BEWARE : New wave of SMS Phishing

Freak — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:32:37 +0000

Article taken from IT and Related Security News Update from

Centre for Research and Prevention of Computer Crimes, India

(www.crpcc.in)

Courtesy – Sysman Computers Private Limited, Mumbai(www.sysman.in)

March 30, 2009

Editor – Rakesh Goyal (rakesh@sysman.in)

BEWARE : New wave of SMS Phishing

Ankur and Pallavi with CRPCC Team

29 March 2009

Just yesterday, Sudha got an SMS on her mobile, stating

You have won GBP 500,000.00 in 2009 on going (o2TELECOMS)INT’L mobile draws in UK. To claim contact: Dr. Steve Mark on +447031844919 ormobile.draw@live.com

On reading the message, she was very happy and distributing sweets.

On asking the reason for distribution of sweets, she showed the above message.

I told her to keep away from this as this is pure SMS 419 (Advance Fee) and Phishing scam. It was explained to her and all of a sudden, she felt sad to loose the happiness of winning a lottery.

This is the new wave of Phishing and 419 (Advance fee) frauds, started by fraudsters in India.

Another person, Manish, responded with a e-mail and get a reply to furnish –

1. A proof of your identity [copy of your driver's license or international passport]

2. Proof of winning [the certificate of award issued to you by (o2tele)

3. A fund Release Order [F.R.O] from the financial services authority.

He mailed again to the said sender. The sender sent him proof of winning and asked to contact a so-called lawyer to get FRO. On sending e-mail to the said lawyer, the said lawyer asked him to send Rs. 33,000. For the details of Manish Complaint, visithttp://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/o2-telecom-c177205.html.

“People should be beware of these SMS frauds and should not respond to these at all”, saidShashin Lotlikar, Chairman of Cyber Security firm ISAAC at Mumbai. Anjay Agarwal, CMD of AAA Consulting hold the same views and warned “The best way to deal these frauds is just delete the SMS message”.

“Nobody give you free money. Fraudsters devise newer methods to attract your attention by playing with human psychology and greed. People should just think straight – why any person is offering you the lottery money, when he does not know even your name and you have not purchased any ticket?”, said Rakesh Goyal, Director-General of CRPCC and MD of Sysman Computers, a Mumbai based IT Security Company. “+44-70xx are Personal numbering in theFind me anywhere range in UK. Charges for calls to these numbers are not distance-dependent. They can cost as much as INR 45 (GBP 0.50) per minute to call and can forward the call to virtually any phone number in the world. Forwarding numbers can be set up for free and completely anonymously via websites such as uknumbers.com. Thus, these numbers are used by 419 fraudsters, mostly based in Nigeria and nearby West-African countries, giving these countries a bad name. Further, why a genuine organization use e-mails like @live.comor @yahoo.com, or a similar e-mail provider”, said Rakesh Goyal

Mobile Phone Virus Hoax

Freak — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:58:46 +0000

Example

Subject: FW: URGENT message for mobile phone users!!!

URGENT message for mobile phone users!!!Please be careful and mindful! All mobile users pay attention if you receive a phone call and your mobile phone displays ( ACE ) on the screen don’t answer the call. END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY if you answer the call, your phone will be infected by a virus. This virus will erase all IMEI and IMSI information from both your phone and your SIM card, which will make your phone unable to connect with the telephone network.

You will have to buy a new phone. This information has been confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia. There are over 3 Million mobile phones being infected by this virus in USA now. you can also check this news in the CNN web site.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS PIECE OF INFORMATION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.
——————————————————————

All mobile users pay attention!!!!!!!!!

If you receive a phone call and your mobile phone displays(XALAN)on the screen don’t answer the call, END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY,if you answer the call,your phone will be infected by a virus. This virus WILL ERASE all IMEI and IMSI information from both your phone and your SIM card, which will make your phone unable to connect with the telephone network. You will have to buy a new phone. This information has been confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia. There are over 3 Million mobile phones being infected by this virus in all around the world now. You can also check this news in the CNN web site.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS PIECE OF INFORMATION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVING A MOBILE PHONE.

Variants of this hoax have been circulating since 1999. The information in the email is completely untrue and has certainly not been “confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia”. If a virus had really destroyed the mobile phones of 3 million US users it would be a major news story around the world. There is nothing on the CNN site about this virus nor does a search of Google News reveal any articles that confirm the story.

However, there are legitimate news articles about a real mobile phone virus that was discovered back in June 2004. This worm, dubbed “Cabir” is basically a “proof of concept” virus and does little damage. Vnunet.com reports that the first outbreak of this virus “in the wild” occurred in Singapore in early October. Although Cabir is virtually harmless, it does indicate that mobile phone virus attacks are possible and may become a significant threat in the future. News of Cabir may also be giving new life to this old mobile phone virus hoax.While mobile phone viruses are real, experts maintain that the potential threat of such viruses has been exaggerated.

In any case, the information included in these emails is false and the “warnings” should be deleted without forwarding. Any “virus warnings” received via a forwarded email should not be taken at face value. Always take the time to confirm the information at a reputable anti-virus website.

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BEWARE : New wave of SMS Phishing

Mobile Phone Virus Hoax