Phishing is the act of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, credit card details (and sometimes, indirectly, money) by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communications. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction
sites, banks, online payment processors or IT department are
commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public. Phishing emails may
contain links to websites that are infected with malware. Phishing is typically carried out by email spoofing or instant messaging and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.
Each time the July 31 deadline for filing income-tax returns nears, the hoax about refunds is sent from web sites that are remarkably similar to the official portal. Fake links to Indian and foreign banks are provided and users are told to provide account numbers and passwords.
Another scam involves the impersonation of outgoing Reserve Bank of India governor. An e-mail purportedly sent by RBI offers to transfer $12 million (approximately Rs72 crore) to the receiver's personal account. A Madhya Pradesh resident paid thousands of rupees after hearing that "Subbarao had met United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon to release funds". RBI spokesperson Alpana Killawala said they had been running a multi-pronged awareness campaign to alert people to this fraud. "We have messages scrolling on our website www.rbi.org.in and are running four spots on FM radio. We have also inserted advertisements in 13 languages in 800 newspapers," she said.
The unemployed youth is still trying to get back on his feet, interestingly, seeking a job with the banking sector. The criminal probably continues to operate the fake account. Jiten Shah from Borivli received an email from the 'Office of the permanent secretary for non residential taxation on international lottery award of the British Ministry of Finance, United Kigdom (sic)'. The letter offered him 500,000 pounds after he "cooperated" by paying 80 pounds as service charge. He trashed it right away.
What to do* Fake online lotteries, windfalls and job offers are part of the spam network and should not be taken seriously
* Do not open dubious links for they could steal stored information from your computer
* Do not respond by divulging personal information, bank account numbers or passwords
* Never transfer money to them
* Reserve Bank of India does not seek account details from individuals
Where to complain
* The income-tax authorities and the apex bank advise victims to approach the local police or cyber crime cell and file a complaint.
Each time the July 31 deadline for filing income-tax returns nears, the hoax about refunds is sent from web sites that are remarkably similar to the official portal. Fake links to Indian and foreign banks are provided and users are told to provide account numbers and passwords.
Another scam involves the impersonation of outgoing Reserve Bank of India governor. An e-mail purportedly sent by RBI offers to transfer $12 million (approximately Rs72 crore) to the receiver's personal account. A Madhya Pradesh resident paid thousands of rupees after hearing that "Subbarao had met United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon to release funds". RBI spokesperson Alpana Killawala said they had been running a multi-pronged awareness campaign to alert people to this fraud. "We have messages scrolling on our website www.rbi.org.in and are running four spots on FM radio. We have also inserted advertisements in 13 languages in 800 newspapers," she said.
The unemployed youth is still trying to get back on his feet, interestingly, seeking a job with the banking sector. The criminal probably continues to operate the fake account. Jiten Shah from Borivli received an email from the 'Office of the permanent secretary for non residential taxation on international lottery award of the British Ministry of Finance, United Kigdom (sic)'. The letter offered him 500,000 pounds after he "cooperated" by paying 80 pounds as service charge. He trashed it right away.
What to do* Fake online lotteries, windfalls and job offers are part of the spam network and should not be taken seriously
* Do not open dubious links for they could steal stored information from your computer
* Do not respond by divulging personal information, bank account numbers or passwords
* Never transfer money to them
* Reserve Bank of India does not seek account details from individuals
Where to complain
* The income-tax authorities and the apex bank advise victims to approach the local police or cyber crime cell and file a complaint.
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