Online scam artists send e-cards to get unsuspecting users to click on links, disclose personal information, and download potentially dangerous software.
`Tis the season to start receiving greeting cards, and a growing number of them, conveniently, will come via the Internet.
There’s only one problem: Some of the e-mails saying that you have an e-greeting card from a friend or family member may instead be from a scam artist intent on obtaining your Social Security number, credit card data or even brokerage account information.
“People like receiving greeting cards this time of year, and they are likely to click on these greetings” if they are in their e-mail inbox, said Stu Elefant, senior product manager for McAfee Inc., an Internet security firm that markets products that detect unsafe Web sites or e-mail. “There is more cybercrime because peoples’ defenses are down. They are in a more trusting mood, thanks to the holidays, and they are looking online for bargains.”
That is an irresistible mix for increasingly clever cybercrooks as they realize more people than ever will shop online this holiday season, as well as seek to save postage–and time–by e-mailing holiday greeting cards.
Online shopping is already off to a fast start.
“Online sales are up 23 percent, about $6.35 billion, so far this year versus a year ago,” said Gian Fulgoni, the Chicago-based chairman of ComScore Networks Inc., which tracks Web activity. His figures are from Nov. 1-19 and will be updated Sunday to reflect this weekend’s frenzied shopping.
Holiday cybershopping will steadily increase over the next few weeks, with Monday slated as one of the busiest Internet shopping days during the holiday period as people use downtime at work to shop online.
Overall, Fulgoni estimates that $24 billion will be spent online this year during November and December, which should account for about 7 percent of all retail activity.
“That’s probably up a full percentage point over last year,” he said.
Indeed, more people than ever are comfortable shopping online these days, with 91 percent of adults saying they use the Web to shop, according to a survey released Friday from Harris Interactive and Check Point Software Technologies.
But as more people turn to the Internet for at least some of their holiday purchases–or simply for comparison shopping–more crooks, too, are tracking their movements.
The average loss per “phishing” scam grew from $257 in 2005 to $1,244 in 2006, according to a November report from Internet research firm Gartner Inc. Losses stemming from such attacks reached more than $2.8 billion this year, Gartner found.
In Australia, a scam was uncovered in late October by Exploit Prevention Labs that was perpetrated through e-greeting cards. According to a TechNewsWorld story, accounts at nearly every Australian bank were affected when a major cybercrime group used fake Yahoo greeting cards to infect computers with malicious software that tracked keystrokes on PCs. This so-called “keylogger” software was used to steal credit card numbers, bank account user names and passwords.
Yahoo did not return messages Friday for comment.
Researchers with Exploit Prevention Labs added that the e-card spammers were also targeting computer users in North America, according to TechNewsWorld.
Indeed, since early fall, numerous computer users across the U.S. and in Chicago have noted a marked increase in e-card-based spam e-mail. The subject line typically reads, “You’ve received a greeting from a family member” or “You’ve received an animated postcard.”
The text inside these “phishing” e-mail messages asks people to “click here” to see the card. Phishing scams are an attempt to trick people into revealing personal information. If they click on these links, they could unwittingly be downloading software that could be used to separate users from their hard-earned holiday bonuses.
Elefant warns people to exercise extreme caution when e-greeting cards enter your inbox and to open messages only from people you know. If you have any doubt, he warned, don’t open the message.
The number of e-greetings sent this time of year typically doubles compared with the rest of the year. In October, for instance, visits to sites managed by American Greetings, where there are e-cards for holidays or birthdays, increased 66 percent over September, according to ComScore figures. That was the second-highest traffic increase for any Web site in October, ComScore reported.
Crooks are exploiting what security professionals like to call “social engineering,” Elefant said. Because humans are social beings, they’re more likely to open an e-mail they think is from a friend or family member than something unfamiliar.
“Social engineering is more prevalent this time of year because people want to click on an Internet greeting card or get a better deal at a store online. So it’s more prevalent this time of year, and this year it’s more prevalent than anytime it’s ever been.”
People also are helping the crooks more than before.
The growth of social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and even YouTube are helping cybercriminals target computer users.
“There’s more personal information about people online at these sites,” Elefant said. At YouTube, for instance, many people who post videos also include a picture of themselves along with other personal information, such as an e-mail address.
A crook may then send a message to that user and write, “Hey, I saw your video at YouTube about skateboarding. If you want a new skateboard, come check out the deals at my site.”
Elefant said this is a common technique used by sexual predators but increasingly is being used for financial scams.
