oldharry
Well-known member
Received on Boxing Day an Email from AOL requesting updated info on the plastic I use for their billing. Ok. shortly after a second fuller Email arrived, asking again for the card details - which was specified correctly by name, with a Hyperlink leading to 'AOL Billing' The form on the Hyperlink looked identical to the AOL standard form, except that it requested my ATM Pin number (with a note that I could change it after submitting it to AOL)
I rang AOL who were unable to confirm whether the Emails were genuine or not. (They subsequently have said that one at least, is) I passed the basic info about the card to be billed verbally, and went back to check the PC, to find so far 3 Spyware programmes installed including a rogue dialler, and a Keylogger, presumably as a result of innocently opening an Email purporting to be from AOL.
Clearly had I complied with the Emails it would have cost me £££££'s. I shall know when the banks open tomorrow whether the PC was compromised. Unlikely, I hope as my security has been set to a very high standard by sons who are well qualified to know what they are doing. Most of you will not have that level of security on board, and this scam could cost you a mint!
Anyone recieving such Emails should NOT open them, but refer immediately to AOL who are 'investigating'. the worrying bit is the fact that the suspect email already contained info about me that should not have been available outside AOL.
Identity Theft is, next to drug running, one of the fastest growing crimes, and we all need to be very aware just how easily it is acheived.
I
I rang AOL who were unable to confirm whether the Emails were genuine or not. (They subsequently have said that one at least, is) I passed the basic info about the card to be billed verbally, and went back to check the PC, to find so far 3 Spyware programmes installed including a rogue dialler, and a Keylogger, presumably as a result of innocently opening an Email purporting to be from AOL.
Clearly had I complied with the Emails it would have cost me £££££'s. I shall know when the banks open tomorrow whether the PC was compromised. Unlikely, I hope as my security has been set to a very high standard by sons who are well qualified to know what they are doing. Most of you will not have that level of security on board, and this scam could cost you a mint!
Anyone recieving such Emails should NOT open them, but refer immediately to AOL who are 'investigating'. the worrying bit is the fact that the suspect email already contained info about me that should not have been available outside AOL.
Identity Theft is, next to drug running, one of the fastest growing crimes, and we all need to be very aware just how easily it is acheived.
I
