Holiday benefits handout is a con

A HOLIDAY handout from the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales benefits agency is not what it seems as internet scam specialists warn that it is the latest con to drop into people's email inboxes.

Claiming to offer a prime d'aide vacances or benefits that have not been paid, the "phishing" email should alert most web-wise recipients to its dangers as it asks them to send their personal and bank details.

Now the CAF has put a warning on its website that several phishing messages have been sent to email addresses across France and that they should be ignored.

It has also lodged a complaint with the police in a bid to trace the authors of the emails which, it says, have already seen some people responding with bank details. Once the criminals get hold of both personal and bank details they can withdraw cash.

The new rash of emails are more credible than the typical "You have won the Loto" scams that are easily ignored and include links to fake CAF websites such as the following:
http://www[dot]cafguide[dot]com
http://caf-suppory[dot]com
http://www[dot]assistaancetele[dot]com/caf/
http://mon-comptesfr[dot]fr/id/caf[dot]php

The CAF says that people should never reply to such emails or text messages, never fill in the personal and bank details demanded and should send details of the message to www.phishing-initiative.com or the French Interior Ministry at www.internet-signalement.gouv.fr where it can be investigated.