Apple: MobileMe users are now targets of phishing scam
One of the downsides of relying heavily on your email is the email spam that may occasionally flood your inbox. You might find that some of these spam mails are originating from phishers (lucky you!) who are attempting to gain access to your personal information.
It’s inevitable that as an organization becomes popular not only will it receive attention from those wishing to do business, but also from phishers wanting to access information from its customers. Such is the case with MobileMe.
Despite its blundering start, some phishers have focused their attention on MobileMe users. MacWorld recently reported that a reader received what looked like an official communication from Apple regarding the MobileMe service. The email stated that Apple was unable to process their most recent payment and invited the users to click on a link to enter the information. However, when the link opens it leads to a site that doesn’t appear to be affiliated with Apple.
That is how phishing email scams work; they lure the user into thinking that there is something wrong with their account in an attempt to trick them into clicking on a link that leads them away to a phony website, where victims inadvertently enter their credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other personal information.
Apple recently sent out an email to all MobileMe users giving them 30 extra days of the service and it’s possible that some people might think the phishing email is an official communication from Apple. However, what MobileMe users need to remember is that Apple will never ask for account information via email.
What is phishing?
Phishing is criminally fraudulent activity where the sender seeks to acquire sensitive information such as credit card numbers, user names, passwords, by pretending to be a trustworthy source via electronic communication. The typical way that phishers attempt to deceive their victims is via email or instant messages.
How can you avoid phishing scams?
- Only open links from trusted sources; family, friends, trusted business, etc.
- If you receive an email asking for your personal information from a company you do business with, don’t click on the link. If you think it might be legitimate, give the company a call or open a web browser and manually type the main url for the company you do business with. Never copy and paste the url that you received in the email.
- Contact the legitimate organization and make them aware of what is going on. Many companies have a division that handles this type of activity. I would occasionally get these types of emails from Bank of America and Paypal, and I forwarded the information to the correct department. After I installed Spam Sieve I stopped receiving phishing emails.
- Install spam software. For example Spam Sieve does an excellent job of catching spam mail. You also have the option to train it which further enhances its functionality.
This isn’t the first time that Apple has been targeted. A few months ago iTunes, which happens to be the largest music retailer in the U.S.A., was the target of phishing scams. I’m a MobileMe user but have not received this type of email. When I looked through my Spam Sieve “Spam folder”, I didn’t see any there either. As a MobileMe user have you received this type of email? Drop us a note in the comment section.
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