A phishing campaign has been uncovered that attempts to entice MasterCard users to divulge account details by promising money off future purchases.

According to SophosLabs, the content of this phishing email is unusual since it attempts to lure users to sign up to SecureCode and receive extra security protection for their MasterCard accounts, by offering a 16 per cent discount on future purchases made with the card.

In reality, users who click on the link contained within the email are redirected to a phishing site, set up to look almost identical to the genuine MasterCard website. Visitors are then asked to supply confidential information including credit card expiration date, date of birth and the three digit security code located on the back of the card – ample information for the cybercriminals to then access and use the account in question to steal money.

"MasterCard has been very successful in positioning SecureCode as the answer to online fraud, and with so many computer users growing increasingly worried about the risks of shopping online, the prospect of greater security and money off can be too much to resist," said Carole Theriault, senior security consultant, Sophos.

"What's more, phishers are putting a lot more effort into their scams these days and to the undiscerning eye, it's almost impossible to tell this isn't the real MasterCard site."