As the holiday shopping season begins, hackers are trying to trick users into revealing their private account information.
Last week, hackers tried to trick Amazon.com users into handing over their passwords and user names. Last holiday season, eBay and other online shopping websites were attacked.
The attempt to steal individual Amazon user names and passwords was a “phishing” attack. Phishing tries to trick users into thinking the request comes from the company.
In this case, hackers sent email to Amazon account holders. The email lied and claimed that 2,592 Amazon account records were stolen. Customers were asked to verify account information in the phishing email. The email’s signature was signed as “Amazon Customer Support.”
Electronics and computer experts say deleting the email is an easy solution.
Amazon says thieves use hoax email that look like they are from Amazon company accounts. Amazon says many phishing emails contain misspelled words and bad grammar.
The company says it never asks for personal information, passwords or bank account numbers.
I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.
Jim Dresbach wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.
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Words in This Story
phishing – n. the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company
hackers – n. people who secretly get access to a computer system in order to get information or cause damage
password – n. a secret series of numbers or letters that allows you to use a computer system
email – n. messages that are sent electronically from one computer to another
verify – v. to prove, show, find out, or state that something is true or correct
scam – n. a dishonest way to make money by deceiving people
fake – adj. not true or real
misspell – v. to spell a word incorrectly