Which? Research Reveals that Phishing Emails Averaging at 20 a Month

Eandt.theiet.org recently reported on 20th August, 2015 quoting consumer watchdog Which? as "research reveals that people receive up to 20 phishing emails in a month with many involving sophisticated imitators of government departments, major companies and banks."

The consumer watchdog asked 25 members to log all scam calls, emails and letters they have received during a month totaling 447 with 95% coming through email.

The research also discovered two versions of scam emails. One version of hoax email received asserted to be from HMRC informing the recipient about a due towards a tax return while others asserted to be from Government Gateway.

The authentic Government Gateway website is employed to access government services like those for tax self-assessments.

The scam emails contained a document or a link and asked recipients to download or click and fill their details.

The more advanced versions even used logo of the appropriate government department.

Other cybercriminals used well-known brand names for their phishing by concealing as a popular shop or service.

Which? said that the enterprises frequented by scammers include BT, Apple iTunes, Amazon, PayPal and TalkTalk.

Normally, emails inform that consumer's account has been frozen and they had ordered for something which they had not or there was a security vigil on their account.

All emails contained a link to a website instructing recipients to click and submit personal details.

When researchers clicked through to observe where it would lead, they found bogus websites which cleverly mimicked the originals.

When a user fills in the appropriate details (for example to verify their iTunes account), they inadvertently give scammers access to the related account or their bank information.

According to the survey, banks most commonly deceived were Lloyds, Barclays and Santander with scams often saying that there has been unusual activity on a bank account or card and asking victims to verify their details.

Eandt.theiet.org published news on 20th August, 2015 quoting a Spokesman of Which? as saying "Although our scam hunters were selected from a group of members of Which? who said that they have already received communications through scam, we never expected them to be attacked by an average of almost 20 each in just four weeks."

» SPAMfighter News - 9/1/2015