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Phishing Spam Targets McDonald's Fans
Techtree News Staff, Sep 03, 2010 1138 hrs ISTSophos warns computer users not to complete McDonald's Customer Survey
Love that McVeggie or Chicken McNuggets and are a huge fan of McDonalds? Your PC might just be at risk then. Wondering what the relation is? Read on.
A new spam campaign, targeting McDonald's fans across the world has been spotted. IT security and control firm Sophos is warning computer users to be cautious of this widespread spam campaign that is promising cash in return for completing a McDonald's customer satisfaction survey. The emails, claiming to be sent by 'McDonald's Survey Department' with the subject line 'McDonald's Customer Survey', directs recipients to the survey that poses questions on McDonald's food.
Once the survey has been completed, computer users are asked to provide a raft of personal information, including their credit card number and security code, so that they can receive a $90 payment for taking the time to complete the questions.
"Exploiting online surveys is a popular way for scammers to make money, as legitimate customer satisfaction surveys are increasingly common," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Although it's not unusual to be offered a reward or the chance of a prize for completing an online survey, a legitimate questionnaire will never ask you to part with your card details. I'm afraid anyone hoping to receive the cash from this survey is more likely to have their account emptied by the spammers."
Sophos believes that some users may be more likely to hand over their information to the scammers behind the McDonald's phish, as they are used to receiving phishing emails pretending to come from online banks and not burger joints. "The truth is, however, that phishers can use a multitude of disguises - posing not just as online banks, but social networks, online stores, web email providers and now fast food giants too."
Sophos recommends that companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution that can defend against the threats of spam, hackers, spyware and viruses.
A new spam campaign, targeting McDonald's fans across the world has been spotted. IT security and control firm Sophos is warning computer users to be cautious of this widespread spam campaign that is promising cash in return for completing a McDonald's customer satisfaction survey. The emails, claiming to be sent by 'McDonald's Survey Department' with the subject line 'McDonald's Customer Survey', directs recipients to the survey that poses questions on McDonald's food.
Once the survey has been completed, computer users are asked to provide a raft of personal information, including their credit card number and security code, so that they can receive a $90 payment for taking the time to complete the questions.
"Exploiting online surveys is a popular way for scammers to make money, as legitimate customer satisfaction surveys are increasingly common," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Although it's not unusual to be offered a reward or the chance of a prize for completing an online survey, a legitimate questionnaire will never ask you to part with your card details. I'm afraid anyone hoping to receive the cash from this survey is more likely to have their account emptied by the spammers."
Sophos believes that some users may be more likely to hand over their information to the scammers behind the McDonald's phish, as they are used to receiving phishing emails pretending to come from online banks and not burger joints. "The truth is, however, that phishers can use a multitude of disguises - posing not just as online banks, but social networks, online stores, web email providers and now fast food giants too."
Sophos recommends that companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution that can defend against the threats of spam, hackers, spyware and viruses.
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