Cyber-criminals have targeted two New Zealand charities in automated attacks attempting to validate large numbers of stolen credit cards.

Internet watchdog NetSafe [a registered charity]  has warned charities taking online donations to be alert after the attacks on the two organisations, which it did not name.

In the first incident, almost 50,000 attempts were made to rapidly submit fake donations through a website form with the aim being to test which credit cards could be used for subsequent online fraud or sold on to other internet scammers.

More than 2000 successful donations were made resulting in the charity having to enlist the help of their bank and merchant account provider to refund the fraudulent payments.

They also spent time dealing with enquiries from cardholders around the world questioning the transactions.

NetSafe offers advice for charities and website owners. You can also contact NetSafe via their freephone telephone number 0508 NETSAFE or report an incident online at www.theorb.org.nz.

For full story see:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=11387380