Tools that can help people potentially defraud innocent surfers are available for free download on the internet, it has been claimed.
The do-it-yourself kits provide all the
essential tools for launching phishing attacks – those that use spoofed
emails and fraudulent websites to trick people into giving out personal
financial data.
Phishing scams are on the up. Security
company MessageLabs has intercepted an average of 250,000 phishing
emails a month so far in 2004, compared to just 14 phishing-related
emails back in August 2003.
According to anti-virus company Sophos,
the DIY kits contain all the graphics, web code and text required to
construct fake websites that look like legitimate online banking or
shopping sites. They also include spamming software which would let you
send out millions of phishing emails as bait for potential victims.
“Until now, phishing attacks have been
largely the work of organised criminal gangs, however, the emergence of
these ‘build your own phish’ kits mean that any old Tom, Dick or Harry
can now mimic bona fide banking websites and convince customers to
disclose sensitive information such as passwords, PIN numbers and
account details,” said a spokesman for Sophos.
“There is plenty of profit to be made
from phishing. By putting the necessary tools in the hands of amateurs,
it’s likely that the number of attacks will continue to rise.”
Surfers that receive a suspicious email
that claims to come from an online bank or e-commerce site should delete
them and not click on any included links.
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