E-mail Spoofing Batelco Targets its Customers

According to the reports came from Batelco on July 30, 2008, it cautioned its customers against answering to a fraudulent e-mail that claims to be sent by the company (Batelco).

Meanwhile, as per reports received, the company said that a some of its consumers had found e-mail in their inboxes, displaying the subject line "Verification Department" and requesting them to confirm their Batelco e-mail account details including password.

Customers, who received the e-mail, further said that the spoof e-mail warned that their '@batelco.com.bh' e-mail ID would be removed unless they supplied the requested information within a week from the date the message is delivered.

While investigators from Batelco confirmed that the e-mail is false, they asked clients to remain calm and were assured that their accounts wouldn't be deleted. Investigators analyzing the e-mail also said that the phony e-mail resembled with Batelco e-mail and was just a tactic to make Batelco's clients an easy lure for a phishing scheme.

As per security experts and analysts, phishing is primarily an attempt by fraudsters to trick Internet surfers into divulging sensitive personal details like banking information, password etc. Although the phishing in modern times has evolved in different forms, the most frequent phishing attack is through fraudulent e-mails that resemble the real Website and fool users to give away their personal details.

Meanwhile, Batelco issued a warning to its consumers on its official Website that the e-mail is a malevolent message sent by an external party for collecting of data to use in various marketing purposes, as reported by GULF Daily News on July 30, 2008.

Batelco also urged its consumers to ignore the message in the hoax e-mail and do not reply with any information requested in it. The company further said that it would never request its clients to reveal their e-mail account password via any electronic communication over the Internet.

The firm also said that if any of its customers received such types of doubtful e-mails, especially those asking to update data, he or she should immediately contact the Batelco inet Helpdesk at 1788-1188.

Related article: E-Crime Reporting Format To Be Launched in July

» SPAMfighter News - 8/12/2008