Don’t Get Swindled by Swine Flu Scams
Your Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent
e-mails and Web sites trying to take advantage of the current Swine Flu outbreak.
Scammers read newspapers, watch TV and surf the Internet in order to capitalize on the day’s top headlines. Right now it’s Swine Flu.
According to McAfee Avert Labs, an online security company, spammers began sending e-mails as soon as the first accounts of Swine Flu hit the news. The messages include subject lines such as, “Madonna caught Swine Flu!” and “Swine Flu in Hollywood!” McAfee reports that the e-mails do not contain malware, but often link to online pharmacies.
Misleading Web sites are also beginning to appear. One in particular, www.noswineflu.com, is offering a Swine Flu Survival Guide for $19.95.
BBB offers the following advice to avoid Swine Flu scams:
• Avoid opening e-mails from unknown sources and don’t click on any links in the body of the e-mail or open any attachments. Instead, delete the e-mail or report it to the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding the e-mail to spam@uce.gov.
• Don’t believe online offers for vaccinations against Swine Flu because a vaccine does not exist. For more information on Swine Flu and updates on progress in fighting the outbreak, go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
• Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up to date and all operating system security patches have been installed. If your computer becomes infected as the result of a spam e-mail about Swine Flu, you can report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The official blog of SouthSideBusiness.com
Showing posts with label BBB Fraud Alert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBB Fraud Alert. Show all posts
Monday, May 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
FBI Identifies Recurring Fraudulent E-mail Scams Involving the Better Business Bureau
The FBI has recently developed information indicating cyber criminals are attempting to once again send fraudulent e-mails to unsuspecting recipients stating that someone has filed a complaint against them or their company with the Department of Justice or another organization such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, or the Better Business Bureau.
Information obtained during the FBI investigation has been provided to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has taken steps to alert their public and private sector partners with the release of a Critical Infrastructure Information Notice (CIIN).
The e-mails are intended to appear as legitimate messages from the above departments, and they address the recipients by name, and other personal information may be contained within the e-mail. Consistent with previous efforts, the scam will likely be an effort to secure Personally Identifiable Information. The nature of these types of scams is to create a sense of urgency for the recipient to provide a response through clicking on a hyperlink, opening an attachment, or initiating a telephone call.
It is believed this e-mail refers to a complaint that is in the form of an attachment, which actually contains virus software designed to steal passwords from the recipient. The virus is wrapped in a screensaver file wherein most anti-virus programs are unable to detect its malicious intent. Once downloaded, the virus is designed to monitor username and password logins, and record the activity, as well as other password-type information, entered on the compromised machine.
Be wary of any e-mail received from an unknown sender. Do not open any unsolicited e-mail and do not click on any links provided. To receive the latest information about cyber scams please go to the FBI website and sign up for e-mail alerts by clicking on one of the red envelopes. If you have received a scam e-mail please notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov. For more information on e-scams, please visit the FBI's New E-Scams and Warnings webpage.
Information obtained during the FBI investigation has been provided to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS has taken steps to alert their public and private sector partners with the release of a Critical Infrastructure Information Notice (CIIN).
The e-mails are intended to appear as legitimate messages from the above departments, and they address the recipients by name, and other personal information may be contained within the e-mail. Consistent with previous efforts, the scam will likely be an effort to secure Personally Identifiable Information. The nature of these types of scams is to create a sense of urgency for the recipient to provide a response through clicking on a hyperlink, opening an attachment, or initiating a telephone call.
It is believed this e-mail refers to a complaint that is in the form of an attachment, which actually contains virus software designed to steal passwords from the recipient. The virus is wrapped in a screensaver file wherein most anti-virus programs are unable to detect its malicious intent. Once downloaded, the virus is designed to monitor username and password logins, and record the activity, as well as other password-type information, entered on the compromised machine.
Be wary of any e-mail received from an unknown sender. Do not open any unsolicited e-mail and do not click on any links provided. To receive the latest information about cyber scams please go to the FBI website and sign up for e-mail alerts by clicking on one of the red envelopes. If you have received a scam e-mail please notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov. For more information on e-scams, please visit the FBI's New E-Scams and Warnings webpage.
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