Another shadow site, which was reportedly hosted by the Tripod internet service provider in the US, has been taken down after attempting an e-mail scam.

BBC: eBay shadow site

Warnings have been repeated about an e-mail phishing scam in which recipients are told they are due a tax refund and asked to fill in an online form with bank or credit card details.

BBC: Online tax returns 'popular ahead of deadline'

While free Web services produced just 6% of the Internet's pill-hawking and scam-pitching e-mail a year ago, automated spam programs exploiting Web e-mail services now produce more than 12% of digital junk mail, with Microsoft's Webmail services alone accounting for around 4%.

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But, she said, blame did not rest with the users of the e-mail services, who most likely clicked on a link in a scam message.

BBC: Google targeted in e-mail scam

Stock-scam Web sites can reach millions instantly via spam E-mail and banner advertising at little or no cost.

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