Bogus E-mails Impersonating UK Land Registry Targeting British Internauts

According to security researchers, Internauts in United Kingdom need to remain vigilant of e-mails, which pose as communication from UK's Land and Registry, organization that registers property and land ownership of citizens, published softpedia.com dated September 11, 2013.

Notifying recipients of the e-mails about certain fees that the Land and Property Registering body will deduct from their A/Cs, the fake messages tell users that the body is about to debit 202 pounds against their nominated A/Cs at the earliest possible prior to or on 10/09/13. They can view the fee details after it has been directly debited, owing to charges for application, the e-mails indicate.

To view, users require clicking on an attached report. For any question about the user's VDD account, he's requested to call 0844-892-1111 else e-mail to customersupport@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk of Customer Support. While placing any enquiry, he's requested to mention his key number, the e-mails conclude.

But, the e-mails aren't that of Land Registry, while there's no fee detail in the attachment. Rather there's a zipped archive inside the attachment which in turn hosts one harmful executable, remark analysts studying the malevolent electronic mail.

Once run, this executable, like often, plants malicious software onto victims' PCs. The software then transmits personal data stored on the contaminated PC onwards certain remote-controlling server, takes down as also plants more malware as well as gives the crooks control and access to the hijacked machine.

For sounding increasingly genuine, the malicious component carrying e-mails use contact info, legal terms along with web-links inside the messages just like within real Land Registry e-mails.

Asserting that it has nothing to do with the currently-spreading e-mail campaign, Land Registry cautioned Internauts for watching out for fake e-mails using its name. It said it wouldn't ever request them to provide personal information, their payment information or security details over e-mail. Incase anyone felt suspicious about an incoming e-mail, supposedly a Land Registry message, he was urged not to view any attachments or click web-links, reveal any private particulars, else answer it.

The agency advised Internet-users for sending such e-mails at phishing@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk of Land Registry before erasing them permanently.

» SPAMfighter News - 9/18/2013