Phishing Scams, Identity Theft & Credit Card Fraud

Listed below is a collection of fraudulent “pfishing” or “phishing” messages received as unsolicited junk mail. We don’t send these messages! We just document the ones we receive for the benefit of others who may be tempted to fall into the con artists’ traps. These scams work by tricking you into going to a webpage that appears to be part of a legitimate auction house or bank service, but in reality is a fake duplicate page. When you enter the requested personal information (such as a credit card number or password) on that fake page, the fraudsters copy it and use it to make illegal purchases. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and other organizations provide additional information about scams like these.

If you’ve been a victim of online credit card fraud, phishing, identity theft you may wish to contact an attorney or law enforcement officer in your state or country.

Examples of Phishing Scams · 2008

Nokia E51 (5 January 2008)
Notification of Tax Refund on Your VISA (4 January 2008)
NCUA Account Review Department (1 January 2008)

Examples of Phishing Scams · 2007

YES BANK Ltd (19 December 2007)
West Bend Savings Bank (18 December 2007)
Irregular Activity on Your Check Card (14 December 2007)
Survey: First Federal Bank of California (12 December 2007)
Halifax Online Banking (11 December 2007)
Bank of India Verification (4 December 2007)
CUNA Payment Protector Plan (1 December 2007)
AXIS Account Review Department (16 October 2007)
centralbank.net (Central Bank) (11 October 2007)
Closing Accounts and Limiting Account Access (28 September 2007)
YOUR PAYMENT VIA HSBC ATM DEBIT VISA CARD (14 September 2007)
AXIS Alerts (12 September 2007)
PayPal Case ID #PP-543-706-064 (11 September 2007)
Moneybookers Security Reminders (9 September 2007)
Smart Card Upgrade from Wells Fargo (6 September 2007)
Attention of all Amazon Customers (5 September 2007)
Internal Revenue Service U.S.A. (3 September 2007)
Halifax Online Banking (28 August 2007)
MidAmerica Bank Notification (28 August 2007)
Case ID Number: AT-09GP32-10-D506 (27 August 2007)
E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corp. System (25 August 2007)
eBay Unpaid Item Dispute #200122150768 (20 August 2007)
Confirmation Link (20 August 2007)
International Access Code: Bank of America (16 August 2007)
Unauthorized Access Routing Code (10 August 2007)
Update Your E-Gold Account (8 August 2007)
Money Manager GPS (31 July 2007)
eBay: Question from rondawson (5 July 2007)
Flagstar Shopping Customer (3 July 2007)
Flagstar Security (2 July 2007)
BB&T CashManager Software Update (30 March 2007)
Flagstar Bank Security (27 March 2007)
RBC Financial Group Online Banking (15 March 2007)
Moneybookers.com Account Blocked (3 March 2007)
Military Bank of America Customer (3 March 2007)
Crown Import International, 61-inch Sony Big Screen TV (2 March 2007)
Bank of Queensland Scam (2 March 2007)
National City Business Banking (1 March 2007)
Million Dollar Paypal (16 February 2007)
2005 Kawasaki STS750 Waverunner (item 230084720495) (15 February 2007)
Wayne E. Bakewell, Brownsville, PA (13 February 2007)
Independent Bank: Internet Banking Account Blocked (12 February 2007)
Egg Bank Customer Advisory Alert (10 February 2007)
Unlocking Your Capital One Account (9 February 2007)
Bendigo Bank Scam (8 February 2007)
Regions Bank Security Warning (7 February 2007)
Bank of America Account Blocked (7 February 2007)
GuardUno: National City Corporation (6 February 2007)
RegionsNET Online Security Measures (5 February 2007)
tcgrady@cox.net added to your PayPal account (4 February 2007)
eBay 290074247136 Men’s Omega Seamaster (31 January 2007)
RegionsNet Technical Services (31 January 2007)
You Have 1 New Secure Message (24 January 2007)
TCF Bank AccessOnline (11 January 2007)

