According to the company, the phishing emails either include an attachment that contains malware or direct users to illegitimate sites masquerading as FIFA websites. With the FIFA World Cup qualifier to be played in Australia next month, Australians are likely to see more of these attacks.

The researchers are also warning that FIFA-related attacks will continue to escalate. During the previous FIFA World Cup, related phishing attacks jumped by 40% and as many as 4,615 phishing hosts per month were discovered in 2008, up 66% over the previous year. This pattern is bound to happen once again and if current outbreak trends are anything to go by, it is expected to be even bigger than the previous year.

PC Tools advises consumers to only visit trusted websites and to ensure they have the latest antivirus software that includes behavioural technology to protect against new threats.