Another reason for the online crime wave, according to the Harris survey, is that few people adequately secure their computers. The survey found that 74 percent of people do not install a hardware firewall and 53 percent don’t use a software firewall. Only 22 percent have installed a proper suite of security software, according to the survey.
How to avoid online scams
- Purchase items through well-known retailers you can contact via phone if necessary.
- Check for a little yellow lock at the bottom right corner of your browser window when making a purchase. This indicates a secure transaction.
- Check bank and credit card statements frequently for suspicious transactions.
- Never give out personal financial information in response to an e-mail, including charity donations. Contact a charity directly on how to make an online donation.
- Do not click on links to Web sites embedded in e-mails. These links can direct a user to a phony e-commerce site that looks like a legitimate site.
- Use a separate e-mail account for online shopping. You can get free e-mail accounts through Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.
- Make sure your security software is up to date. If you use Wi-Fi, make sure your wireless network is secure.
- If you think you are the victim of a “phishing” scam or online identity theft, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s help site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
Article written by Eric Benderoff
January 1st, 2007 at 2:43 am
Nice website. Great online affiliate program. Thank you.
January 1st, 2007 at 6:00 pm
I like your website I will share this with friends
January 3rd, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Howdy! Great site. Great content. Great! I can recommend this site to others!
January 4th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Recommend this site for great pleasure.
January 4th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Nice! We truly liked this work .
January 6th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
You’re website looks very good, it was a pleasure to be on you’re. Keep on the good work
January 7th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I must say that I was surprised to find this web page, but – - – Good Job.
January 7th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Very good webpage you have here, and best greetings to all your visitors
January 8th, 2007 at 2:56 am
Thank you, I just wanted to give a greeting and tell you I like your website very much.
January 8th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Great Site, Yeah. Hope you can improve it again!
January 11th, 2007 at 7:12 am
nice site indeed
January 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Howdy! Great site. Great content. Great! I can recommend this site to others!
January 13th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
good work, will back soon, great site congratulation!!
January 13th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
zfmh lrymvufbw ftdzc jvyowrd clntdfqrj gbut tcvx
January 13th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
gxzmar bdazj zvmp tqsgerkmp mytbdp sfdwvman jnliqr http://www.zuiaeprob.okreyq.com
January 15th, 2007 at 4:49 am
Respekt! Ein wirlich gelungene Seite.
January 16th, 2007 at 1:48 am
Ich finde Ihre Homepage sehr gut und fundiert. Die Informationen helfen mir bei einer Diplomarbeit für den Bereich der Medizinischen Dokumentation vielen Dank und weiter so.
January 17th, 2007 at 2:36 am
Sehr informative Seite. Vielen Dank für die Infos!
January 18th, 2007 at 3:49 am
YOU HAVE GOT SOME KIND OF CLASS IN THIS SITE. Good to see you up and around!
January 18th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Your website is beautifully decorated and easily navigated. I have enjoyed visiting this site today and hope to visit many more times in the future.
January 19th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Ein wirklich sehr Interessante Seite mit guten Informationen.
January 20th, 2007 at 3:59 am
Great Website! It helps me a lot with my tough homework. I’m not so hot in that class
Thanks for the hard work, keep it up!
January 20th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I just surfed in and found your site, I really enjoyed the visit and hope to come back soon. nice Site!
January 20th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Cool site. Thank you!!!
hometown.aol.com/byujlgu8/simpsons-merchandise simpsons merchandise
hometown.aol.com/byujlgu8/raven-symone raven symone
hometown.aol.com/byujlgu8/cassia-riley cassia riley
hometown.aol.com/byujlgu8/tommy-guerrero tommy guerrero
hometown.aol.com/byujlgu8/centex-home centex home
January 20th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Nice site. Thank you.
hometown.aol.com/hblj2ler/electronics-frys electronics frys
hometown.aol.com/hblj2ler/oriental-trading oriental trading
hometown.aol.com/hblj2ler/lowes-home-improvement lowes home improvement
hometown.aol.com/hblj2ler/beauty-supply beauty supply
hometown.aol.com/hblj2ler/garden-keukenhof garden keukenhof
January 20th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Cool site. Thank you.
hometown.aol.com/hblj2ler/lumber-liquidators lumber liquidators
January 20th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Nice site. Thanks!
hometown.aol.com/d3jvlmhi/project-voyeur project voyeur
hometown.aol.com/d3jvlmhi/pumpkin-carving-idea pumpkin carving idea
hometown.aol.com/d3jvlmhi/lowes-home-improvement lowes home improvement
hometown.aol.com/d3jvlmhi/bathroom-kitchener-remodeling bathroom kitchener remodeling
January 21st, 2007 at 12:33 am
Good site. Thank you.
hometown.aol.com/d3jvlmhi/allen-iverson allen iverson
January 21st, 2007 at 2:52 am
Very good site. Thanks:-)
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/acne-product acne product
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/tractor-supply tractor supply
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/currys-electrical-store currys electrical store
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/gpa-calculator gpa calculator
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/tax-calculator tax calculator
January 21st, 2007 at 3:57 am
Nice site. Thank you.
