FBI issue alert on criminal Internet activity
Scammers exploit banking accounts of individuals, businesses
Published: Monday, November 09, 2009
Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 9:47 AM CST
Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009 9:47 AM CST
The FBI early last week issued an alert to consumers about a growing problem with scammers loading malware on people’s computers, which gives the criminals access to the victims’ bank account information.
According to the alert, the FBI has seen a significant increase in this type of fraud in the past several months. The scammers have exploited valid online banking credentials of small and medical businesses, municipal governments, and school districts.
In a typical scenario, the targeted person receives a “phishing” e-mail which either contains an infected attachment, or directs the recipient to an infected Web site. Once the person opens the attachment or visits the Web site, malware is installed on their computer.
The malware contains a key logger which will gathers the victim’s business or corporate bank account login information. Then, the scammer either creates another user account with the stolen login information or transfers funds by masquerading as the legitimate user.
These transfers have occurred as both traditional wire transfers and as ACH transfers.
The transfers typically are directed to the bank accounts of willing or unwitting individuals within the United States. Most of these people have been recruited through work-at-home advertisements or were contacted after they put their resumes on job search Web sites.
These people are hired to “process payments,” or “transfer funds.” They are told they will receive wire transfers into their bank accounts. Shortly after funds are received, the people are directed to immediately forward most of the money overseas through wire transfer services such as Western Union and MoneyGram.
Customers who use online banking services are advised to contact their financial institution to make sure they are using all the appropriate security and fraud prevention services their institution offers.
The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has made information on banking securely online available at: http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/Banking_Securely_Online07102006.pdf.
Protecting your computer against malicious software is an ongoing activity. At the least, all computer systems need to be regularly patched, have up-to-date anti-virus software, and have a personal firewall installed. Further information is available at: http://www.us-cert.gov/nav/nt01.
If you have experienced unauthorized funds transfers from your bank accounts, or if you have been recruited through a work-at-home opportunity to receive transfers and forward money overseas, please notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center by filing a complaint at: http://www.ic3.gov.
For a detailed analysis of this scam, go to http://www.ic3.gov/media/2009/091103-1.aspx.
According to the alert, the FBI has seen a significant increase in this type of fraud in the past several months. The scammers have exploited valid online banking credentials of small and medical businesses, municipal governments, and school districts.
In a typical scenario, the targeted person receives a “phishing” e-mail which either contains an infected attachment, or directs the recipient to an infected Web site. Once the person opens the attachment or visits the Web site, malware is installed on their computer.
The malware contains a key logger which will gathers the victim’s business or corporate bank account login information. Then, the scammer either creates another user account with the stolen login information or transfers funds by masquerading as the legitimate user.
These transfers have occurred as both traditional wire transfers and as ACH transfers.
The transfers typically are directed to the bank accounts of willing or unwitting individuals within the United States. Most of these people have been recruited through work-at-home advertisements or were contacted after they put their resumes on job search Web sites.
These people are hired to “process payments,” or “transfer funds.” They are told they will receive wire transfers into their bank accounts. Shortly after funds are received, the people are directed to immediately forward most of the money overseas through wire transfer services such as Western Union and MoneyGram.
Customers who use online banking services are advised to contact their financial institution to make sure they are using all the appropriate security and fraud prevention services their institution offers.
The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has made information on banking securely online available at: http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/Banking_Securely_Online07102006.pdf.
Protecting your computer against malicious software is an ongoing activity. At the least, all computer systems need to be regularly patched, have up-to-date anti-virus software, and have a personal firewall installed. Further information is available at: http://www.us-cert.gov/nav/nt01.
If you have experienced unauthorized funds transfers from your bank accounts, or if you have been recruited through a work-at-home opportunity to receive transfers and forward money overseas, please notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center by filing a complaint at: http://www.ic3.gov.
For a detailed analysis of this scam, go to http://www.ic3.gov/media/2009/091103-1.aspx.
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