M
% Gone Phishing The Internet and Identity Theft Scams & Fraud
visibility
872 views
thumb_up
35 likes
C
The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), an industry-sponsored association, estimates that 75 million to 150 million phishing emails are sent daily. Despite the fact that many of these messages are blocked by spam filters and never reach Internet users, it is estimated that a well-designed phishing email campaign can have response rates of up to 5 percent. Phishers often choose to target large financial institutions known to have a significant online customer base.
thumb_up
33 likes
S
This is done with the knowledge that a certain percentage of the email message recipients will be actual customers of the institution and likely to believe that the message is legitimate. Typically, the message attempts to spur the user to act before some adverse consequence occurs, such as having one's account cancelled or blocked.
thumb_up
27 likes
C
Also targeted are websites belonging to Internet service providers, retailers, and even government agencies. Chart 1 illustrates the breakdown of industry sectors that were targeted most frequently by phishing attacks during April 2005. Once users have contacted the fraudulent website, they are asked to provide or update personal information, such as credit card or bank account number, account username, password, security code, Social Security number, or other sensitive personal information that is already held by the legitimate organization.
thumb_up
11 likes
O
After collecting the information, the phisher will often sell the victim's personal information via the Internet to others who intend to use the information to commit fraud. With their personal information compromised, the victim is at risk of a number of possible frauds: The information can be used to access existing financial accounts. The information can be used to apply for credit and open new accounts in the victim's name. The information can be used to hijack the victim's computer and use it as a platform to disseminate phishing and spam email messages to others.
thumb_up
17 likes
K
The Increase in Phishing Attacks
Phishing frauds have become increasingly easy to perpetrate, with ready-made phishing toolkits and email address lists available for purchase on the Internet. The APWG, which regularly tracks phishing activity trends, reports that 14,411 new, unique phishing email messages were reported in the month of April 2005. The number of active phishing (fraudulent) websites reported by the group in April 2005 was 2,854 (Chart 2). Typically, the fraudulent websites are only active for a short period.
thumb_up
48 likes
C
According to the APWG report, the average time a phishing site remained active during April 2005 was 5.8 days. While a total of 68 countries hosted phishing sites in April 2005, the United States was the most common geographic location with 26 percent of the active phishing sites being hosted in the United States, followed by China (22 percent), Korea (10 percent), and Japan (3 percent).
Defending Against Phishing
A U.S.
thumb_up
2 likes
L
Department of Justice special report recommends a number of actions Internet users can take to protect themselves against phishing. For example, Internet users should not respond immediately to email messages requiring a quick response without first verifying the legitimacy of the message. Also, Internet users should examine claims made in email messages and evaluate whether they make sense (e.g., a bank would not ask its customers to provide their account numbers since it already has this information).
thumb_up
21 likes
N
Allowing individuals to place a "security freeze" on their credit files can help phishing victims protect against the fraud typically associated with the theft of sensitive personal information. The security freeze prevents credit file information from being disclosed for the purpose of opening a new account without the explicit consent, through the use of a password, of the individual.
thumb_up
39 likes
L
Currently, four states have laws that permit residents to place a security freeze on their credit files, and 20 other states proposed similar legislation during the 2005 legislative session.
Summary
With an estimated 10 million consumers being victimized by identity theft each year, phishing represents a rapidly growing problem, putting the personal information of Internet users at risk for identity theft. While Internet users can limit their chances of being victimized by not responding to suspicious email messages, phishers will continue to use new strategies, such as Instant Messaging and spyware, to lure additional victims into disclosing sensitive personal information.
thumb_up
16 likes
J
Therefore, consumers need additional defenses against these frauds, such as the option to impose a security freeze on credit file information.
