BEWARE! Phishing email from Red Cross circulating

[jokach]

Its only a matter of time until scammers take advantage of tragedies like Katrina.

Be warned that there is a phishing email pretending to be from the Red Cross, which directs users to a spoofed website that looks very similar to the real American Red Cross Hurricane relief fund website. All donations given using that spoofed website will only end up in the pockets of criminals.

Make sure you use the tips posted in the sticky thread of this forum to identify and prevent phishing attempts!

jokach

[mercinary]

Jokach,

Do you have a copy of the phisher email? It would be nice to post it and point out the link inside that points to the "bad" place.

-Merc

[jokach]

I don't have an exact copy of the email at this point, once I acquire one, I will post it ...

jokach

[MooMoo]

I am concerned at this latest news. I know that phishing emails have been around a while now, but it is almost unbelievable that some people would stoop so low as to send some supposedly from registered charities.

However, I am also worried that no-one appears to have actually seen one. If nobody has received one, isnt this a bit like scare-mongering? One of the most dangerous things on the internet is the idea of getting people worried about something that has not actually happened - yet.

Perhaps the use of some common sense would be in order here.

[jokach]

isnt this a bit like scare-mongering?


Actually, I have to disagree with you. Its better to advise people that there is the potential for these types of emails being circulated so that if they do get one, they can analyze it in more detail. Its important that consumers are on their guard against spammers and phishers, in the same way that people should be on guard against other types of criminals (robbers, terrorists, drug abusers). Thats the way that those people operate, they take advantage of peoples good nature in a time of need, its a sick way to be, but its out there.

I have to say that with the number of email users in the world right now, odds are low that too many will see the same email circulated, but its better to be safe than sorry ...

jokach

[mercinary]

Jokach is right. It is better to fore-warn people. With that said, I think the proof you are looking for is here:

http://www.sophos.com/spaminfo/articles/redcrossphish.html

Nuff said.

-Merc

[mercinary]

And if that wasn't enough proof that this is a REAL problem, CNN just ran a story on it:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/08/katrina.web.scams.ap/index.html

To quote just a small piece of the article:


New sites are popping up "faster than we can pound them down," Reigel said. The number of sites and the money being donated already exceeds what the FBI saw following the tsunami, he said.


-Merc

[MatrixWatch]

In a slightly unrelated note, two people were recently arrested (http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/article_1049053.php/Two_indicted_in_alleged_Katrina_scam) up by the police for impersonating Red Cross volunteers soliciting donations in Burbank, CA.