Scam Website Targets Army Info
Bogus Benefits Site Collects Service Member Log-InsThe U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is warning service members to avoid a false benefits website that's attempting to collect account log-in information for soldiers and veterans.
See Also: The Cybersecurity Swiss Army Knife for Info Guardians: ISO/IEC 27001
The website, us.militarybenifit.org, is being used to collect U.S. Army service members' Army Knowledge Online e-mail accounts and passwords, according to the Criminal Investigation Command. Army Knowledge Online is the main intranet portal for the military.
The bogus website makes the false claim: "The U.S. military has granted access to unclaimed and accumulated Army benefits for the under listed active duty soldiers. Benefits not claimed within the stipulated period will be available for claims after 60 months."
Service members are reminded to visit the authorized Army benefits website, myarmybenefits.us.army.mil.
"Cyber-crime and Internet fraud presents unique challenges to U.S. law enforcement agencies as criminals have the ability to mask their true identities, locations and cover their tracks quickly," the Army says. "Website and accounts can easily be established and deleted in very little time, allowing scam artists to strike, and then disappear before law enforcement can respond."
Recent Benefits Incident
In other military-related benefits breach news, the U.S. departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense recently experienced a breach of their eBenefits web portal. A software defect exposed information on almost 5,400 of the site's users (see: VA, DoD Breach Exposes Personal Info). The incident occurred during a limited period of time in mid-January during a software upgrade, a spokesperson for the VA said.