Fake Credit Union Australia emails - SSO-AL2009-028

29 June 2009

Software and platforms affected

None.

What is the problem?

There has been a spike in fraudulent (phishing) emails targeting the customers of financial institutions, including those pretending to be from the Credit Union Australia. These emails are lures to fake websites where users are tricked into supplying personal information, such as banking login credentials, credit card details or passwords (identity theft).

The subject lines of the email include, but are not limited to:

Alert: Different computers have logged on to your CUA Web Banker account
Take a Look!!! You had WIN 00 with CUA
Different computers have logged on to your CUA Web Banker account
Credit Union Australia: Account Temporary Limited

The from lines of the email include, but are not limited to:

"Credit Union Australia"<notify@cua.com.au>
"Credit Union Australia"<cuaheallth@cua.com.au>
"Credit Union Australia"<fifbgn@cua.com.au>
"Credit-Union-Australia"<wyvnll@tunning.com>

The content of the emails all differ slightly but possess similar characteristics, that include, but are not limited to: requests to click on links to complete a survey, confirm your billing information, retrieve important information about your account, or to verify and confirm your email address.

What we recommend you do

If you receive an email similar to this one, do not reply or click on the link in the email - simply follow the instructions located here:

http://www.cua.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/website/home/sitetools/securityandfraud/

If you have already clicked on the link and responded to the request for information, the information you supplied such as your account number, username, password or credit card details have probably been captured by a criminal. You should change your password for this account immediately and contact the Credit Union Australia.

Where you can find more information

See the Stay Smart Online Fact Sheet:  Protecting yourself from phishing attacks and the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy's Phishing - Don't Take the Bait.

Disclaimer

This Alert has been prepared by AusCERT for the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

The information is intended for used by home users and small to medium sized businesses and is general information only and not intended as advice and was accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. The material and information in this Alert is not adapted to any particular person's circumstances and therefore cannot be relied upon to be of assistance in any particular case. In any important matter, you should seek professional advice relevant to your own circumstances.

The Commonwealth, AusCERT, and all other persons associated with this Alert accept no responsibility or liability for information either included or referred to in the Alert. No responsibility or liability is accepted for any damage, loss or expense incurred as a result of the information contained in the Alert, whether by way of negligence or otherwise.

The listing of a person or organisation in any part of this site or Alert does not imply any form of endorsement by the Commonwealth of the products or services provided by that person or organisation. Similarly, links to other web sites have been inserted for your convenience and do not constitute endorsement of material at those sites, or any associated organisation, product or service.

Please note that material in this Alert, as the case may be, includes views or recommendations of third parties, which do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth, or indicate its commitment to particular course of action. Material on this site or in this Alert may also include information provided by third parties. The Commonwealth cannot verify the accuracy of information that has been provided by third parties. 

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