Thursday, January 12, 2012

Top Scams in 2011

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has recently released a list of the most popularized online fraud schemes in 2011. Job scam has earned one of the topmost positions in the genre of online fraud scheme. The modus operandi behind such scam is to send a well-drafted job form application to the intending clients. To fulfill the said criteria, candidates are required to provide complete information for direct deposition of their pay check as a part of providing credit report. The personal data provided by the intending candidates anticipating an urgent requirement for the same is later on applied in dubious application and stealing their identity.
The National Associated Clearing House Association (NACHA) is yet another popular fraud in 2011 according to the report revealed by the BBB. E-mails masquerading NACHA informed the candidate that one of transaction made by the recipient is not clear, for which the recipient is required to click a link for clearing the fraud. The much instigated link takes the recipient to a much authentic looking, complete fraud banking website ending up in downloading of uninvited malwares.
The BBB also highlighted much sweepstakes and lottery scams in the list. Out of which, the e-mail scam purported to be from the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerburg topped the list. This scam e-mail announced an award winning prize money of US$1 Million to the recipient from Facebook.
Also, BBB announced "scam of the year". In this type of scam, a recipient receives an e-mail which imitates an official notice from BBB. The subject line starts with the spoofed title "complaint against business". However, the problem starts when a recipient clicks the link, or opens an attachment of the mail, that commences a malicious virus that steals the victim's sensitive personal information from their computer.
According to BBB, the organization is working towards providing security and federal law enforcement to follow down the source of these e-mails and has already closed a couple of hijacked websites. According to the Bureau anyone who may have opened one of the malicious e-mails is advised to scan the entire computer and the network with anti-virus software.

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