NYS Consumer Protection Board and Chase Bank Alert Consumers to New Phishing Scam

posted by gov_wire
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 12:49pm

For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Consumer Protection Board - Deborah
Sturm Rausch (518) 473-9472
Chase Card Services - Paul Hartwick
(302) 282-3961

DATE: July 1, 2009

NYS Consumer Protection Board and
Chase Bank Alert Consumers to New Phishing Scam

The New York State Consumer Protection
Board (CPB) and Chase are joining forces to alert consumers to a new Phishing
scam which trades on the name recognition and reputation of Chase Bank,
and to warn consumers not to respond.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE? Chase and
the CPB have been contacted by concerned consumers who received an e-mail
asking them to complete an online form that requires the disclosure of
personal identifiable information. The bogus e-mail purports that the online
form is necessary as a result of "new security measures." As
is typical with phishing scams, the e-mail looks legitimate.

WHAT IS THE SCAM? Scammers
are attempting to illegally obtain personally identifiable information
(PII) from consumers for the possible purpose of committing identity theft
and fraud.

Consumers who have responded to these
e-mails may already be victims, as the form asks for their name, address,
and phone number in combination with credit card numbers, bank account
information, Social Security number (SSn), passwords, and other sensitive
information.

Sample of the Chase Phishing Scam
E-mail:

Note: This is a service message
regarding the Chase Customer Form.

Dear customer:

As part of the new security measures,
all Chase bank customers are required to complete Chase Customer Form.
Please complete the form as soon as possible.

To access the form please click
on the following link:

http://chaseonline.chase.com/Secure/webform/OSL.aspx?LOB=9693099502577364677684645261236228998878421065417079438775700947892614012947

Thank you for being a valued customer.

Sincerely,

Chase Customer Service

WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE? The
CPB and Chase urge consumers who receive this e-mail not to respond.

Consumers should:
Contact organizations or institutions
with whom you do business in response to unsolicited e-mails using their
company name by calling the number provided on official company statements.
Install, update and use anti-virus and
anti-spyware software, as well as firewalls. Spam filters can help reduce
the number of Phishing e-mails you get. Firewalls can be helpful in preventing
hackers and unauthorized communications from infiltrating computers. This
is especially important with broadband connections because computers are
open to the Internet whenever it’s turned on. Go to www.onguardonline.gov
or www.staysafeonline.org to learn more about securing your computer.
Review your financial account statements
upon receipt to check for unauthorized charges.

Check your credit report regularly.
You can do this free of charge three times a year through the three reporting
agencies found online at www.freecreditreport.com.
Use caution when opening any attachment
or downloading any files from e-mails received even from known sources,
to avoid the possibility of infecting computers with viruses, malware,
spyware or other software designed to impair your computer’s security.
Look for the “https” prefix and a
closed padlock when entering any financial information for electronic transmission
over the Internet.
Report suspected Phishing scams to the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at spam@uce.gov, to the CPB at www.nysconsumer.gov,
and to the institution or company targeted in the Phishing e-mail. You
also may report Phishing e-mails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at
reportphishing@antiphishing.org.
Act immediately if you provided personal
identifiable information to unknown or unverified parties by notifying
the companies with whom you have the accounts and by placing a security
freeze or fraud alert on your files at credit reporting agencies.
Check the websites of your financial
institution, the Consumer Protection Board and the FTC for reports of Phishing
scams before responding to e-mail requests for information.
Report the Chase Phishing scam to the
CPB using the online form found at http://www.nysconsumer.gov/complaint.htm
or call the CPB at 1-800-697-1220. Reports may also be filed with the FTC
at www.ftc.gov.
Report Chase-related fraudulent e-mails
to abuse@chase.com. You'll receive an automated response to let you know
they received the e-mail. Chase has posted warnings to consumers on its
website regarding this and similar e-mail scams.
Read the CPB’s publications on Phishing,
including the Spotlight on Phishing Scams found at http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/pdf/phishing_scam_spotlight.pdf
for background information, and the Phishing Scam Prevention Tips found
at http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/pdf/phishing_scam_prevention_tips_for_consumers.pdf

“We are pleased that Chase is conducting
this public effort to alert consumers,” said Mindy A. Bockstein, Chairperson
and Executive Director of the CPB. “The key to avoiding these Phishing
nets is to stay aware of the latest scams. Governor Paterson has
signed new laws to help protect New Yorkers, and, working together with
businesses such as Chase, we are hoping to stem the tide of identity theft.
The Consumer Protection Board will continue to monitor Phishing to help
prevent this invasive and costly crime which compromises consumers and
hurts the good name of reputable businesses.”

About Chase
Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial
banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), which operates
more than 5,000 branches and 14,000 ATMs nationally under the Chase and
WaMu brands. Chase has 159 million credit cards issued and serves consumers
and small businesses through bank branches, ATMs and mortgage offices as
well as through relationships with auto dealerships and schools and universities.
More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.

About the New York State Consumer
Protection Board
The New York State Consumer Protection
Board, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is the State's
top consumer watchdog and think tank. The CPB's core mission is to
protect New Yorkers by publicizing unscrupulous and questionable business
practices and product recalls; conducting investigations and hearings;
enforcing the “Do Not Call Law”; researching issues; developing legislation;
creating consumer education programs and materials; responding to individual
marketplace complaints by securing voluntary agreements; and, representing
the interests of consumers before the Public Service Commission and other
State and federal agencies. More information about the Consumer Protection
Board is available at www.nysconsumer.gov.

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__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Deborah Sturm Rausch
Director of Public Information and Media Strategy
NYS Consumer Protection Board
Advocating for and Empowering NY Consumers
Office: (518) 473-9472
E-mail: Deborah.Rausch@consumer.state.ny.us
Fax: (518) 474-2896
Web Address: www.nysconsumer.gov
P
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