Contact: Jerad Albracht, 608-224-5007
Jim Dick, Communications Director, 608-224-5020
MADISON – If you fall victim to the latest cyber scam, it may be “game over” for your banking account.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are warning the public about a new email phishing scam involving a piece of malware appropriately called “Gameover.”
“All phishing scams aim to collect your personal data, but the ‘Gameover’ scam goes straight for your banking accounts,” said Sandy Chalmers, Division Administrator for Trade and Consumer Protection. “Falling prey to this scam can do a tremendous amount of damage to your finances.”
This scam works like this:
- You receive an unsolicited and fraudulent email claiming to be from the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA), Federal Reserve Bank or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
- The email will note that there is a problem with your banking accounts or with a recent transaction.
- You will be asked to click a link to correct the information.
- By clicking the link, you will be taken to a phony website where you will inadvertently download the Gameover malware. The malware promptly infects your computer and steals your banking information.
To protect yourself from this scam:
- If you receive an email from any of the agencies listed above, do not open it. Delete it immediately! None of these agencies send out unsolicited e-mails to bank account holders. If you wish to confirm if there is a problem with your account or a recent transaction, contact your financial institution directly.
- Make certain your computer anti-virus protection is up to date.
- Never click on links in unsolicited emails.
If you think you have been victimized by this type of scheme, contact your financial institution to report it and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
For more information or to file a consumer complaint, visit Consumer Protection’s website at datcp.wisconsin.gov, send an e-mail to datcphotline@wisconsin.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-422-7128.
Connect with us on Twitter at twitter.com/widatcp or Facebook at facebook.com/widatcp.
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