Email spoofing scams on the up

Email scams that try to trick surfers in to giving out credit card numbers and other financial details are on the rise.

Known as "phishing", internet fraudsters bombard unsuspecting victims with spam in the hope of tricking them into giving out personal information.

According to the FBI, phishing scams are a growing problem and are contributing to a rise in identity theft, credit card fraud and other interent frauds.

The spammer first steals a company's identity, including ISPs, online payment services and banks, and hopes a customer will respond to a hoax message from the company.

Once you open a message you're asked to update or validate your billing information to keep an account active or are directed to a look-a-like site where you are asked to provide your financial information.

Jana Monroe, assistant director of the FBI's cyber division, said: "Bogus emails that try to trick customers into giving out personal information are the hottest and most troubling new scam on the internet."

In the UK, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Trading Standard offer a website (Ripofftipoff.net) where you can report scams and suspected fraud.