Yahoo Email Hoax and web page scam
in distribution from
18th November 2003

Yahoo Billing Error? Not likely, as yet another email hoax scam targets Yahoo users...

This Yahoo Billing Error email hoax was reported to us on the 18 November 2003. It looks very convincing with a genuine Yahoo logo drawn directly from their own servers, and the layout that you'd expect to see in a Yahoo page.

Tainted with just the right suggestion, this hoax aims to acquire your credit or debit card and address details (see image below).

The email states that there is an error with either your credit card or billing address and that you need to update your billing information or your 'service' will be terminated in 5 days time. It goes on to provide a link to a web page for you to do just that, but the link will lead you to a fake, or forged, Yahoo web page instead.

If you have received this hoax email, please remember that it is very common for these email scams to be redistributed at a later date with only slightly different content. Also, once you have received one of these hoaxes, it is also common place to receive at least another one and usually a day or two after the first, although not necessarily from the same apparent sender.

The fake web page is very convincing, and again comes with a genuine Yahoo logo called up from their own servers. The page contains a web form which asks for yourYahoo user name and password, credit or debit card and ATM PIN number, and bank account details, etc. (see image below).

If you supply that information in the form, and then submit it, the information will be captured utilising PHP script while you are unwittingly sent on to the genuine yahoo.com home page.

Take a good look at the following images, because this hoax email scam may be coming to an inbox near you!

The Email ...

The Fake Yahoo web page...

This fake Yahoo web page looks like the real deal, but it is clearly apparent that the page is a forgery when you see the URL/web address in your browser's address bar.....

http://www.yahoo-billing.com/
which was registered by Network Solutions for a man in Arizona, USA and hosted with BBH WorldWild in JiLing, China - therefore nothing to do with Yahoo at all.