BBC Discovers Fake E-mails Purporting Heir Hunter

The BBC has issued a warning to computer users to remain ever active and vigilant towards any of the scam e-mails that declares to be arising from a daytime TV show. This all began with the discovery of the scam e-mails that are using the cover story for obtaining the personal information of people, reported naked security on February 7, 2012.

The e-mail scams are connected to the BBC television programme "heir hunter", which provides news on the relatives of deceased people who must have died without making any will.

The fake e-mail opens with a very catchy subject line "heir hunter" and the details of the mail addresses the sender to be a working at the Heir Hunter Company in the UK. The detectives working in the Company and haunting for distant relative of deceased people, who must have not made a will before dying and by the estimate of the UK Government, during the last year, unclaimed assets registered a total amount of GBP18m.

The tricky fake message acclaims the recipient and lures them into providing all personal information like full name, date of birth, personal phone number, and address. To make it sound more authentic, it further reminds the sender to provide all the information if the mail sounds to corresponds to the lost individual so that all the assets could be transferred without any hassle.

To add spice to the whole drama and make it sound more reliable and interesting, the e-mail also provides a link for watching one of the episode of the TV show online through the BBC iplayer.

In most of the cases, the e-mail asks for first name, date of birth, addresses, and phone number, and after acquiring these preliminary data of the victimized, the spammers ask for bank account number and even more sensitive data.

After learning of this malicious campaign, BBC even issued a warning to create awareness among all.

BBC, however recommends that these e-mails have no relation with the BBC or even its Flame television, which are the makers of heir hunters. Further, it also commends people not to dare open the e-mails and restricts people from replying them. Rather, it advises people to contact the police on receipt of any suspicious mail.

Related article: BBC’s Subscriber Mailing List Hacked By Spammers

» SPAMfighter News - 2/11/2012