Goodmail Systems - E-mail Scams Growing with Economic Crisis

The security firm, Goodmail Systems, claims that e-mail fraud is a flourishing industry in the fading US economy. Hackers are making use of the concerns about the economy and confusion in the financial market to deceive worried consumers.

Ironically, these e-mails promise of relieving consumers from paying bills or chance to safeguard their savings from loss or seizure. But these phishing e-mails are made to steal private details.

Security experts report one latest phishing scam which has the subject line "Who wouldn't jump at a little extra money from the Internal Revenue Service?" The body of the mail has been given an authentic look by using a fake IRS logo and informs the recipients that they would get a refund.

The phishing websites to which the e-mail recipients are taken to ask for bank details and social security number both of which can result in ID theft and financial fraud. Security experts also add that similar frauds are circulating that provide property tax relief.

Generally, hackers appear as a credit counseling service, financial institution or government agency. Government brands are the favorite targets of attackers as users often trust government identification.

Chief Executive Officer of Goodmail Systems, Peter Horan, has cautioned the users and added that they should be alert of any non-certified mail that asks for personal details or asks to click on any attached link, as reported by QueenBusinessToday on March 19, 2009.

Peter also informs that these kinds of e-mails will either lead to fake websites where private details are stolen or install a spyware in the system that transfers private details to the hacker.

In the mean time, a latest survey by the firm reveals that spam and phishing attacks are also growing in number, positioning themselves on the top of the lists the marketer's concerns for 2009.

In similar news, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has also cautioned users that the promise of stimulus money in exchange for free or financial details is always a scam, as the government authorities do not send stimulus mails like these asking for private details.

» SPAMfighter News - 3/27/2009