April 30, 2008
The phishing threat
Looks like some of the boys at Google accidentally re-posted a three year old blog this week. Elinor Mills writes:
“Google is warning people about the dangers of phishing e-mails that ask for sensitive information and appear to come from a legitimate trusted source, like your bank, but are really scams to steal your data.” (Link)
“If you're on a site that's asking you to enter sensitive information, check for signs of anything suspicious.”
A man wearing sunglasses indoors? A box in the corner with “Acme Phishing Company” on the side?
The suspicious theme continues.
“Go to the site yourself, rather than clicking on links in suspicious emails…be sure to ask lots of questions and check the site asking for your information for signs of anything suspicious.”
A reader, mjm01010101 (clearly a big fan of the binary digit movement), left a story comment asking what seems to be a pertinent question: “Why bother with this post now, in 2008?”
Despite my jabs at Google’s seemingly dated blog, phishing is undoubtedly still a hot topic and a huge concern. The message is clear: inexperienced Internet users are still becoming victims despite all the publicity and education.
Next week on the Google Blog: who shot JR – revealed.
Phishing on the increase in the UK
No one is impacted by phishing more so than the financial sector. Apacs, the UK payment association, have revealed that reported attacks on UK consumers have more than doubled in the first quarter of the year at more than 10,000.
Online banking losses due to fraud may have decreased by one-third from £33.5 million (US$67 million) in 2006 to £22.6 million in 2007 but efforts to defraud users have climbed steadily. Sandra Quinn of Apacs said:
"Although online banking fraud losses fell last year, the fraudsters clearly aren't giving up. Phishing scams are continuing to rise and they are becoming ever more sophisticated." (Link)
And finally…
We’re very aware that phishing attacks can take on numerous forms and one emerging medium that we’re keeping an eye on is mobile phone text message. For example, the Arizona Central Credit Union of Phoenix, AZ., was hit with a phishing attack via text message in March.
But not all text message scams are serious matters.
Hundreds of thousands of hoax text messages were sent out to mobile phone users in Ireland telling them to call a certain number and ask for Anna Conda, Rory Lyons or Mr G Raffe.
That “certain number” belonged to Dublin Zoo. Calling their switchboard presented you with this recorded message:
“If you are calling to speak to Mr Rory Lion, C Lion, G Raffe or anyone similar please be aware that you are the victim of a hoax message.” (Link)
“We have lost our sense of humour now with calls coming in at a rate of about 13 a minute,” said Miss S Lug.
I guess the interesting aspect of what, to most of us, is an amusing story, is demonstrating how quickly and effectively scammers can reach their audience. I, of course, would not have fallen for it…
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