that besides those who complained about encountering the scam, there were surely more victims getting duped in it. Thus, the security specialists emphasized that people should be educated so that they could recognize and avoid the fraudulent messages.

Furthermore, the specialists advised people not to reply to the e-mails, as the CBP doesn't dispatch unsolicited e-mails. Additionally, uses must avoid clicking on links in the e-mails since they may download malware or viruses capable of damaging computers.

The specialists also said, it is important for consumers to protect their PII (Personally Identifiable Information) such as birth date, bank account and Social Security numbers among others.

Spammers always try to find out new tactics to entice people into giving away their private information, security specialists stated. Earlier during April 2009, the IC3 was alerted about a fake e-mail that circulated while posing to be from The Oprah Winfrey Show. The e-mail informed the recipient about his/her nomination to the Oprah Millionaire Contest Show. However, for a so-called participation in the contest, the e-mail directed the recipient to e-mail his/her contact details.

Related article: ICC Cup Event Could Be Fodder for Phishers

» SPAMfighter News - 5/5/2009