Phishing is probably the fastest growing form of cyber-crime. But ISPs, technology firms, e-commerce sites, banks and law enforcement bodies are taking steps to track down the fraudsters.
Among the members of the newly formed Digital PhishNet are Microsoft, major American banks, America Online, Earthlink, the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Federal Trade Commission. They have united in an effort to track phishing attacks, with the aim of finding and prosecuting those who participate in on-line identity theft and fraud.
There is nothing new in such an alliance. Over the past year, law enforcement agencies and technology companies have worked together in campaigns such as Operation Web Snare, which led to 150 scammers and fraudsters being arrested. However, Digital PhishNet will be an on-going project - the organization's web-site issues a warning that 'Phishing is about to become a very dangerous sport'.
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