THE number of victims falling for 'phishing' scams is on the
rise.
Typically, the victim in such 'phishing' scams receive an email
claiming to be from their email service provider. They are then led
to believe that they are required to verify their user account
information and email password with the 'service provider', failing
which their email account may be suspended or terminated.
Once the victim unwittingly replies with his user information
and password, the scammer takes over the email account and changes
the password to prevent access by the victim.
Using the victim's email account, the scammer then sends emails
to the victim's email contacts, requesting financial assistance.
These emails, sent out in the victim's name, are intended to
deceive recipients into believing that the victim is stranded
overseas and in urgent need of financial assistance.
Typically, the scammers also ask for money to be remitted
urgently to an overseas account via remittance companies.
Malay daily Berita Harian reported last Friday that the email
account of former senior parliamentary secretary (Information,
Communications and the Arts) Yatiman Yusoff was compromised and
used to send out emails to others requesting for financial
assistance.
The police advise the public to be wary of such email phishing
scams. If users receive emails, claiming to be from service
providers or family members, they should be careful and avoid
clicking on any URL link or opening file attachments inside the
email.