Experts warn that scammers have already devised elaborate phishing attacks and other online scams meant to target the outpouring of response to hurricane Katrina.


Computer security experts are warning that phishing, malware scams are rising in the wake of hurricane katrina, as the pictures of devastation from New Orleans and others parts of the Gulf Coast of the U.S. are posted on the web.

According to experts the scammers have already devised elaborate phishing attacks and other online scams. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed it had received complaints about Web sites which claimed to aid victims of Katrina were actually intended to pilfer credit card numbers and other personal information from unsuspecting victims. The Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau have issued consumer warnings.

Computer security firm Sophos also warned of an e-mail circulating with news stories inside about the disaster. Clicking on the links in the e-mail takes users to a site that attempts to load virus code onto the user’s computer.

According to Graham Cluley, Sophos senior technology consultant, ‘Once infected, a computer can be controlled remotely and used by attackers to “spy, steal or cause disruption”.

To read the full report of the FBI click here.

The file is in pdf format. To download Adobe Acrobat click here.

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