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Phishing - The CSRA Scam

This is not scam created BY CSRA; they are a victim as well. If you receive an email similar to the one below, DO NOT click on the link, and do not enter any information on the forms there.

The website that the link leads to is a spoof; a fake website, not created by CSRA.  When you enter the information they ask for, you will simply be handing the thieves the keys to your CSRA accounts.  That is how spoofing and phishing works.   Some of the links are real and the images are taken from CSRA's own website, so it looks very real.  But link in the email takes you not to CSRA's website, but to  http://203.131.212.11/ and gives the owners of that website your personal information, for whatever they plan to use it.

Other clues to the scam are the email is poorly written, with juvenile phrases and pitiful spelling mistakes.

Remember, no reputable business would send you an email requesting your personal account information. Any such email you receive asking for this information should be considered phony and brought to the attention of the business being 'phished'.

Anytime you need to go to a website for your bank, credit card companies or other personal, financial or confidential information; do not follow a link in an email; just type their address in your browser directly (such as www.CSRA.com  )

Below are actual phishing emails that started circulating in early 2007.

Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "CSRA Federeal Credit Union"< admin@csrafcu.org >
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Ge $100 Survey
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 10:08:14 +0000

Dear Customer,

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

You have been chosen by CSRA Federeal Credit Union online department to take part in our quick and easy 5 question survey.

In return we will credit $100 to your account - Just for your time!

Helping us better understand how our customers feel benefits everyone. With the information collected we can decide to direct a number of changes to improve and expand our online service.
The information you provide us is all non-sensitive and anonymous - No part of it is handed down to any third party groups. It will be stored in our secure database for maximum of 3 days while we process the results of this nationwide survey.

We kindly ask you to spare two minutes of your time in taking part with this unique offer!

To Continue click on the link below:

Click here

Copyright © 2007 . All Rights CSRA Federeal Credit Union online
 

A screenshot image of the fake website:

For more information about phishing, see this page.
 

Copyright CFR 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009  - Definition of scam, fraud, etc. -  Legal disclaimer / corrections / complaints  -  Privacy Policy
Names used by scammers in the examples on this page and others often belong to real people and businesses who often have no knowledge of nor connection to the scammer's use of their name and information.  Sample scam emails and other documents are copies of the scam to help potential victims recognize and avoid it.  You should presume that any names used and presented here in a scam are either fictitious or used without their legitimate owner's permission.
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