Web Security Review

The FBI, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Earthlink have jointly issued a warning on how the growing ranks of Internet crooks are using new tricks called “phishing” and “spoofing” to steal your identity.

In an FBI press release, Assistant Director of the agency’s Cyber Division, Jana Monroe says, “Bogus e-mails that try to trick customers into giving out personal information are the hottest, and most troubling, new scam on the Internet.

The FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) has seen a steady increase in complaints that involve some form of unsolicited e-mail directing consumers to a phony “Customer Service” type of web site. Assistant Director Monroe said that the scam is contributing to a rise in identity theft, credit card fraud, and other Internet frauds.

“Spoofing,” or “phishing,” frauds attempt to make Internet users believe that they are receiving e-mail from a specific, trusted source, or that they are securely connected to a trusted web site, when that is not the case.

Continue reading from:  usgovinfo.about.com

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