Industry News Home More stories like this... RSS Feed

US hackers targeting child support payments

Concerns have been raised over a rise in the number of cyber criminals gleaning information by targeting technology used to distribute child support payments.

According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3), hackers are getting information from US citizens using EPPICards which are similar to debit cards and are valid in 15 states.

The cards are issued by officials for those receiving child-support payments but a warning has now been issued over emails being sent to users claiming the payment service is experiencing problems.

A link is then provided which if clicked on leads to a page where information, if entered, can be stolen.

"This is yet another attempt by cyber criminals to take advantage of technology to gain access to your personal information," said FBI special agent Richard Kolko.

"We are asking citizens to be alert and not to fall victim to these schemes. If you receive one of these messages, please report it to IC3."

IC3 advises EPPICard-holders not to respond to spam email and to be wary of anyone claiming to be an official who asks for personal information via email.