Phishing E-Mail Pledges Tax Refund, But has Other Malicious Motive
Phishing e-mail offering about $250 as a tax refund is currently being
circulated across Canadian inboxes. The document, which at first appears
official, even displays the Canadian Revenue Agency logo; however, its
authenticity diminishes on thoroughly examining it.
For example, the e-mail mentions 'Canada's Department of Revenue' that in
fact is known as the Canada Revenue Agency. Then it requests for the user's
private information like mother's name before marriage, bankcard PIN and
social insurance details that government and police officials repeatedly tell
the public never to reveal over e-mail or phone.
Spokesperson Emilia Kotris for the Winnipeg-based CRA emphasized, the agency
wouldn't ever solicit such information either through e-mail or through
phone. Cbc.ca published this on April 20, 2009. According to Kotris, such
private details could encourage the illegal access of bank accounts or other
sensitive data, while she also said that experts had traced the particular
phishing e-mail to an Amsterdam post office.
Delineating the scam's details, security experts stated the e-mail addresses
recipients as "Dear Taxpayer" while it asks for their credit card and social
insurance numbers. Also according to the experts, the content of the e-mail
appears so extremely genuine that an undoubting person could become a victim
of it. Furthermore, there is no official whatsoever whose name is given as
the person to be contacted at the revenue department, the experts said.
Moreover, Peter Stoffer a Member of Parliament from Canada's Nova Scotia is
also one amid many recent targets of a scam relating to income tax.
Therefore, according to him, he wishes to ensure that people keep themselves
away from it. Edmontonsun.com published this on April 20, 2009.
Hence the revenue agency alerts taxpayers to make themselves aware of various
tax scams that are a commonplace during the tax-time, globally. In USA also,
the Internal Revenue Service has cautioned people of e-mail scams that are
attacking tax filers there.
Besides, the phishing messages purporting to be from government departments
are growing very fast. Lately the Office of Oregon (U.S) Attorney General had
warned that a phishing e-mail circulated locally, during the 2nd week of
April 2009.
Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code
» SPAMfighter News - 4/27/2009
