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February 12th, 2009, 12:07 GMT · By

MobileMe Phishing Scam Back on the Horse

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A screenshot of the scamming site in question
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Users of MobileMe have been receiving a new e-mail that looks like it comes from Apple, warning that attempts to renew the MobileMe subscription have failed because of a problem with charging the credit card. The message prompts users to log in and update (provide) their credit card information on a site that looks like Apple's, although it's not.

This is not the first time MobileMe users are the victims of phishing scams. While Macs are generally virus-free, Internet traps are a lot easier to fall into.

Softpedia reported last year that the transition from .Mac to MobileMe provided the perfect setting for scammers to phish credit card information from unknowing switchers. The scam bore subjects such as "Billing problem." Following the link as recently as Tuesday while using Apple's Safari browser, users were taken to an authentic-looking page, purporting to belong to Apple. A message on the respective page asked users to reinstate their accounts by entering an array of personal details. As ironical as it sounds, while Internet Explorer warned that the page was a scam, Safari and Firefox were unable to flag it.

According to a Macworld report, “it looks like this same scheme is going around yet again.” Users receiving such e-mails are advised to simply ignore links that ask them to enter their credit card information, unless they are 100 percent certain it's coming from the actual source providing the services.

About MobileMe
MobileMe automatically pushes new email, contacts and calendar events to your Mac, PC, iPhone and iPod touch, and makes sure all your information stays up to date across all your devices. The changes you make on one device are automatically "pushed" to the MobileMe "cloud," then back to every device you use. Besides push email, push calendar and push contacts, MobileMe also offers web applications at me.com, a MobileMe Gallery for photo sharing, MobileMe iDisk for online document access and 20GB of online storage, for a monthly fee. MobileMe replaces .Mac.

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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Natalie on 13 Feb 2009, 22:04 UTC reply to this comment

I have been a Mac user for years and admittedly feel I am in a safe-zone. Free from virus, worms, any attacks. So the idea that criminals are preying on this false - sense - of security, psychologically - this is brilliant.

I have learned *and not the hard way* BUT through horror stories, to not share private information over my mobile or lap in wifi areas especially.

Not in mocha cafe,
Not at JFK,
Not on Free-Way.
No NOT ever

Maybe all it will take is a simple 10 page How-To booklet with lots of cartoon-like pictures depicting "legitimate" websites, and what to look for. Gee, it can' get any more obvious then that neon green URL bar, a bright Yellow padlock key, a simple click to launch a dialogue that details the Extended Validation SSL cert information.

We can call it Safe I Am ; )


Comment #2 by: Jason on 13 Feb 2009, 23:30 UTC reply to this comment

I think I've received enough eBay and PayPal phishing emails over the years to recognize and sniff out scam when it drops into my mailbox.

Sigh... it gets tiresome. I spend more time each morning entering more unsafe domains into my email so they will bounce.

More and more these days I am seeing EV SSL in place. Even Apple site, the sign in screen displays the Green Url (evidence of security) and I make it a practice to click on the company name often enough to see the certification details.

It's an extra couple of steps that in the long run will provide the user with peace of mind and the site will keep its customers safe, secure in order to establish a continued relationship.

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