ALBANY, N.Y.—New York state officials here are warning consumers of a new phishing scam that involves EMV cards.
Scammers, pretending to be card issuers, are sending emails to individuals who haven't yet received their new chip cards, according to the New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP). The emails ask recipients to update their accounts by providing personal information in order to receive their new chip cards, or to click on a link to continue the process. By clicking on the link, malware can be installed on a computer or mobile device, CBS News reported.
Consumers who fall for such scams are also exposing themselves to identity theft. By compiling profiles on individual consumers, some scammers are able to open credit cards in their victims' names.
"The card issuer gets scammed into giving a new card with a line of credit in your name, and the criminal runs up the card by the time the issuer knows what's happening,” David Robertson, publisher of the Nilson Report, told CBS.