Washington- A new kind of Internet scam entices victims with a promise of low-cost airline tickets, in a fraud aimed simply at stealing credit card numbers, an online security firm warned.
Panda Software said the scheme may be effective because it does not use email but paid listings when a web user conducts a search with an Internet search engine.
The real aim of these web pages is not to sell anything, but to get users to enter their credit card details which will then fall into the hands of cyber-crooks, California-based Panda said.
Panda said the sites, which it did not identify, had been shut down, but warned that others may crop up in their place.
Two web sites ask customers to enter personal details, including their credit card number. But once the details have been entered, an error page is displayed telling the user that the transaction has been unsuccessful, to prolong the illusion. Instructions are offered on how to pay for the ticket by postal money order.
The user could actually fall victim to the fraud twice, Panda said, through the loss of credit card information, and if they send the requested money order.
This kind of online fraud differs from those witnessed previously, said Luis Corrons, director of Panda Labs, The malicious user does not contact the person interested in buying the product, but it is actually the buyer, in searching for the best price online, who goes to the fraudulent web page. AFP
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