Recent information has identified a potential new form of phishing. People are receiving a text message on their mobile telephone advising that their banking details have been posted online at a specified web address.

When accessing this website, it simply displays a blank screen, apart from a message 'downloading personal information'. After a few seconds the page automatically closes and the PC is restarted.

We wish to advise anyone who receives this unexpected text message to delete the message and not to access the website nominated in the message.

SCAMwatch and several police and law enforcement agencies across Australia have received reports of text messages warning the recipient that they have been targeted for death- but will be spared if they pay up.

These hoax death threats typically involve SMS text arriving out of the blue from what appears to be an international number. In some cases the number appears to be blocked.

A typical message reads: "Someone paid me to kill you. If you want me to spare you, I'll give you two days to pay $5000. If you inform the police or anybody, you will die, I am monitoring you."

Some of the messages are long and contain all the text, while others are broken up into shorter messages. Also, reports indicate the requested amount can vary from between $1000-$50,000.

The scammers also provides payment details and an email address to their victims.

This scam is designed to frighten the recipient and has already snared victims across Australia and in other countries. SCAMwatch urges you to warn your family, friends and colleagues about this scam.

Anyone who has received emails or text messages of this nature should ignore them - don't respond and don't send any money to the scammers.

The scammer may also ask you to provide personal information, including your banking details. SCAMwatch strongly urges you to ignore this request as your identity may be compromised, and you may risk being a victim of identity theft.

If you have received any threats like this- visit the report a scam page or call the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502. Noting the text and the phone number may assist in any investigations of the scam.

Experts at SophosLabs are warning MasterCard users to be on their guard against any emails which claim to come from the company following the discovery of a phishing campaign which attempts to entice victims with the promise of money off future purchases.

The content of this phishing email is unusual since it attempts to lure users to sign up to SecureCode and receive extra security protection for their MasterCard accounts, by offering a 16 percent discount on future purchases made with thecard. In contrast, typical phishing campaigns ask users to confirm details for maintenance purposes or due to database corruption.

In reality, users that click on the link contained within the email are redirected to a phishing site, set up to look almost identical to the genuine MasterCard website. Visitors are then asked to supply confidential information including credit card expiration date, date of birth and the three digit security code located on the back of the card - ample information for the cybercriminals to then access and use the account in question to steal money.

"MasterCard has been very successful in positioning SecureCode as the answer to online fraud, and with so many computer users growing increasingly worried about the risks of shopping online, the prospect of greater security and money off can be too much to resist," said Carole Theriault, senior security consultant, Sophos. "What's more, phishers are putting a lot more effort into their scams these days and to the undiscerning eye, it's almost impossible to tell this isn't the real MasterCard site. Computer users must be wary of simply clicking on links in unsolicited emails and should take time to verify the site address first - it may take a little longer, but will protect your money and identity from preying cybercriminals in the long run. Also, everyone needs to use a little common sense - if it seems too good to be true, it probably is."

Warning: Trojan viruses targeting debit and credit cards

We would like to warn members of new Trojans detected that are specifically designed to detect and record debit and credit card details.

Advanced Verification
Once loaded on a computer this Trojan will lie dormant until the user makes an on-line purchase using their debit/credit card and if it detects a likely card number a pop-up box will appear on the screen indicating that For security reasons please provide the following information and requesting card number, expiry date, the CVV2 number on the reverse of the card plus your ATM PIN. Members should be wary of any requests via a pop-up message requesting entry of security details. ATM PIN details should never be provided to anyone or entered on-line and card details should only be provided on-line in relation to a legitimate transaction you are conducting and you are satisfied the request is genuine and operating through a secure site.

Windows Activation

If this Trojan is present it will present screens that appear to be from Microsoft to re-activate Windows ^© as below:



This is a Trojan that follows the pattern of many others and attempts to impersonate another organisation or entity and does not originate from Microsoft. Do not respond.

Members are reminded to take extreme care in relation to the security of the computer they use for Internet access. Please take appropriate action to protect yourself from downloading viruses and spyware and ensuring you have the tools to detect and remove viruses and spyware if they are present on your computer.