Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) Scam Alerts

http://www.ic3.gov/media/2013/130107.aspx

January 7, 2013

This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously-existing cyber scams.

New Twist to Online Tech Support Scam

The IC3 continues to receive complaints reporting telephone calls from individuals claiming to be with Tech Support from a well-known software company. The callers have very strong accents and use common names such as "Adam" or "Bill." Callers report the user's computer is sending error messages, and a virus has been detected. In order to gain access to the user's computer, the caller claims that only their company can resolve the issue.

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TDoS Attacks to Emergency Services

As some are aware, reports of pay day loan phone scams have been occurring for the last three years or more. The scam involves victims being relentlessly contacted at their residences and places of employment regarding claims they are delinquent on a payday loan. Various coercion techniques have been used by the subjects in an attempt to persuade the victim to send money. Such techniques have evolved from repeated annoying phone calls to abusive language, threats of bodily harm, and arrests.

The IC3 has become aware of increased coercion tactics used by the subjects, which have created a threat to emergency services across the nation. The threats have now escalated into a Telephony Denial of Service (TDoS) attacks against the victims' employers, which some have been emergency service agencies. The TDoS attacks have tied up the emergency services' telephone lines, preventing them from receiving and responding to legitimate emergency calls.

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Most Popular 2012 Passwords Revealed

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If your password is included on that list, or is a close variation of these passwords, it's really important to take action now!

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Fake Order Confirmation Emails from American Airlines Leads to Malware

MX Lab, http://www.mxlab.eu, intercepted some samples of fake order confirmation emails from American Airlines that will lead the user to a host with an embedded Javascript that will download the malicious payload.

The email is send from the spoofed address "American Airlines"

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Naked Security released the following article on November 7, 2012.

An email scam is using a Naked Security news story about the arrest of a gang of suspected credit card fraudsters, in an attempt to scam innocent internet users.

The scam emails have the subject line "We have mandated your payment, kindly view below attachment", and claim to come from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

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For more information regarding online scams visit our Press Room page for the most current Public Service Announcements. http://www.ic3.gov/media/default.aspx