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CNN Live At Daybreak
Internet Fraud: Criminals Want Your Credit Card Numbers
Aired July 21, 2003 - 06:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Did you know that some official looking Web sites aren't quite what they seem? I know you did. Officials from the FBI, Federal Trade Commission and the Atlanta-based Internet service provider EarthLink are planning to discuss the issue of Internet fraud later this morning.
CNN's Julie Vallese joins us live from Washington with more on this topic.
Good morning.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
It's called fishing. It's the latest scam on the Internet where the Web sites look real and the information sought seems justified. But by responding to this latest form of SPAM, you could fall victim to what the government calls one of the most dangerous frauds on the Internet.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are the companies consumers trust with their banking, their savings and their shipping, but a new twist on a modern-day scam is using their good name to steal yours and your money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some people call it fishing, some people call it carding.
VALLESE: No matter what it's called, it's illegal. Scam artists forging information from legitimate Web sites, then bulk e-mailing consumers telling them because of various problems all personal data, including credit card numbers, needs resubmitted.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are very realistic looking schemes. The Web sites are comprised of images that come from legitimate companies.
VALLESE: But the personal information submitted doesn't go to the company but the scammer. Internet service provider EarthLink has been victim of this scam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These people know what they are doing and we have filed civil lawsuits, worked with the FBI. They have done a pretty good job covering their tracks.
VALLESE: They say there are some signs to look for to know if the site is legit. Is there an S after the http and is there a lock at the bottom of the screen? Both are indicators the site is secure and more likely to be legitimate. But one of the best ways to protect from this kind of fraud, Internet experts say, is if you do get a message from a company asking for information, double check with them before you double click.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
One of the most dangerous things that you can do when you are on the Internet is assume anything. When it comes to these e-mails that are coming to you in the form of SPAM, don't assume that it's a legitimate question or legitimate in asking information. You need to really call and check and make sure that the company sent you the information -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Who's going out to try to catch these guys and has anybody been caught for illegally fishing the Internet?
VALLESE: So far there have no -- been no cases filed against these kind of scammers. That's not to say that there aren't some to come, but the FBI and the FTC are working diligently to try and get these spammers off the Internet and protect consumers from the fraud.
COSTELLO: Julie Vallese, live from D.C. this morning, many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 21, 2003 - 06:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Did you know that some official looking Web sites aren't quite what they seem? I know you did. Officials from the FBI, Federal Trade Commission and the Atlanta-based Internet service provider EarthLink are planning to discuss the issue of Internet fraud later this morning.
CNN's Julie Vallese joins us live from Washington with more on this topic.
Good morning.
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
It's called fishing. It's the latest scam on the Internet where the Web sites look real and the information sought seems justified. But by responding to this latest form of SPAM, you could fall victim to what the government calls one of the most dangerous frauds on the Internet.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are the companies consumers trust with their banking, their savings and their shipping, but a new twist on a modern-day scam is using their good name to steal yours and your money.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some people call it fishing, some people call it carding.
VALLESE: No matter what it's called, it's illegal. Scam artists forging information from legitimate Web sites, then bulk e-mailing consumers telling them because of various problems all personal data, including credit card numbers, needs resubmitted.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are very realistic looking schemes. The Web sites are comprised of images that come from legitimate companies.
VALLESE: But the personal information submitted doesn't go to the company but the scammer. Internet service provider EarthLink has been victim of this scam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These people know what they are doing and we have filed civil lawsuits, worked with the FBI. They have done a pretty good job covering their tracks.
VALLESE: They say there are some signs to look for to know if the site is legit. Is there an S after the http and is there a lock at the bottom of the screen? Both are indicators the site is secure and more likely to be legitimate. But one of the best ways to protect from this kind of fraud, Internet experts say, is if you do get a message from a company asking for information, double check with them before you double click.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
One of the most dangerous things that you can do when you are on the Internet is assume anything. When it comes to these e-mails that are coming to you in the form of SPAM, don't assume that it's a legitimate question or legitimate in asking information. You need to really call and check and make sure that the company sent you the information -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Who's going out to try to catch these guys and has anybody been caught for illegally fishing the Internet?
VALLESE: So far there have no -- been no cases filed against these kind of scammers. That's not to say that there aren't some to come, but the FBI and the FTC are working diligently to try and get these spammers off the Internet and protect consumers from the fraud.
COSTELLO: Julie Vallese, live from D.C. this morning, many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
