02-05-08, 06:07 PM
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The FBI Warns of E-Mail Scam That Searches For Passwords | |
The FBI Warns of E-Mail Scam
That Searches For Passwords The FBI is warning residents to be cautious of an e-mail claiming that a complaint has been filed against them or their company with a government agency. The complaint also could unleash a computer virus that “phishes” for passwords, authorities say. The fraudulent e-mails state that a complaint has been filed with the Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, or the Better Business Bureau could be used to try to elicit personal information from the recipient for identity-theft purposes.
According to an FBI prepared statement, the e-mails, which appear as legitimate messages from the above departments, address the recipients by name. The e-mails also claim to be urgent and ask residents to click on a link, open an attachment, or initiate a telephone call. Federal authorities say the e-mail refers to a complaint that is in the form of an attachment, which contains virus software designed to steal passwords from the recipient. The virus is wrapped in a screensaver file wherein most anti-virus programs are unable to detect its malicious intent. Once downloaded, the virus is designed to monitor username and password logins, and record the activity, as well as other password-type information that is entered on the compromised computer. Residents are being asked by federal authorities to be wary of any e-mail received from an unknown sender. They are also being asked not to open any unsolicited e-mail and to avoid clicking on any links provided.
Source: http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2...ews/news03.txt
Last edited by Scrub; 02-05-08 at 06:08 PM.
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