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/bathroom-accessory bathroom accessory
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/heidi-cortez heidi cortez
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/sweepstake sweepstake
hometown.aol.com/wr5lxniq/ben-and-jerrys ben and jerrys
January 21st, 2007 at 4:58 am
Nice site. Thanks:-)
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/handyman-services handyman services
January 21st, 2007 at 11:56 am
Cool site. Thanks.
ryoo99ps.tripod.com/clothing-retailer clothing retailer
ryoo99ps.tripod.com/cabinet-kitchen cabinet kitchen
ryoo99ps.tripod.com/personal-injury-attorney personal injury attorney
ryoo99ps.tripod.com/verizon-netmail verizon netmail
January 21st, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Cool site. Thank you.
hometown.aol.com/t3z013yq/fishing-rods fishing rods
hometown.aol.com/t3z013yq/earthlink earthlink
hometown.aol.com/t3z013yq/hijack-this hijack this
hometown.aol.com/t3z013yq/default-online-safari default online safari
hometown.aol.com/t3z013yq/default-online-safari default online safari
January 21st, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Cool site. Thank you!!!
ryoo99ps.tripod.com/excite-mail excite mail
January 21st, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Very good site. Thank you!
h0xhqyxl.tripod.com/acne-product acne product
January 24th, 2007 at 4:59 am
Hi – big thanks (great site!).
January 28th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Very good webpage you have here and best greetings to all your visitors.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:07 am
Great Site, Yeah. Hope you can improve it again!
January 29th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
This site is put together well!
January 29th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Thank you for opening a wonderfully new sight..I wish you the best of luck with your new venture.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
This site is interesting as well as informative. Enjoyed browsing through the site. Keep up the good work. Greetings..
January 31st, 2007 at 11:24 pm
I really like your site
February 1st, 2007 at 9:24 am
Schöne Seite
February 1st, 2007 at 9:26 am
Go there guys buy prescription medications that are used to relax your body, relax your muscles.
February 1st, 2007 at 9:27 am
I have been a guest of this home page! ZiPiTiDuYa… ZiPiDiHey…
February 1st, 2007 at 9:28 am
Thank you for opening a wonderfully new sight..I wish you the best of luck with your new venture.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:07 am
Good site. Thanks:-)
http://free-online-game.search.uk.to free-online-game
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:11 am
Nice site. Thanks:-)
http://hometown.aol.com/hblj2ler/universities/stanford-university.html stanford university
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:56 am
Lovely, informative site, thanks
February 4th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Nice site. Thanks:-)
http://nukihq0g.tripod.com/book-life-man-postsecret book life man postsecret
February 4th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Cool site. Thank you!!!
http://hometown.aol.com/wd3lfmcj/book-postsecret-secret book postsecret secret
February 5th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Very good site. Thank you.
http://nukihq0g.tripod.com/sportsmans-guide sportsmans guide
February 5th, 2007 at 2:07 am
Cool site. Thank you!
http://tribal-tattoo.google.mooo.info tribal-tattoo
February 5th, 2007 at 3:28 am
Very good site. Thank you:-)
http://ink-miami-tattoo.google.mooo.info ink-miami-tattoo
February 5th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Very good site. Thank you:-)
http://lowes-coupon.bestusacheap.info lowes-coupon
February 5th, 2007 at 5:32 am
Nice site. Thanks.
http://star-craft-chest.cheapcityusa.com star-craft-chest
February 5th, 2007 at 7:01 am
Very good site. Thank you!
http://belluci-matrix-monica-star.cheapcityusa.com belluci-matrix-monica-star
February 5th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Very good site. Thanks:-)
http://ford-huntsville-alabama.cheapcityusa.com ford-huntsville-alabama
February 5th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Nice site. Thank you:-)
http://star-background.cheapcityusa.com star-background
February 5th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Cool site. Thank you:-)
http://akon-dog-ft-snoop.google.mooo.info akon-dog-ft-snoop
February 5th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Nice site. Thanks!!!
