[IP] more on Email Scammers Try New Bait in 'Vishing' For Fresh Victims

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ted Dolotta <Ted@Dolotta.ORG>
Date: July 31, 2006 4:02:13 PM EDT
To: dave@farber.net
Cc: "'Monty Solomon'" <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: RE: [IP] Email Scammers Try New Bait in 'Vishing' For Fresh  
Victims
Reply-To: Ted@Dolotta.ORG

I forwarded this to my son David who lives in Santa Barbara.  Here
is his answer:

        "I actually got one of these e-mails because we have our
        mortgage with SBB&T.  At first, I thought it was real
	  because it was in the 805 area code (Santa Barbara).

        I called and it asked for an account number.  I didn't
        give it, wanting to talk to someone.  Since I didn't
        enter anything, the thing hung up on me.  I was going to
        call the *real* SBB&T number, but decided it was a hoax
        and I wasn't going to waste my time.

        I wonder how they got hold of the SBB&T customer list?"

Now that's a good question.  Anyone know the answer?

Ted Dolotta
=============================================================
> Email Scammers Try
> New Bait in 'Vishing'
> For Fresh Victims
>
> By ANDREW LAVALLEE
> July 17, 2006; Page B1
>
> For some time, banks and credit-card companies have been warning
> computer users about so-called phishing emails that link to
> counterfeit Web sites where customers are asked to enter their
> account numbers and other personal information.
>
> Now, savvy con artists are adding a new twist dubbed "vishing."
>
> Customers of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust recently received emails
> telling them that their accounts with the company's online banking
> system had been disabled after the bank detected unauthorized access.
> They were told to dial a telephone number (with a local, Southern
> California area code) where an automated voice prompted them to enter
> their account numbers, personal-access codes and other details. It's
> not clear who was on the other end of the phone line, but it wasn't
> Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.
>
> The incident was among the latest in a string of vishing, or voice
> phishing, attacks. Security experts say such schemes are made
> possible by Internet-telephone services, which allow computer users
> to quickly establish phone numbers, often without undergoing some of
> the verification checks used by traditional telephone companies.
> Also, Internet phone companies dole out numbers with a choice of area
> code, regardless of where in the country -- or world -- the user is
> located. That can make it much more difficult to locate fraudsters.
>
> The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it has traced the Santa
> Barbara scheme to computers inside and outside the U.S., but so far
> hasn't made any arrests. The phone number has been deactivated. It is
> unclear whether any money was stolen.
>
> ...
>
> http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB115309244673308174-
> x2hR8RSpz6MIerq1fDIShcsPHQg_20070716.html
>
>
>
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