Phishing scam targets Apple's iCloud, MoblieMe users

Apple Inc.'s cloud-based services are now the target of online phishers, whose latest attack tries to fool MobileMe customers into giving their online credentials.

 

Enthusiast site MacObserver.com noted the scam could be doubly costly for MobileMe users who have the same login information as their iTunes accounts.

 

"In this case, the bad guys are hoping that users will reply to an email with their MobileMe login information. We’ve seen an example with (an Internet service provider) as the sender, and there’s another example online from December 14th that purports to be from (another ISP)," it said.

 

MacObserver added that while the latest attempt is "clumsy," the inclusion of a copyright symbol and fake warning jargon may still trick less savvy netizens.

 

It said the message claims to be a "Virus Notification" where a so-called DGTFX virus has been detected in the prospective victim's MobileMe folders.

 

The message claimed the email account has to be upgraded to a "new Secured DGTFX anti-virus 2011 version" to prevent damages to the web mail log and to important files.

 

It then urged the recipient to click on the "reply" tab and fill the columns then send back "or your email account will be terminated to avoid spread of the virus."

 

The message used a copyright symbol in its line "© Copyright 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved."

 

MacObserver advised netizens not to reply to such messages, much less send their login information for anything through email.

 

"Legitimate companies and their legitimate representatives will never ask for it in such a manner," it said. — TJD, GMA News