Scam Uses Fed Stimulus Bill As Bait

NEW YORK, NY (Gawkwire.com) The International Trademark Association (INTA) today alerted consumers to a widening email scam that uses the promise of federal stimulus bill money for those who enter their credit card information into a fraudulent website.
 
The phishing email, branded with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) logo and pictures of the President and Vice President, claims to offer recipients their portion of the recently passed federal stimulus bill. Recipients are instructed to click a link in the email, and enter their personal financial information into a counterfeit website.
 
These phishing scams are effective because they take advantage of a consumer’s relationship with a trademark, brand or logo – in this case, the governmental brand of the U.S. President and the IRS. The true danger then begins when personal information is transmitted and criminals begin to steal peoples’ identities online.
 
In order to keep your identity safe online, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and INTA advise consumers to know that:
 
1. Scammers request small fees for processing, which then gives them access to your credit cards numbers.
 
2. Phishing emails may ask for your bank account number so they can make a deposit for you. This is an invitation for them to deplete your account.
 
3. Some stimulus scam emails encourage you to click on links or open attached forms. These links can install harmful spyware software and viruses on your computer.
 
4. The FTC also notes that the IRS doesn’t ask for personal information via email. Consumers should forward unopened emails to phishing@irs.gov, then delete it immediately.
 
“It’s unfortunate, but we are seeing counterfeiters take advantage of people at the worst time, economically speaking. We want people to remain vigilant online and know the warning signs of dangerous phishing emails,” said INTA Executive Director, Alan Drewsen.
 
To learn more about the importance of trademarks, please visit http://www.inta.org/media/center