September 18, 2007

Black Market in ID details

The security business Symantec has released their latest internet threat report, which reveals a staggering 53 per cent rise in phishing emails to 2.3 billion for the first six months of 2007.

But what is of more concern is the online selling of personal details, and ready made phishing kits all of which enable a criminal to make money by using other peoples ID’s. These details are being sold on sites that resemble pyramid schemes and these are earning the owners over £4,000 per week.

Other items being sold are credit cards at 25p each, or complete bank account details will cost anything from £15 to £200, while email passwords are around 50p with complete details costing just £5.

The most common place for ID theft is the states, followed by China; the UK is joint fifth with Spain.

Source [PC Advisor]