Single parents robbed online

[img_assist|nid=8197|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=100]Single parents availing of the EPPICard system to receive child-support payments are being warned by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation against contrivances of online scammers.

"Individuals have reported receiving email or text messages indicating a problem with their account. They are directed to follow the link provided in the message to update their account or correct the problem," said the FBI's Internet Crime Complain Centre (IC3) in an advisory. "The link actually directs the individuals to a fraudulent website where their personal information, such as account number and PIN, is compromised."

One more trick is that the scam message suggests a victim to participate in an online survey which ends up with an offer to enter his/her account information in order to grant him/her an EPPICard deposit as a token of thanks for taking part in the poll. Naturally instead of receiving an EPPICard a customer is robbed off money from his account.

15 US states issue EPPICards, working the same way as the debit cards do. They are promoted as an easy-to-use alternative to child support payment checks.

"We will never request your personal information such as social security number, card number or PIN through any of these methods," warns the EPPICard association about the scam on its website. "Please do not respond to requests like these."