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Feds warn of e-mail con artists |
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Feds warn of e-mail con artists
By David Ho / Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Stealing identities and credit card numbers with bogus e-mail and Web sites that appear to come from legitimate companies is an increasing problem on the Internet, federal officials warned Monday.
The Federal Trade Commission said it had brought its first case against this type of scheme, called spoofing or carding. A 17-year-old California boy accused of posing as America Online agreed to settle federal charges by accepting a lifetime ban on sending junk e-mail and paying a $3,500 fine, the FTC said.
The FBI has received increasing numbers of complaints about this kind of scam, said Keith Lourdeau, a section chief with the bureau's Cyber Division.
Due in part to this growing scam, we are seeing a rise in identity theft, credit card fraud and other Internet frauds, Lourdeau said at a news conference with officials from the FTC and EarthLink. Officials said they didn't know how many people have been victimized by the scam.
In the California case, consumers received authentic-looking e-mails claiming there was a billing problem with their AOL account and asking them to update their information or risk losing Internet access, the FTC said. The message included a link to an AOL Billing Center, a fake Web page dressed up with the company's logo, colors and links to real AOL sites.
The counterfeit site directed consumers to fix the billing problem by entering credit card numbers and other sensitive personal information including AOL screen names and passwords, Social Security numbers, bank routing numbers, credit limits, mother's maiden name and billing addresses.
The FTC said the stolen information was used to order merchandise and make online payments worth at least $8,000. The agency said it would not release the name of the teen involved because he is a minor.
Don't take the bait. Be skeptical of e-mail messages telling you your account will be shut down, FTC Commissioner Mozelle Thompson said. If you do receive an e-mail warning like this, don't click on the link.
Instead, he said, people should contact the company directly by phone or through a Web site or e-mail address known to be authentic.
Tips to avoid scams:
FBI and Federal Trade Commission tips for consumers to avoid Internet scams that use bogus e-mail and Web sites to get personal information:
-- Be wary of unsolicited e-mail that asks, either directly or through a Web site, for personal financial or identity information, such as a Social Security number or passwords.
-- Don't click on the links provided in such e-mail.
-- When updating account information use a familiar process, such as visiting the known Web address of a company's account maintenance page. Unfamiliar addresses for this probably are fake.
-- Make sure an Internet connection is secure -- with an icon of a lock visible on the Web browser -- before submitting personal information.
-- Monitor credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges.
-- If an e-mail or Web site is in doubt, make sure the request is authentic by contacting the company directly by phone or through a Web site or e-mail address known to be authentic.
-- People victimized by a fraudulent e-mail or Web site should contact their local police department and file a complaint with the FBI and the FTC. Consumers also should report fraudulent or suspicious e-mail to their Internet service provider.
On the Net:
FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center: http://www.IFCCFBI.gov
FTC identity theft site: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft
Source= http://www.detnews.com/2003/technology/0307/22/technology-224431.htm
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