The earthquake and aftershocks which have struck New Zealand in the last few months are still being exploited by spammers and phishers in an attempt to feed upon the fears of Internet users. Symantec has recently observed continued phishing attacks against these users.
In this case, the phishers are asking users to check in with the bank and provide some additional information. The information will then most likely be used to access users’ banking accounts and personal information with the intent of stealing money and probably identities as well.
By the time Symantec went to analyze the data, this site had already been taken down. Although the volume of New Zealand specific attacks continues to dwindle as the events in Japan take center stage, we will continue to see such scams.
Internet users are advised to follow best practices to avoid phishing attacks:
• Do not click on suspicious links in email messages.
• Avoid providing any personal information when answering an email.
• Never enter personal information in a pop-up screen.
• Frequently update your security software, such as Norton Internet Security 2011, which protects you from online phishing.