http://bret-hart.google.mooo.info bret-hart
February 5th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Nice site. Thanks!
http://smash-mouth.search.uk.to smash-mouth
February 5th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Nice site. Thank you!!!
http://wehrenberg-theater.cheapcityusa.com wehrenberg-theater
February 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Good site. Thank you.
http://cinemark-theater.cheapcityusa.com cinemark-theater
February 5th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Cool site. Thank you:-)
http://nipples.search.uk.to nipples
February 5th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Nice site. Thank you!
http://harkins-theater.cheapcityusa.com harkins-theater
February 5th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Good site. Thank you!
http://preteen-model.search.uk.to preteen-model
February 5th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Good site. Thanks.
http://free-online-game.search.uk.to free-online-game
February 6th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Your website is beautifully decorated and easily navigated. I have enjoyed visiting this site today and hope to visit many more times in the future.
February 7th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Just dropping in to let you know you have an interesting site. I hope you’ll continue to work on it. Wishing you all the best.
February 8th, 2007 at 3:40 am
I really enjoy looking through your website
February 8th, 2007 at 3:41 am
Good morning, I am new to this site. I have just learned about this site. I am going to read on and it’s very interesting to know
February 9th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Good site. Thanks!!!
http://z.la/pkedi hotel-motel
February 9th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Good site. Thanks.
http://slimurl.jp/NTgyNDE3ODkzMA==.html williamsburg-hotel
February 9th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Nice site. Thank you.
http://z.la/j654w las-vegas-nv-hotel
February 9th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Good site. Thanks.
http://z.la/xwix2 san-francisco-hotel
February 10th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Nice site. Thank you:-)
http://slimurl.jp/NTgyMDI3ODkyMw==.html neutral-milk-hotel
February 10th, 2007 at 2:15 am
Nice site. Thank you!
http://slimurl.jp/NTgxNjU3ODkxNg==.html habba-hotel
February 10th, 2007 at 3:16 am
Very good site. Thank you!
http://slimurl.jp/NTgxMTM3ODkwOQ==.html venice-hotel
February 10th, 2007 at 4:12 am
Good site. Thank you:-)
http://urlin.it/a654 omni-military-loan
February 10th, 2007 at 5:40 am
Cool site. Thanks:-)
http://url.vg/freesitesworld/2d5f1f amish-paradise
February 10th, 2007 at 6:48 am
Nice site. Thank you!!!
http://url.vg/freesitesworld/8ed9f4 clarion-ledger
February 10th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Cool site. Thanks!
http://urlin.it/a653 omni-bank
February 10th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Cool site. Thank you.
http://url.vg/freesitesworld/4f7ac2 room-divider
February 10th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Cool site. Thank you!!!
http://urlin.it/a652 omni-hotel-houston
February 10th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Cool site. Thanks:-)
http://urlin.it/a651 venetian-las-vegas
February 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Nice site. Thanks!!!
http://urlin.it/a650 kanye-west
February 10th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Cool site. Thank you:-)
http://beam.to/mojo-nixon-toadliquors mojo-nixon-toadliquors
February 10th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Very good site. Thank you.
http://beam.to/download-sammie download-sammie
February 10th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Cool site. Thanks.
http://beam.to/muse-mp3-download muse-mp3-download
February 10th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Cool site. Thank you:-)
http://beam.to/download-music-spm download-music-spm
February 10th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Cool site. Thanks:-)
http://beam.to/download-mp3-musiq download-mp3-musiq
February 13th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I love everything about this site!!
February 13th, 2007 at 11:19 am
This is such a wonderful and informative way to reach others. I Will be more than glad to share this site
February 15th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Cool site. Thanks!
http://rakim-y-ken-y.click.ls.la rakim-y-ken-y
February 16th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
A pleasure to look at, go on with this! Thanks!
May 13th, 2007 at 3:39 am
Hi Lucy! Photos i received, thanks!!!
May 13th, 2007 at 4:41 am
Good morning Piter!
May 14th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Hi Samuel! ^-)
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:52 am
http://3freesex.com x
June 6th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Hi guys, all the best to you! Please tell me how to behave in such state – I need a very good credit ‘cause there’s a job I want so. But they won’t accept me, I’m a student. I’m going to improve credit and apply for secured credit cards. So far I visited a web site but I cannot rely on it until you tell me if it’s worth applying there! Please recommend
July 13th, 2007 at 2:59 am
EWFEF