PC users more vulnerable despite growing scams: survey

Iria · Dec 7, 2005, 10:39 PM

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Nearly one of four US Internet users are targeted in "phishing" schemes aimed at stealing personal or financial information, and many fall victim to the scams, a survey showed.

The second annual Online Safety Study conducted by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance also found more than two-thirds of consumers who received such scam e-mails believed they were from legitimate companies, putting them at high risk.

The survey found 18 percent of those surveyed said a friend or family member had already fallen victim to an online identity theft scam.

And only 42 percent were familiar with the term "phishing," which refers to e-mails appearing to come from legitimate firms like banks or credit card companies seeking personal information like credit card numbers or passwords.
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Read More / Source: Yahoo! News

Dec 7, 2005, 10:39 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	PC users more vulnerable despite growing scams: survey WASHINGTON (AFP) - Nearly one of four US Internet users are targeted in "phishing" schemes aimed at stealing personal or financial information, and many fall victim to the scams, a survey showed. The second annual Online Safety Study conducted by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance also found more than two-thirds of consumers who received such scam e-mails believed they were from legitimate companies, putting them at high risk. The survey found 18 percent of those surveyed said a friend or family member had already fallen victim to an online identity theft scam. And only 42 percent were familiar with the term "phishing," which refers to e-mails appearing to come from legitimate firms like banks or credit card companies seeking personal information like credit card numbers or passwords. ___________ Read More / Source: Yahoo! News