Phishing E-mail Scam Targeting Ford Customers with Attractive Offer

A fake e-mail scam, which resembles to the Nigerian banking e-mail scams, is targeting customers of Ford Motor Co., according to a news published in Freep on May 14, 2009.

The beginning of the e-mail is quite informal as it notifies the customers that the sales statistics of Ford Motor Company Inc. have drastically slumped due to the economic recession. As a result, the company is facing severe financial crisis.

The e-mail further said that although the US government had given an opportunity to Ford to bounce back, the company failed to achieve the necessary funds.

Therefore, the company is providing customers an opportunity to buy vehicles at half of their original cost. Moreover, the company has taken a decision to sell 500 cars at the lowest prices to raise the fund necessary for bouncing back in business. It is also using this medium to raise the value of its customers, according to the e-mail.

Further, the e-mail lures people with a striking deal that customers can pay the amount in installments through banks. The installments will start after one month of signing the contract.

The e-mail informs the customers that a representative from the company will contact them regarding the deal within five working days. Interest customers can get more information about the car from the html file embedded in the e-mail.

Ford has denied its role in the phishing e-mail and stated that one of the customers informed it about the hoax e-mail on May 13, 2009. Soon after the alert, the company notified its information technology security team and also contacted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Robert Parker, Ford Spokesman, said that the contact details given in the e-mail didn't belong to a Ford employee, as reported by Freep on May 14, 2009.

Moreover, Ford states that the investigating agencies have found the e-mail was originated from somewhere in Europe.

Finally, the company's spokesman has asked the computer users, who have received or may receive such phishing e-mails, to be careful and don't ensnare by them.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 5/18/2009