Now,cyber criminals looking for US travellers

BANGALORE, INDIA: McAfee has cautioned Internet users about cybercriminals taking advantage of a relatively new U.S. requirement for travelers from countries, who register online for travel authorization.

According to the end-point-security firm, cybercrooks building phony websites designed as Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), to take your information and money. The site is the gateway for to register for travel.

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According to a McAfee release  the company recently did a simple search for “ESTA,” “ESTA form,” or “ESTA online registration” a variety of dangerous websites showed up in search results. What’s more, incidents of these fake visa sites have escalated over the last two weeks following the government’s announcement that it is enacting a $14 fee for travel authorization, beginning September 8, 2010. Now scammers are asking for credit card numbers and financial information as well as personal details on these fake sites.

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Due to this visitors to these fake sites face a series of dangers, including loss of money, identity theft, an infected computer, and even burglary since the scammers know what dates visitors will be away from home. Victims may also not be able to travel to the U.S. as planned since they did not get official travel authorization.