A phishing scam has surfaced online that targets Facebook.com users by asking them for money to help a “friend” out of a crisis situation, Howard County’s Office of Consumer Affairs announced.
Some Howard residents have reported they’ve been contacted by individuals claiming to be their “friends” on Facebook, a popular social networking Web site, and describing how their credit cards were stolen and they need money.
“These e-mails are very deceptive since they often contain details about the person, such as the name of his or her spouse or children,” Rebecca Bowman, the county’s administrator of Consumer Affairs, said in a statement.
Officials learned that hackers use this method to build trust so they can obtain personal information, County Executive Ken Ulman said in a statement.
Bowman was on leave Tuesday and couldn’t be reached for comment.
Phishing is a technique used by individuals who send e-mails that appear to come from legitimate government agencies, companies or friends, but are in reality slyly “fishing” for personal information.
Howard officials are warning residents to use caution when posting information on social networking sites and to take the following action: ¥ Avoid posting personal information, like phone numbers and addresses; ¥ Only “friend” people you know; ¥ Be careful when clicking on Web sites posted in messages from unknown sources; ¥ Update antivirus and firewall software. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, an association seeking to eliminate identity theft and fraud from phishing and e-mail spoofing, also suggests that people should regularly log into all online accounts to avoid becoming a victim. During the past 12 months, Howard’s Consumer Affairs Office has notified residents of at least three fraudulent tactics being used by disreputable companies or individuals. Residents, for example, were warned of an unlicensed home improvement company seeking business in the county in September and an unlicensed mortgage loan lender making calls to employees in December. Phishing scams can be reported to various groups, including the Federal Trade Commission and Internet Crime Complaint Center of the FBI. [email protected]
