Fighting the phishers

As well as a secure browser filter (for more on this keep an eye out for a forthcoming feature) and the Fraud Act 2006 (see our site for this similarly) a web page and Whois change service as run by many internet service providers can be of use when dealing with offshore fraudsters who operate beyond the jurisdiction of English criminal law.

Extradition jurisdiction treaties between member states may assist, as might cooperation agreements for investigations but the first step is to be aware that a problem exists. To this end a web change watch can be of use.

By constantly monitoring specific web pages you will be alerted when changes are made to either the page or to the metatags within the html code.

You can also monitor changes of ownership of domain names that may be confusingly similar to your own that could be used for phishing purposes.

Fraudsters frequently set up copy web sites in order to extract valuable sensitive information online that can be used later for nefarious purposes.

Without knowing that this is occurring you would be unable to try to stop the action before it was too late and with 8 billion web pages and counting now existing without a coherent plan of action here you are laying yourself open to attack.

With daily monitor reports you will know if there is a fraud occurring and with this you will be able to notify ISP’s and other hosting bodies to place them on notice as to possible fraudulent activity of one of their clients which could be enough to halt all web hosting service to the offending site whilst the complaint is investigated.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.