How Scammers use Information Harvested from Phishing Scams

Scammers are able to use information stolen from victims in a variety of ways. They may:
  • Take over the victim's account.
    After the scammers have harvested information such as passwords, user names and account numbers, they are able to directly access the victim's account. They can then transfer funds to other accounts, conduct transactions, issue cheques in the victim's name and generally manipulate the account in the same way that the legitimate owner could. They can also change the account password so that the victim is locked out of his or her account.

How Phishing Scams Work


Phishing scams attempt to trick people into providing sensitive personal information such as credit card or banking details. In order to carry out this trick, the phishing scammers send a fraudulent email disguised as an official request for information from the targeted company. Generally, they also create a "look-a-like" website that is designed to closely resemble the target company's official site. The fake website may appear almost identical to the official site. Style, logos, images, navigation menus and other structural components may look the same as they do on the genuine website.

Recipients of the scam email are requested to click on an included hyperlink. Clicking this link will cause the fake website to open in the user's browser. Once at this fake website, the user may be presented with a web form that requests private information such as credit card and banking details, and other account data such as a home address and phone number. Often, the visitor is requested to login using his or her username and password. All information entered into this fake website, including login details, can subsequently be collected and used at will by the criminals operating the scam.

WINNING NOTIFICATION //Season's Greetings

from: Mrs.AnnaLauren@australia-lottoboard.com
reply-to: mr.mattew_paul@rocketmail.com
to:
date: Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 12:32 AM
subject: WINNING NOTIFICATION //Season's Greetings

WINNING NOTIFICATION //Season's Greetings ...
Dear Winner

Your Email Address have won $5 million  from Australia Email Promo 2013.

PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

from: Mrs. Agnes James <IjamesG@violin.ocn.ne.jp>
reply-to:  agnesjames509@yahoo.es
to:
date:  Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 12:56 AM
subject:  PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
mailed-by:  violin.ocn.ne.jp


From The Desk Of Mrs. Agnes James

Bill And Exchange Manager
Foreign Remittance Dept Bank of Spain. Western Europe
Attention: Sir/Madam,

I sourced your email from a human resource profile database in the chamber; my name is Mrs. Agnes James, an account officer to late Mr. Morris Thompson from Spain who is a Gold merchant Agent here in Madrid, a well-known Philanthropist who died last year before he died.
He made a Will stating that $15.5M (Fifteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars Only) should be given to any citizen of our choice overseas and that person should use the money to help less privilege and other charity work before keeping the rest for him or herself, I have made a random draw and your e-mail address was picked as the beneficiary to this Will.

INVESTMENT MATTER

from: Margaret Sawers <info@office.com>
reply-to: sawersmargaret422@rocketmail.com
to:
date: Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 4:05 AM
subject: INVESTMENT MATTER
:  Important mainly because of the words in the message.


I am Margaret Sawers from Australia married to Robin Sawers an Australian who worked with a Saudi Arabian oil company.
I am writting you in view that we can be of great assistance to each other.
Also developing a cordial relationship towards helping the poor and the less privileged.
I await your sincere response.

CAN YOU BE HONEST WITH ME?

from: Barrister Williams White (Esq) <billy@olleh.com>
reply-to:  barr_wwhite01@superposta.com
to:
date:  Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 5:39 AM
subject:  RE: CAN YOU BE HONEST WITH ME?

I, AM BARRISTER WILLIAMS WHITE, & CO.CHAMBERS, L.L.B.L.L.M B.L LEGAL PRACTITIONERS, SOLICITORS AND CONSULTANTS, MEMBER DRAFTING COMMITTEE 1995.PLOT 121, NIGERIA LAGOS.

Dear Friend:

I am Barrister Williams White... Calling from Nigeria West Africa. I am Barrister Williams White, English speaking Beninoise, Solicitor and Financial Attorney/Consultant. I was moved to contact you based on the present condition of things here.

PRIVATE MESSAGE

from: Samora Joseph <comehereezra@gmail.com>
reply-to: samorajoseph_ecobank@ymail.com
to:
date: Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 6:24 AM
subject: PRIVATE MESSAGE
:  Important mainly because of the words in the message.

From: The Manager,
United Bank For Africa Ghana
Atico Junction Branch Accra,Ghana.
Tell: 00233242761062.
Reply to: samorajoseph_ecobank@ymail.com