Examples of Phishing Scams · 2006

PayPal Member Alert (31 December 2006)
Your account access is limited (26 December 2006)
Logan Mignatos (yosdude72) (23 December 2006)
Revision in Your Amazon.com Account (21 December 2006)
ProGuard from Fifth Third Bank (19 December 2006)
Amazon Affiliates Scam (19 December 2006)
Citibank Credit Card Suspended (15 December 2006)
eBay member mray20708 has left you a message (13 December 2006)
PayPal: Detect Inactive Customers (10 December 2006)
Amazon Account Review Team (8 December 2006)
Fifth Third Protection Department (5 December 2006)
Amazon Account Needs Re-activation (1 December 2006)
Heritage Bank (3 November 2006)
eBay Registration Suspension (14 October 2006)
Marine Federal Credit Union Security Department (2 October 2006)
Question from future4mnj (20 September 2006)
Taunton Federal Credit Union (17 September 2006)
What do u think about NCUA? (10 September 2006)
Question from jazzijohnson (6 September 2006)
Barclays Bank Scam (5 September 2006)
Fifth Third Bank Scam (1 August 2006)
Wachovia SSL Security Upgrade (26 July 2006)
E-Gold Account Trouble (20 July 2006)
Your Final Warning From AOL (12 July 2006)
Chase Credit Cards (4 July 2006)
Transaction Was Refused (2 July 2006)
HSBC Bank Online Transfer (1 July 2006)
National Association of Federal Credit Unions Online Banking (21 June 2006)
You have added farder_williams@googlemail.com (5 June 2006)
Wainwright Bank Online Website Upgraded (31 May 2006)
Upper Deck McDonald’s Shaquille O’Neal #8809613172 (29 May 2006)
MasterCard SecureCode (28 May 2006)
Password Change Required (25 May 2006)
Your Credit Card was cloned in Bulgaria! (24 May 2006)
You have added williams_farder@googlemail.com (24 May 2006)
Barclays Bank High Security (19 May 2006)
Barclays Bank: Update Your Information (9 May 2006)
Question from welshdruid at eBay (18 April 2006)
Barclays Bank PLC: J.C. Smith Security (15 April 2006)
You have added williams_farder@googlemail.com (13 April 2006)
eBay Unpaid Item Strike Received (9 April 2006)
eBay Bid Cancelled (6 April 2006)
Chase CardProtect (29 March 2006)
Chase Bank Account is Fraudulent (27 March 2006)
e-Gold Account Suspended! (18 March 2006)
Barclays Account Suspension Notification (18 March 2006)
Amazon Security Department: Preferences (17 March 2006)
Barclays Online: Update Account Information (15 March 2006)
$20 Reward Survey, Chase Manhattan Bank (15 March 2006)
WellsFargo Customers: Online Banking Users (15 March 2006)
You have added radu.mra2003@gmail.com (15 March 2006)
Downey Savings Bank Online $20 Reward Survey (13 March 2006)
You have added laptopseller@yahoo.com (11 March 2006)
Chase Online Reward Survey (10 March 2006)
Chase Manhattan Bank Alert (9 March 2006)
Ohio Savings Bank Customer Support (9 March 2006)
Reactivate Your Chase Account (7 March 2006)
Password Change Required! (6 March 2006)
Please Update Your Bank Account (6 March 2006)
Chase Bank Online Department Survey (3 March 2006)
Chase Bank with Bill Pay (2 March 2006)
National Credit Union Administration (1 March 2006)
You have added johny2k33@charter.com (26 February 2006)
Account Compromised (26 February 2006)
Regions Bank Financial Corporation (25 February 2006)
Barclays Online Customer Service Account (19 February 2006)
Limited Barclays Account Access (17 February 2006)
Barclays Online Banking E-mail Verification (16 February 2006)
Citizensbank Online Banking (8 February 2006)
eBay Profile Update (6 February 2006)
Capital One Online Bank (6 February 2006)
Comerica Bank Online Security Department (6 February 2006)
You have added johny2k33@charter.com (5 February 2006)
TKO NOTICE: Compromised Accounts (5 February 2006)
Why is my account access limited? (5 February 2006)
PayPal Security Measures! (3 February 2006)
Please Restore Your Account Access (2 February 2006)
You have successfully added a new email address (30 January 2006)
Amazon Warning: Unauthorized Access Report (26 January 2006)
Notification of Limited Account Access (PayPal) (25 January 2006)
PayPal Unauthorized Access Report (22 January 2006)
Barclays Online Account: About to Expire (18 January 2006)
PayPal Fraud Alert ID: 0026654 (15 January 2006)
ARMED FORCES BANK / CUNA (15 January 2006)
eBay $20 Reward Survey (7 January 2006)
2006 PayPal Account Renewal (4 January 2006)
LEGAL NOTICE: PayPal Client (3 January 2006)