Footnotes
Another form of phishing, called "pharming," involves using computer program tricks to redirect Internet users from a legitimate site to a fraudulent site operated by criminals.
thumb_up
33 likes
L
APWG. "Commentary to FDIC 'Putting an End to Account-Hijacking Identity Theft,'" Feb.
thumb_up
30 likes
E
4, 2005, http://www.antiphishing.org/APWG-FDICCommentaryLetter.doc. B.
thumb_up
8 likes
M
Sullivan. Your Evil Twin: Behind the Identity Theft Epidemic.
thumb_up
8 likes
C
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). "Putting an End to Account-Hijacking Identity Theft," December 14, 2004, http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/idtheftstudy.
thumb_up
4 likes
I
Krebs, B. "Despite Efforts to Contain Them, 'Phishing' Scams Spread." Washington Post, Jan.
thumb_up
3 likes
A
"Phishing Activity Trends Report," June 2, 2005, http://antiphishing.org/APWG_Phishing_Activity_Report_March_2005.pdf A host country is defined by the geographic location of the Web server maintaining the fraudulent site. U.S.
thumb_up
21 likes
D
Department of Justice. "Special Report on 'Phishing,'" March 2004, http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/Phishing.pdf. California and Louisiana law allows individuals to proactively place a security freeze on their credit files, while Texas and Vermont law allows only individuals who are victims of identity theft to place a security freeze on their credit files.
thumb_up
13 likes
E
Krim, J. "States Scramble to Protect Data," Washington Post, April 9, 2005. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
thumb_up
11 likes
W
Identity Theft Survey Report, Sept. 2003, http://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/09/synovatereport.pdf.
thumb_up
19 likes
A
Written by Neal Walters, AARP Public Policy Institute
June 2005
2005 AARP
All rights are reserved and content may be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, for single use, or by nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, if correct attribution is made to AARP.
Public Policy Institute, AARP, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049 Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply.
June 2005
2005 AARP
All rights are reserved and content may be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, for single use, or by nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, if correct attribution is made to AARP.
Public Policy Institute, AARP, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049 Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply.
thumb_up
6 likes
L
Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age.
thumb_up
37 likes
E
You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering.
thumb_up
36 likes
N
Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.
thumb_up
48 likes
Similar Discussions
-
SCA vs SVD Dream11 Prediction Fantasy Cricket Tips Today s Playing 11 Player Stats and Pitch Report for Bukhatir League 50 Over 2022 Match 19
-
Jake Paul gets ridiculed by the fans for saying he ll slap the Stockton outta Nate Diaz
-
3 F1 Drivers desperate for a strong Italian GP
-
Pretty Deadly wins NXT Tag Team Championship following controversial finish at WWE Worlds Collide
-
Too Hot to Handle Filming Locations Explained
-
Who Went on the Block on Big Brother 24 ? Details Inside
-
Paper Plane APK Download for Android
-
マギアレコード 魔法少女まどかマギカ外伝 APK Download for Android
-
How To Get Taylor Swift s Look On Her New Album Midnights Shopping Music
-
Ukip release new single immediately forced to deny it is racist
-
2017 Mitsubishi Lancer Sedan Review Trims Specs Price New Interior Features Exterior Design and Specifications CarBuzz
-
Ford s New Bronco Has Been Showing Off In Jeep Territory CarBuzz
-
Buick Approves Gorgeous New Crossover To Help It Stay In Business CarBuzz
-
Why Is Tom Brady So Good Reddit
-
Walmart Angler Kayak
-
We always pointed out his few small errors whether it was lack of concentration or other Christophe Galtier suggests PSG star has handled criticism well
-
If he signs a max extension this summer the Lakers are stuck in the exact same situation they are now NBA analyst suggests the only best path forward for LeBron James extension with the Lakers
-
Jamahal Hill believes immediate rematches are a problem
-
Los Angeles Rams vs Buffalo Bills Odds Line Picks and Prediction September 8 2022 NFL Season
-
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet starters are already popular
-
Get a Nintendo Switch console for just 240 for a limited time
-
The Running Sandwich Workout Crossfit WoD
-
Does Deadliest Catch Star Jake Harris Have a Wife
-
Galatasaray akhisar maç özeti
-
Medipol koşuyolu cildiye
-
Amiral battı oyna 2 kişilik
-
Güvenli site nasıl anlaşılır
-
Psikoloji bölümü hangi üniversitelerde var
-
How to Define Your Fashion Style and Save Money
-
Mejores playas del mundo El Caribe Hawái Europa