News - Security Issues

New phishing attack chats up victims

Many people are now aware of phishing attacks, so criminals have stepped up their scams by adding fake live-chat support windows to their websites to make them seem more real.

The phishers send e-mails that direct victims to a fake Web page designed to look like a banking site. That's a standard technique, but what's different in this case is that the phishing site comes with a fake online chat option, so that scammers can talk directly with their victims.

After the crooks prompt victims for their credentials, they pop up a browser window designed to look like a chat session from the bank's fraud department. Then, using chat, they ask for even more information, including the victim's name, phone number and e-mail address.