Examples of Phishing Scams · 2005

CitizensBank: Update Account Information (14 December 2005)
WAMU: Activate VISA Card (9 December 2005)
XBOX 360 Delivery Confirmation #227X377 (23 November 2005)
Bank of America Online Banking (23 November 2005)
Sports Authority Order Confirmation 761R-VBEC472 (22 November 2005)
JC Penny Gift Card Offer Confirmation (22 November 2005)
IPOD NANO Customer #877812 (22 November 2005)
Circuit City GiftCard Confirmation (22 November 2005)
MCDONALDS Customer #684-A726 (21 November 2005)
Wells Fargo Online Banking (13 November 2005)
Barclays Online Banking (26 October 2005)
Sky Bank Account Access (17 October 2005)
American Red Cross / Hurricane Katrina Relief (14 September 2005)
Armed Forces Bank with Bill Pay (12 September 2005)
Republican National Committee / Katrina Scam (10 September 2005)
Barclays Online Banking (10 September 2005)
Federal Credit Union / Access Limited (9 September 2005)
PayPal Account Review Department (8 September 2005)
PayPal: Unauthorized Third Party Use (7 September 2005)
Amazon.com Security Department (6 September 2005)
eBay Security: Inactive Customers (5 September 2005)
eBay User Agreement Section 41.1 (3 September 2005)
eBay Multiple Password Failures (2 September 2005)
Military Grade Encryption (31 August 2005)
National Credit Union (31 August 2005)
eBay Section 9 Registration Suspension (29 August 2005)
PayPal Account Help (27 August 2005)
eBay Registration Suspension Section 9 (26 August 2005)
Online Banking Scam (24 August 2005)
wamu.com: Verified By VISA (21 August 2005)
Spy Sniper Pro Spam (19 August 2005)
PaypalAccountHelp@paypal.com (16 August 2005)
Bank of the West eTime Banker (15 August 2005)
Barclays Bank Urgent! (14 August 2005)
Armed Forces Bank Fraud Verification Process (13 August 2005)
Armed Forces Bank: Customer Service (5 August 2005)
eBay Safe Harbour Departament (4 August 2005)
PayPal Security Center Advisory! (3 August 2005)
You Have Added plasmaseeler@yahoo.com (25 July 2005)
PayPal Major Database Relocation (24 July 2005)
You Have Added plasma_tv_2003@earthlink.net (23 July 2005)
Bank of the West New Security System (23 July 2005)
Bank of the West Profile Locked (22 July 2005)
Wells Fargo Home Page (21 July 2005)
Secure Your PayPal Account! (8 July 2005)
eBay Unauthorized Listings (4 July 2005)
PayPal notification of recent innovations (4 July 2005)
eBay Trust and Safety Department (4 July 2005)
Marry Kimmel, Bank of America Adminstrator (3 July 2005)
National Credit Union Administration Scam (2 July 2005)
Secure Your ACCOUNT: LaSalle Bank (30 June 2005)
Credit/Debt Card Expiration Reminder (27 June 2005)
Update Your Federal Credit Union (24 June 2005)
TKO Notice: eBay Registration Suspension (24 June 2005)
PayPal Security Alert (23 June 2005)
support@ebay.com eBay Support Team (19 June 2005)
Sky Bank Account Blocked (16 June 2005)
