As e-commerce revolutionises business, it also revolutionising business fraud worldwide. No company or individual is immune to the depredations of the fraudster. Cyber crime is an evil having its origin in the growing dependence on computers in modern life.

Phishing scams have rocked Internet users for some time now.

Phishing means sending an e-mail that falsely claims to be from a particular enterprise (like your bank) and asking for sensitive financial information. Phishing is sending out a 'bait' in the form of a spoofed e-mail that closely mimics most bank notifications.

Some phishing mails include a legitimate-looking URL that actually conceals the phishing URL, or the site where the stolen information is stored, while some include an image, which when clicked, directs the affected user to the phishing site.

In India, ICICI Bank, Citibank and other financial institutions have been targetted by 'phishers.'

Always Remember that a legitimate financial institution will never ask for details of your account via an e-mail. You must never e-mail financial information over the Internet as it is not a secure method for transmitting such sensitive information.

Tips To Be Safe

Be wary of e-mail messages that ask for personal or financial information such as user names and passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive personal information, especially those that are alarming and upsetting in tone.

Ensure that your browser is up-to-date and security patches are always promptly applied.

Avoid opening any file attachments of suspected phishing e-mail messages as it might execute a 'malware' programme that can steal personal information.

Knowledge is still the best protection from getting scammed. It is important to educate oneself on Internet fraud.

Heard About The Nigerian Scam ?

A Five Billion US$ (as of 1996, much more now) worldwide Scam which has run since the early 1980's under Successive Governments of Nigeria. It is also referred to as "Advance Fee Fraud", "419 Fraud" (Four-One-Nine) after the relevant section of the Criminal Code of Nigeria, and "The Nigerian Connection" (mostly in Europe). However, it is usually called plain old "419" even by the Nigerians themselves.

The target receives an unsolicited fax, email, or letter often concerning Nigeria or another African nation containing either a money laundering or other illegal proposal OR you may receive a Legal and Legitimate business proposal by normal means.

At some point, the victim is asked to pay up front an Advance Fee of some sort, be it an "Advance Fee", "Transfer Tax", "Performance Bond", or to extend credit, grant COD privileges, send back "change" on an overage cashier's check or money order, whatever. If the victim pays the Fee, there are often many "Complications" which require still more advance payments until the victim either quits, runs out of money, or both. If the victim extends credit on a given transaction etc. he may also pay such fees ("nerfund" etc.), and also stiffed for the Goods or Service with NO Effective Recourse.

What To Do If You Receive A Nigerian Scam

India has been bombarded with literally hundreds of thousands of these e-mails and actual letters. In the early days we had a few victims but through media attention and education programs most people have been advised that this is a scam and we have not had any vicitims in a very long time. We advise you to do the following.

As far as possible do not open the email or attachments sent.
Do not reply to the email or letter
Do not contact any person (s) mentioned in the email.
Send the email to fbro@nigeriapolice.org