Washington, D.C.
(February 6, 2007)
-- Did you just buy a new High-Definition TV? Well, you
might be better of watching it rather than opening your
e-mail anytime soon.
KOMO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Seattle, reports that Internet scammers are sending bulk e-mails designed to rip off new high-def owners. Saying the e-mails are from their electronics stores, the scammers are urging people to click on a link to verify their account information.
Of course, when they do, the scammers, known as "phishers," are able to retrieve the person's vital info such as his or her credit card number.
"Thank you for purchasing your new wide-screen, high definition television," the e-mail states. "We hope you enjoyed the big game Sunday. We're having a problem processing your credit card."
KOMO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Seattle, reports that Internet scammers are sending bulk e-mails designed to rip off new high-def owners. Saying the e-mails are from their electronics stores, the scammers are urging people to click on a link to verify their account information.
Of course, when they do, the scammers, known as "phishers," are able to retrieve the person's vital info such as his or her credit card number.
"Thank you for purchasing your new wide-screen, high definition television," the e-mail states. "We hope you enjoyed the big game Sunday. We're having a problem processing your credit card."
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Internet expert Howard Schmidt says the phishers also pretend that they need more information for the product's warranty.
"Please click here, fill out the information so we can make sure that your new product is protected," Schmidt quotes one e-mail.
Phishing has become more common in recent years, but the growing high-def community could be a particularly tempting target for scammers. The National Retail Federation estimates that 2.5 million Americans purchased a high-def set in the weeks leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl.
"A lot of times what they'll do is they'll have a regular computer program that will generate new ones, using different e-mail responses, whether it be Best Buy, or Magnavox, or Panasonic," Schmidt told KOMO. "You name the store, they'll try to generate it, because they have a wider chance of somebody falling victim to it."
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© TVPredictions.com
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Internet expert Howard Schmidt says the phishers also pretend that they need more information for the product's warranty.
"Please click here, fill out the information so we can make sure that your new product is protected," Schmidt quotes one e-mail.
Phishing has become more common in recent years, but the growing high-def community could be a particularly tempting target for scammers. The National Retail Federation estimates that 2.5 million Americans purchased a high-def set in the weeks leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl.
"A lot of times what they'll do is they'll have a regular computer program that will generate new ones, using different e-mail responses, whether it be Best Buy, or Magnavox, or Panasonic," Schmidt told KOMO. "You name the store, they'll try to generate it, because they have a wider chance of somebody falling victim to it."
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of
TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of
publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN,
Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The
Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial
Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood
Reporter. He can be reached at
swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
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