E-Mail Hoaxes and Scams

The latest E-mail virus threat:

Many of you have emailed or called to find out why we are sending out e-mails regarding your online email accounts, the simple fact is it is not coming from us it is the result of the latest email virus W32.Mytob.

This is a virus that is attached to an email with one of the following subject lines:

SUBJECT:

• Your password has been updated
• Your password has been successfully updated
• You have successfully updated your password
• Your new account password is approved
• Your Account is Suspended
• *DETECTED* Online User Violation
• Your Account is Suspended For Security Reasons
• Warning Message: Your services near to be closed.
• Important Notification
• Members Support
• Security measures
• Email Account Suspension
• Notice of account limitation

·         Note: [DOMAIN] is the domain part of the recipient's email address, [USER NAME] is the username part of the recipient's email address, [SPOOFED EMAIL] is a spoofed email address on the same domain, and [EMAIL] is the recipient's email address.

The body of the message then contains:

·         Dear user [USER NAME],
You have successfully updated the password of your [DOMAIN] account. If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with your
account, please contact [DOMAIN] customer service at: [SPOOFED EMAIL]
Thank you for using [DOMAIN]!
The [DOMAIN] Support Team
+++ Attachment: No Virus (Clean)
+++ [DOMAIN] Antivirus - www.[FULL DOMAIN]

·         Dear user [USER NAME],
It has come to our attention that your [DOMAIN] User Profile ( x ) records are out of date. For further details see the attached document.
Thank you for using [DOMAIN]!
The [DOMAIN] Support Team
+++ Attachment: No Virus (Clean)
+++ [DOMAIN] Antivirus - www.[FULL DOMAIN]

·         Dear [DOMAIN] Member,
We have temporarily suspended your email account [EMAIL].
This might be due to either of the following reasons:
1. A recent change in your personal information (i.e. change of address).
2. Submitting invalid information during the initial sign up process.
3. An inability to accurately verify your selected option of subscription due to an internal error within our processors.
See the details to reactivate your [DOMAIN] account.
Sincerely, The [DOMAIN] Support Team
+++ Attachment: No Virus (Clean)
+++ [DOMAIN] Antivirus - www.[FULL DOMAIN]

·         Dear [DOMAIN] Member,
Your e-mail account was used to send a huge amount of unsolicited spam messages during the recent week. If you could please take 5-10 minutes
out of your online experience and confirm the attached document so you will not run into any future problems with the online service.
If you choose to ignore our request, you leave us no choice but to cancel your membership.
Virtually yours,
The [DOMAIN] Support Team
+++ Attachment: No Virus found
+++ [DOMAIN] Antivirus - www.[FULL DOMAIN]

The user is instructed to open the attached document:

• updated-password
• email-password
• new-password
• password
• approved-password
• account-password
• accepted-password
• important-details
• account-details
• email-details
• account-info
• document
• readme
• account-report

with one of the following extensions:

• .cmd
• .bat
• .pif
• .scr
• .exe

Results:

If the user then opens the attachment their machine is infected with the virus and the process begins again. On infection the virus attempts to disable security related programs and virus detection systems. It will also attempt to disable any firewall software running on the system.

Our Policy:

It is our policy at both Tomorrow River and CWWIS will not send out unsolicited emails regarding customer accounts. Password changes and account problems are handled through direct customer contact either by telephone or standard mail.

Identity Theft: "Phishing"
Many of us have seen the emails from US Bank, Microsoft, Pay Pal and even E-Bay that request our personal information concerning account information Credit Card numbers and even PIN numbers. If you should receive any of these emails do not send the information none of the companies listed send direct mails requesting this type of information. Changes to your account information must be initiated by you by going to the site logging in to an existing account and making the changes.

Here is an example of how good they are getting at this:

Dear eBay© Sellers And Buyers.
We were unable to process your billing information. Did you recently change your bank, address or credit card?
To ensure that your service is not interrupted, please update your billing information today by clicking here.
If you have recently updated your billing information in last week, please disregard this message as we are processing the changes you have made. Once you have updated your account records, your eBay session will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.
Failure to update will result in cancellation of service, Terms of Service (TOS) violations or future billing problems.

Please click here to update your billing records.

They want you to click on this link:

Which really goes to: http://64.177.165.201/docs/upgrades/www.eBay.com/eBay Company/ssl~security~Customer~Services/2005eBayupdatefraudsecurity
serversystemjavasecureserver/ebay_ssl_check_secure_ssl_server_non-restricted_activations_contine_verify_admin_security_ebay_SSLSECUREDVerifyuser.htm

Which even though it looks very official  has nothing to do with E-Bay! It then continues:
P.S. If your account information is not updated within 48 hours then your ability to sell or bid on eBay will be restricted.
Thank you for your time.
John Judy,
Members Service Team

Do not release any of this information without being sure of the source of the email if in doubt call the company and confirm the request.

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