New twist on phishing scams

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, England (10/25/04)--Newly released figures show a massive increase in phishing websites. The Anti-Phishing Working Group estimates that the number of phishing scam websites is increasing by roughly 50% per month (it-analysis.com Oct. 12).

Phishing scams trick people into divulging confidential information such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers by posing as legitimate business sites. The majority of phishing attacks over the past year have imitated companies such as PayPal, Citibank, eBay, Wells Fargo, AOL and even the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Research by Websense Security Labs shows that a new type of phishing website has emerged, which doesn't imitate established companies, but rather pretends to be an entirely new company that offers products or services over the Internet.

Websense urges consumers to watch for the following:

  • Fraudulent pharmacy, bank, mortgage and loan websites. These may be the most popular scam portals.
  • Sites lacking proper contact information. Most scam websites have fake contact information, lack contact information altogether or are out of service.
  • Short life. Fraud-based websites only survive an average of 8.5 days, which is longer than phishing sites, but a good indicator of reprehensible activity.
  • Foreign sites. The majority of fraud-based websites are located outside the U.S.

Consumers are advised not to click on links within e-mail messages you weren't expecting. Avoid e-mailing personal and financial information, and review all statements for unauthorized charges.

Report suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

  Resource Link
Statement Stuffer: ID Theft: How to Prevent It and How to Get Over It


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