Post by kas on Nov 16, 2010 22:58:53 GMT -5
Internet users warned over scam
16th November 2010
Broadband and internet users in the UK are being warned about a large scale technical support scam that is in operation, which could result in the criminals running the scam being able to obtain sensitive data from the user's hard drive including bank account details, passwords, and other sensitive data that could result in identity theft and financial losses for the users.
The warning has been issued by the internet safety campaign group Get Safe Online, which claims that around 25 percent of broadband users in the UK are being targeted by the scam artists. It is further claimed that the scam has now become so big that the criminals behind it could be employing up to four hundred people to setup bogus technical call centres and contact people.
The operation involves the criminals cold calling internet users and offering them technical support and virus fixes. However, those that agree to sign up to the service are then having spyware installed on their computer, which is then used to obtain sensitive and personal data from the hard drive, which could include details such as bank account details, passwords, and other confidential data.
Google also issued a warning earlier this year stating that it had discovered a huge amount of malicious fake anti-virus software. Internet users are being warned to be vigilant and look out for any pop ups that offer anti-virus checks whilst they are using the internet, as these could be amongst the malicious software that is being used by the scam artists.
Often the pop ups will ask users to click through to a site, which looks as though it is offering software that could 'fix' the problem but is actually just a site that is used to harvest personal data and confidential details about the user. Call centres are said to have been set up in Asia and Eastern Europe, and this is where many of the cold callers are ringing from.
The information that is being collected by the gangs is then either used by the gang members themselves or in some cases is sold on via the black market to other criminals.
www.loans4.co.uk/loan_news/news.php?item=974-Internet_users_warned_over_scam-974
16th November 2010
Broadband and internet users in the UK are being warned about a large scale technical support scam that is in operation, which could result in the criminals running the scam being able to obtain sensitive data from the user's hard drive including bank account details, passwords, and other sensitive data that could result in identity theft and financial losses for the users.
The warning has been issued by the internet safety campaign group Get Safe Online, which claims that around 25 percent of broadband users in the UK are being targeted by the scam artists. It is further claimed that the scam has now become so big that the criminals behind it could be employing up to four hundred people to setup bogus technical call centres and contact people.
The operation involves the criminals cold calling internet users and offering them technical support and virus fixes. However, those that agree to sign up to the service are then having spyware installed on their computer, which is then used to obtain sensitive and personal data from the hard drive, which could include details such as bank account details, passwords, and other confidential data.
Google also issued a warning earlier this year stating that it had discovered a huge amount of malicious fake anti-virus software. Internet users are being warned to be vigilant and look out for any pop ups that offer anti-virus checks whilst they are using the internet, as these could be amongst the malicious software that is being used by the scam artists.
Often the pop ups will ask users to click through to a site, which looks as though it is offering software that could 'fix' the problem but is actually just a site that is used to harvest personal data and confidential details about the user. Call centres are said to have been set up in Asia and Eastern Europe, and this is where many of the cold callers are ringing from.
The information that is being collected by the gangs is then either used by the gang members themselves or in some cases is sold on via the black market to other criminals.
www.loans4.co.uk/loan_news/news.php?item=974-Internet_users_warned_over_scam-974