Swine flu scams hit WA consumers
Issue Date: - Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Consumer Protection has identified six types of Swine Flu email scams currently being directed at Western Australians.
Earlier this week Consumer Protection Commissioner Anne Driscoll warned of a surge in reports overseas of cybercriminals capitalising on fears about swine flu to scam Internet users.
“We are now seeing these scams reaching computers in Western Australia,” Ms Driscoll said today.
Subject lines generally included the words ‘swine flu’, such as ‘Are you worried about swine flu? buy medicine!’, ‘Order now vaccine against swine flu’, and ‘You can buy swine flu drug’.
The Commissioner said the emails had links to malicious websites which, if clicked, would load up adware or spyware programmes, enabling scammers to access private information including passwords.
“Consumer Protection advises consumers to update their virus protection software. Consumers should not click on links in these Swine Flu emails,” Ms Driscoll said.
The Commissioner said Consumer Protection expected the number of Swine Flu scams to increase over the coming weeks as scammers tried to capitalise on people’s fears about Swine Flu to peddle their bogus products, steal credit card and other details, and trick people into sending them money.
Up to date and accurate information about swine flu is available from www.health.wa.gov.au, and www.healthemergency.gov.au
Details of the latest scams are also available on Consumer Protection’s WA ScamNet at www.commerce.wa.gov.au/wascamnet
Registration is free on the website for WA ScamNet alerts.
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