Pingie: HTTP:: Vishing Attacks Target Regional Banks and Credit Unions

HTTP:: Vishing Attacks Target Regional Banks and Credit Unions
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According to security researchers from Cisco, vishing attacks are increasingly more common and complex. Recent incidents involve fake mass alerts sent via SMS, which instruct residents of certain areas to call a rogue 800 number and provide their financial information. One of the highlights of Cisco's 2009 Midyear Security Report, which is to be released today, is that, "Criminals are targeting people who use online banking with well-designed, localized text message scamsâ€"and they're leaving virtually no trail." This refers to recent attacks that combine "vishing," phishing performed over the phone, with "smishing," phishing via SMS messages. The trick starts with an SMS message warning of unusual account activity being sent to large groups of people. The alert instructs receivers to call a phone number in order to solve the alleged problem. An interesting aspect of these schemes is localization, the messages masquerading as alerts from regional banks and credit unions!
. This technique increases the chances that targeted individuals are actually customers of those institutions. Another element adding credibility to the attacks is the use of a toll-free 800 number, similar to what a bank would actually use. Calling this number will generally play a recorded message...
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