Ammon News - AMMAN — JT-The Public Security Department (PSD) on Tuesday warned citizens and businesses against using unprotected or free e-mail accounts to conduct financial transactions to avoid online theft.

In a statement, a copy of which was sent to The Jordan Times, the PSD said since the beginning of the year it had dealt with 13 cases of electronic fraud concerning online financial transactions valued at JD1.5 million.

The PSD statement explained that some companies and shops use free e-mail accounts such as Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail, which make it easier for computer hackers to access their mail.

When a client uses these accounts to request a money transfer from money exchange offices, hackers send an e-mail that is similar to the client’s, requesting the office to cancel the first order and send the money to another address.

Information security expert Raed Nesheiwat told The Jordan Times that this is a new trend of attacks in Jordan.

Nesheiwat noted that another method hackers use to access an e-mail account is called “phishing”.

This is done by sending e-mails claiming they are from Google, Yahoo or Hotmail.

These e-mails, he added, ask the users to verify their account and change the password.

“By clicking the link, the information a user submits goes to the hacker’s website,” Nesheiwat explained.

The Information Systems Crime Law, popularly known as the Cyber Crimes Law, was endorsed in 2010.

The legislation addresses the most common cyber crimes such as hacking, altering and destroying data, spreading viruses and Trojan horses, tracking and intercepting information, and unauthorised entry of websites and personal accounts.
The law stipulates fines and jail sentences for those who commit cyber crimes. For example, anyone who intentionally enters a website or an information system without authorisation, or in violation of the permission they obtained, faces one week to three months in jail or a fine ranging between JD100 and JD200.