Creditnet News Story
Phishing scam targets Floridians
Monday, July 26, 2010
By Linda McCarthy
A number of emails promising grant money as a result of the BP oil spill have been received across Florida, but it's just another phishing scam.
According to the office of Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, many of the state's residents have received emails claiming to be from Tony Hayward, the CEO of British Petroleum. The emails promise a grant of $500,000 in exchange for the consumer's personal information, including the details of their credit card account. McCollum says that this offer seems too good to be true because it is.
"Scammers and con artists are brazenly trying to capitalize on Floridians who have been affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster," he said. "Consumers should be on high alert and should report suspicious emails such as this one to my office immediately."
A report from Orlando radio station WOKV said that the only way for Floridians with a legitimate claim in the BP oil disaster to get some of the money from the escrow fund is to go through the government claims filing process.
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