New Phishing E-Mail Abuses Name of US Attorney General

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to consumers that a fresh e-mail, which is posing as a message from the Attorney General of US, Eric Holder, is circulating online.

Describing the scam in detail, security officials said that it involves a phishing e-mail that tells the recipient that the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have been notified that he (recipient) is involved in terrorist and money-laundering activities. Thus, if the user doesn't want to be prosecuted, then he should pay $370 and obtain a certificate of clearance that Chairman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission would issue. The e-mail even provides an e-mail id for obtaining the certificate.

However, Harry Trombitas, special agent of FBI, said that both the e-mail and certificate are bogus and obviously a fraud, reported nbc4i.com on October 28, 2009. According to Trombitas, the e-mail returned to one of the government websites of Nigeria.
Trombitas also stated that the scammers must have victimized some of the users and grabbed money from them, as people did get scare when they receive e-mails from the Office of Attorney General or FBI or any other government agency.

Meanwhile, the FBI confirmed that no government agency ever dispatches unsolicited messages of such kind, reported mainjustice.com on October 28, 2009.

The bureau further said that the Department of Justice, FBI, along with other U.S. government executives received briefs on a lot of investigations; however, they never personally got in touch with people about such issues. Moreover, if any U.S. government agency needs to contact an individual, it utilizes legal procedures.

Meanwhile, the FBI gave certain tips that users could follow to safeguard themselves from such scams. These included avoiding clicking web-links given in unsolicited e-mails, as they could contain viruses; and not responding to them ever. Also, consumers must protect their username, e-mail address, Social Security number and other details of personal identity to protect them from being compromised.

Finally, any victim of Internet crime must formally complain to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which is collaboration between the FBI, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).

Related article: New Zealand Releases Code To Reduce Spam

» SPAMfighter News - 11/11/2009