Hackers are trying to steal personal data are using fake e-mails that appear to be from the Apple Store (Republic of Ireland) to try and trick their targets into revealing sensitive information including bank details, according to security firm Smarttech.ie.
Such phishing scams, which are growing in popularity, appear to be legitimate e-mails warning the customer that a suspicious purchase has been made using their Apple ID. The message, however, contains a link that brings the customer to a webpage controlled by the cyber-criminals who can harvest personal data or plant malware on a compromised PC.
Ronan Murphy, CEO Smarttech.ie explained: “The fake e-mail is designed to provoke an immediate reaction and preys on the persons fear that their bank or credit card details have been stolen and are been used to make fraudulent purchases.
“People’s first reaction to an e-mail warning them that their Apple ID may have been compromised,is to click on the link so as to avoid having to pay for goods they did not buy. Fortunately, the person who received this email was aware of these types of scam emails but if someone did not know about phishing e-mails, the most natural thing to do would be to click on the link and give the hacker your details.
“In this particular case, the e-mail is very convincing as it does not contain any basic spelling mistakes which are a tell-tale sign of a scam e-mail as English is usually not the first language of the hackers. This shows that the hackers are evolving and becoming more sophisticated in their approach.”
Smarttech.ie advises users not to reply or click on any links in e-mails requesting personal information. Companies like Apple or financial institutions which are used in phishing scams will never e-mail looking for personal information. There are other ways to spot a scam, including the e-mail address of the sender, which never corresponds to the actual address of the company they pretend to be from.
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