IC3 Informs about Three New Spam Scams

The IC3 or Internet Crime Complaint Center, an organization under the partnership of the FBI and the NW3C (National White Collar Crime Center) released on July 17, 2007 some fresh information about well-known scams hovering on the Internet.

The report issued a warning to the public to be wary of three different online scams that were thriving by the use of spam mails. The warning follows the vast number of complaints coming to IC3 and the FBI from US citizens during the recent few weeks.

These spam messages are hoaxes and deserve deletion, said a joint representative of IC3 and FBI. He called on consumers to be alert of unwanted e-mails that request action even if it is opening an attachment. It is quite likely that a 'double click' on the attachment in the e-mail could lead recipients to install malware like viruses, trojans or keystroke loggers on their PCs. Newsmax published this on July 18, 2007.

There have been reports coming to IC3 about fraudulent schemes misusing the name of FBI and/or Director Robert S. Mueller III. The bogus e-mails appear to be legitimate because they use photos of the Director of FBI, letterhead, seal or/and banners. These schemes using the FBI or its director's name are endorsements for lottery and inheritance notices.

Another spam sends electronic greeting cards in e-mails to recipients, which on clicking, launch malicious software on PC. In these online fraud schemes, the crook employs social engineering to convince the victim that the sender of the card is from a friend or family member.

Although there are different kinds of spam messages and embedded malware, but the messages most commonly entice the recipient to click the included link to access the e-card or postcard. But when the recipient clicks the link, it takes him to an evil web page.

The third spam involves e-mail posing to be a message from a US military official on behalf of American soldiers deployed overseas.

The scam messages say different things but the primary content requests personal account information and/or money from the e-mail's recipient.

Related article: ICC Cup Event Could Be Fodder for Phishers

» SPAMfighter News - 7/27/2007