Phishers Target eBay To Steal Information

The all-time favorite website for phishers eBay has once again been made the target for a new phishing email. It deceives you into clicking on the link to a phishing website and then extracts sensitive details from you which is passed on to malicious cyber criminals.

This email is different, as it appears to teach you about phishing and other scam attacks and eventually gives you the impression of being a trusted source so that you click on the link in the email. You are then directed to a website with a login screen where you will be revealing your login id and password to imposters.

Security firm MicroWorld Technologies cautions that the email informs users of their accounts having been suspended due to suspected online thefts. They are then prompted to reveal their confidential information on the fake website for reactivation of the accounts. As soon as the information is entered, it is transferred to the criminals behind the attack.

Sulabh Mahant, security analyst at MicroWorld Technologies explains that the mail is composed in a highly professional style, to the extent that even cautious users are, even if only momentarily, taken in by all it says. It elaborates on online security fraud and the importance of password protection for activities on the Internet. The link appears genuine and the mail also explains that some pop-up blockers prevent users from accessing the form and provides tips to circumvent it.

eBay has been waging a constant battle against phishers with a number of attempts to steal account information of users. Many of their unsuspecting customers have already suffered such attacks.

In the opinion of Govind Rammurthy, CEO of MicroWorld Technologies, phishing is known to have come of age, having already evolved into techniques like pharming. DNS poisoning is used in redirecting users to fake websites. Although the eBay mail may be a retro sample, it indicates the extent con-artists will go to for a highly convincing script. Every aspect of online crime is constantly doing everything to improve and the crucial need is protective gear capable of keeping up with it.

It is advisable that good anti-spam software with regular updates and phishing protection be used to ward off such attacks.

Related article: Phishers Expand Their Sphere of Attacks

» SPAMfighter News - 9/5/2006