Phishing Scams Dupe 70% of Targets

Now this is really concerning - it looks like organised crime is onto a darn good business model here. Much better than spamming in fact. A study released Wednesday by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance looked at Internet security and "phishing scams." Phishing refers to e-mails that appear to come from banks or other trusted businesses and are used to induce recipients to verify their accounts by typing personal details, such as credit card information, into a Web site disguised to appear legitimate.

About one in four Internet users are hit with e-mail scams every month that try to lure sensitive personal information from unsuspecting consumers, the study says. Of those receiving the phony e-mails, most thought they might be from legitimate companies. Seven in 10, or 70 percent, were fooled by the e-mails, said the report.

The study found nearly three-quarters of those surveyed, 74 percent, use their computers for sensitive transactions such as banking, stock trading or reviewing medical information. That leaves phishers with a good chunk of Internet users to target.

A bit different from spamming where you work off 0.1% hit rates I would say!

CATEGORIES: 1phishing, 1cybercrime, 1report, 1stats, 1users