Internet Scams
Chase Online Reward Survey      
Beginning early in 2006, online fraudsters mass-emailed scams targeting Chase Manhattan and JP Morgan customers. Dubbed 'phishing scams', such emails are designed to trick recipients into relinquishing personal financial details such as login credentials, mother's maiden name, and SSN. The Chase $20 Reward Survey phishing scams claim recipients will receive a $20 credit to their Chase or JP Morgan accounts in return for answering a few questions.
 
Amazon Phishing Scam      
Phishing scams are disguised as correspondence from valid financial or eCommerce providers. The email typically uses fear tactics in an effort to entice the intended victim into visiting a fraudulent website. Once on the website, which generally looks and feels much like the valid eCommerce/banking site, the victim is instructed to login to their account and enter sensitive financial information such as their bank PIN number, their Social Security number, mother's maiden name, etc.
 
IRS Tax Refund Phishing Scam      
A security flaw on a US government website has been exploited by a phishing scam claiming to be an IRS refund notification. The phishing email claims the recipient is eligible for a tax refund of $571.94. The email then tries to gain credibility by instructing recipients to copy/paste the url rather than clicking it. That's because the link actually does point to a page on a legitimate government website, http://www.govbenefits.gov. The problem is, the page being targeted on that site allows the phishers to 'bounce' the user to another site altogether.
 
MMORPG Trojans Abound      
Trojans used to create botnets have long been implicated in spam and credit card fraud rings. But online games, particulary MMORPGs (Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Games), are also a frequent target. Keylogging Trojans can be used to capture the login credentials for popular games and those accounts exploited for profit. Commonly, the attackers login to the stolen accounts and steal the in-game currency, rare items, and coveted equips, later auctioning them on IRC or eBay for real world money.
 
Nigerian 419 Advanced Fee Fraud      
Before the popularity of email, Nigerian 419 scams (aka Advanced Fee Fraud) were originally sent over fax machines and by snail mail. Today, email is the preferred method of these scammers and there are more Nigerian 419 Advanced Fee Fraud scams than ever before.
 
Digital Age Credit Card Fraud      
Numerous reports of credit card fraud have been pouring into DSLReports and other forums. The vast majority of complaints involve a fraudulent charge of $24.99 posted to the credit card as DIGITAL AGE 888-529-98 CYPRUS.
 
Hurricane Katrina and Rita Fraud      
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, unscrupulous Netizens began scooping up website domain names that include the words Katrina or Rita. Some of these websites are fraudulently soliciting donations under the guise of helping victims of the hurricanes. Some of the fraudulent activities have included eBay auctions of hurricane ‘memorabilia' which pledge to donate a percentage of profits to charities but do not, websites that masquerade as charitable organizations seeking donations for hurricane victims, and phishing emails that attempt to illicit sympathy-and solicit cash- from unsuspecting recipients. These activities have prompted U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to form the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force.
 
What is phishing?      
Phishing is a scam in which the attacker sends an email purporting to be from a valid financial or eCommerce provider. The email often uses fear tactics in an effort to entice the intended victim into visiting a fraudulent website. Once on the website, which generally looks and feels much like the valid eCommerce/banking site, the victim is instructed to login to their account and enter sensitive financial information such as their bank PIN number, their Social Security number, mother's maiden name, etc. This information is then surreptitiously sent to the attacker who then uses it to engage in credit card and bank fraud - or outright identity theft.
 
Washington Mutual Bank phishing email      
Below is an example of a phishing scam targeting Washington Mutual Bank customers. This phish claims that Washington Mutual Bank is adopting new security measures which require confirming ATM card details. As with other phishing scams, the victim is directed to visit a fraudulent site and any information entered on that site is sent to the attacker.
 
SunTrust phishing email      
The following example is of a phishing scam targeting SunTrust bank customers. The email warns that failing to comply with the instructions may result in account suspension. Note the use of the SunTrust logo. This is a common tactic with 'phishers' who often use valid logos they have simply copied from the real banking site in an attempt to lead credence to their phishing email.
 
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