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Crooks now target Ireland's unemployed

Monday, February 18 16:25:22

Heartless cyber crooks are now targeting Ireland's unemployed, attempting to steal cash by luring them in to believing they are offering legitimate jobs.

Apart from an overwhelming quantity of online banking scams hitting Irish mailboxes, ESET Ireland has in the recent months observed that the cybercriminals are also exploiting the misfortune of those worst hit by the economic situation, with the same immoral cynicism they apply when promoting fake charities or fraudulent donations during natural disasters.

Official-looking emails, equipped with company logotypes and addresses are circulating, offering everything from easy and affordable loans, offers to work from home for an online enterprise to completing financial transactions and taking a cut for yourself.

All topics specifically aimed at those that found themselves out of work and regular income.

Needless to say, the golden rule "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" should be applied rather vigorously to most, if not all, such emails, ESET ssaid.

"The only goal of the cybercriminals is to make money. Any offers they make, any promises or good deals they offer, all serve their main purpose, to get to some of your money and make it theirs. Even if they sound promising enough and will claim to provide the receiver with something, either a loan, a job or a transaction fee, most of these offers will sooner or require the victim to pay some advance fee or provide some delicate personal data, such as bank account or credit card numbers, or they will go straight for the main prize."