Stolen bank account data was most advertised item on the internet black market in 2007

In the second half of 2007, stolen bank account details were the most frequently advertised items on the internet black market, states a report. The advertised price for bank account data varied between USD 10 and USD 1000, depending on the location and funds available in the account. According to the report, bank accounts that included higher balances were advertised for much higher prices.

Credit cards were the second most advertised by online fraudsters on underground websites. Criminals were selling 50 credit card numbers for USD 40 (EUR 0.8 each) and 500 numbers for USD 200 (EUR 0.4 each). The report says the bulk rates advertised in the second half of 2007 were lower than those advertised in the first half of 2007, when the lowest purchase price was USD 100 for a package of 100 credit card numbers.

The report shows that full identities were the third most common item advertised for sale on the black market. Identities of EU citizens were more expensive than American ones.Other report findings show a rise in the number of computers hosting phishing websites in the second half of 2007.

There are mentioned 87,963 phishing hosts during the period, up 167 percent on the first six months of 2007. Banks were most targeted by phishers, with 80 percent of brands targeted by attacks during the study period. During the last six months of 2007, 66 percent of phishing websites targeted the financial services sector, down from 72 percent registered in the first half of 2007.

Even though six of the top ten brands targeted by phishers were in the financial sector, the report mentions that the second most frequently attacked brand was a social networking website.