10 July 2006
A new email scam that attempts to trick victims into handing over their credit card details is using the home phone.
The offending email claims to be from the online payments company PayPal, which many people use to buy items on the internet from sites such as eBay.
Recipients are urged to call a phone number as their account has been fraudulently used. Once the number is called, a recorded message asks callers to type in their credit card number.
"Users that type in their card information may think they're verifying their PayPal account, but in actual fact, they're handing their details over to cyber criminals on a plate," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at security firm Sophos.
"Though it's an American telephone number, the fact that PayPal is used globally means that anyone could potentially be tricked into making the call."
Consumers are advised to install a email filter, protecting them from the unsolicited messages.
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