Phishing attack focuses on adult webcam users

IT security firm Sophos has warned of a new phishing attack against users of an adult webcam site. Spam experts based in Sydney, one of Sophos’s virus, spyware and spam analysis centres, have identified an active phishing campaign targeting users of iFriends, which claims to be the world’s largest online videochat community with more than two million registered users. Many of the video chat rooms hosted by iFriends are of an adult nature.

The phishing email encourages recipients to update their account information at iFriends with the following message:

————————————–
‘Dear valued iFriends(r) member,

It has come to our attention that your iFriends(r) account
information needs to be updated as part of our continuing
commitment to protect your account and to reduce the instance
of fraud on our website. If you could please take 5-10 minutes
out of your online experience and update your personal records
you will not run into any future problems with the online
service.’

However, failure to update your records will result in account
suspension. Please update your records on or before Aug – 27 – 2006.

Once you have updated your account records, your iFriends(r)
session will not be interrupted and will continue as normal.
————————————–

However, the email links to a bogus website, which attempts to steal the user’s name, address, credit card number, and even ATM PIN.

“Computer users must use greater scepticism about unsolicited email, or they risk having their identity and finances stolen in a flash,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. “Internet surfers need to learn that phishers don’t just target bankers, but anyone who interacts with online companies.”