Spoofed E-mail Masquerades as Tax-software Vendor Intuit, Aims at Its Buyers

One fresh phishing e-mail campaign posing as communication from Intuit, the firm that sells QuickBooks and TurboTax software, is presently hitting the inboxes of those themselves preparing for filing their returns.

Displaying headers like "Your Intuit.com Invoice" or "Your Order Confirmation," the fraudulent, phishing e-mail, addressing the recipient as "Dear Customer," thanks him following his apparent placing of an order to buy from Intuit Market. Intuit, the message continues, is already processing the order and will send him a message before shipping the same. Incase he has ordered a number of items, Intuit may process the orders within multiple shipments, without charging anything extra, so the delivery is ensured faster. Moreover, for any clarifications regarding the order, the recipient can call 1-800-955-8890, the e-mail ends.

But there are details of the order inside the e-mail obtainable by downloading the user's so-called invoice id #533729592359 from Intuit's official website.

Additionally, the e-mail tries to appear lawful and genuine, so it exhibits the logo of Intuit while requests the reader to send his feedback regarding Intuit's services so the firm can serve his requirements better.

However, following this statement is one 'malevolent' "Feedback" web-link that on clicking results in the installation of a PC-worm onto the user's system, which actually seizes his private details, officers from Intuit remarked.

Moreover, Spokeswoman Julie Miller of Intuit Market remarked that spammers in the current scam, who dispatched bulk messages, were well likely to target numerous users of tax software. During 2011, over 24m taxpayers utilized TurboTax and over 50m people bought one Intuit product, she added. Southtownstar.suntimes.com published this on March 4, 2012.

Incidentally, TurboTax along with other software vendors regularly dispatch e-mails to consumers suggesting them about their returns filing's latest state. That's why, consumers frequently become convinced and don't overlook the e-mails, which seem as coming from such vendors, says Miller. However, according to her, genuine TurboTax e-mails don't solicit users' financial details.

The deadline for filing returns in USA is April 17, 2012. Thus, it's recommended that taxpayers, till then, should exercise special caution while handling tax-related e-mails, which may land into their mailboxes.

Related article: September Suffers Sky-high phishing & Virus Attacks

» SPAMfighter News - 3/12/2012