Pay Your eBay Fees (14 June 2005)
eBay User Agreement Section 9 (14 June 2005)
LaSSale Bank: account@LaSSale.com (9 June 2005)
eBay Confirmation Summary (Notice Available) (7 June 2005)
eBay Fraud Mediation Request (5 June 2005)
eBay Security Issue (5 June 2005)
CitizensBank Account: Citizens Cardmember (4 June 2005)
Notification of PayPal Update (3 June 2005)
FIN EBAY: Ebay Account Verify Final Notice (2 June 2005)
Bank of America Higher Standards (29 May 2005)
Verified by Visa (27 May 2005)
VISA: Due to numerous fraud operations with credit cards… (25 May 2005)
Sky Bank / Sky Financial Group (24 May 2005)
FIP NOTICE: eBay Information Verify (24 May 2005)
PayPal Account Access Limited (20 May 2005)
eBay Account Suspended (18 May 2005)
Account Compromised (18 May 2005)
LaSalle Bank Login Attempt (16 May 2005)
eBay PowerSeller Registration (16 May 2005)
Sky Bank / Sky Financial Group Account Suspended (15 May 2005)
eBay Security Service (14 May 2005)
Regions Bank / Paypal Billing Error (12 May 2005)
eBay Account Owner (12 May 2005)
Region Bank Member (11 May 2005)
eBay Billing Department (8 May 2005)
WAMU Billing Error Notice (5 May 2005)
PayPal Quarterly Statement (5 May 2005)
LaSalle Online Banking Notice (5 May 2005)
PayPal Phishing Scam Security Check (2 May 2005)
Update and Verify Your PayPal Account (2 May 2005)
Washington Mutual Billing Error (30 April 2005)
eBay Fraud Mediation Request (27 April 2005)
Regions Bank ALERT! Security Update (27 April 2005)
RegionsBank Security Alert (25 April 2005)
RegionsNet Unauthorized Access (24 April 2005)
LASALLE ONLINE BANKING FRAUD (22 April 2005)
REGIONS ONLINE BANKING UPDATE (20 April 2005)
eBay Security Department: Marry Kimmel (20 April 2005)
Bank of Oklahoma, Online Banking Records (15 April 2005)
eBay SafeHarbor Investigations Team (14 April 2005)
LaSalle Online: Urgent Security Notification (12 April 2005)
LaSalle Bank Confidential Information (12 April 2005)
eBay Account Security Measure (7 April 2005)
Regions Bank Confirmation Code (31 March 2005)
eBay-PayPal Notification of Fraudulent Account (28 March 2005)
Bank of the West: CONFIRM YOUR RECORDS (28 March 2005)
LaSalle Bank: Update And Verify Your Account (22 March 2005)
KeyBank-KeyTeam Customer Confirm Your Identity (16 March 2005)
PayPal Account Suspension Scam (15 March 2005)
REGIONS BANK Security Service: CONFIRM ACCOUNT (14 March 2005)
WAMU Security Department: 104poze (9 March 2005)
You’ve Added an Email Address carseller@aol.com (9 March 2005)
WAMU Security Center Advisory: 1072587upsp (9 March 2005)
CONFIRM YOUR ONLINE BANKING ACCOUNT: 3517hnnem (9 March 2005)
Charter One Bank - Reactivate Ur Account (8 March 2005)
WAMU - Security Message: www.wamu.com (5 March 2005)
You have added plasmaseeler@yahoo.com (1 March 2005)
Washington Mutual Bank Fraud - WAMU Online (1 March 2005)
Regions Bank Internet Banking (26 February 2005)