Stop Falling for Spam

[iacas]

If people would stop falling for spam, spam would cease to exist in like a week. It's expensive to send spam, and yet it is clearly cost effective, which means a LOT of people are falling prey to a LOT of spam and scams.

Like this one I got today (I particularly like "Trust me. I keep my word."):

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Greetings!

I have to share bad news with you. Approximately a few months ago, I gained access to your devices, which youuse for internet browsing. After that, I have started tracking your internet activities.

Here is the sequence of events:

Some time ago, I purchased access to email accounts from hackers (nowadays, it is quite simple to buy itonline). I have easily managed to log in to your email account [redacted].

One week later, I have already installed the Cobalt Strike "Beacon" on the Operating Systems of all the devicesyou use to access your email. It was not hard at all (since you were following the links from your inbox emails). All ingenious is simple. :).

This software provides me with access to all your devices controllers (e.g., your microphone, video camera, andkeyboard). I have downloaded all your information, data, photos, videos, documents, files, web browsing history to myservers. I have access to all your messengers, social networks, emails, chat history, and contacts list.

My virus continuously refreshes the signatures (it is driver-based) and hence remains invisible for antivirussoftware. Likewise, I guess by now you understand why I have stayed undetected until this letter.

While gathering information about you, i have discovered that you are a big fan of adult websites. You lovevisiting porn websites and watching exciting videos while enduring an enormous amount of pleasure. Well, i havemanaged to record a number of your dirty scenes and montaged a few videos, which show how you masturbateand reach orgasms.

If you have doubts, I can make a few clicks of my mouse, and all your videos will be shared with your friends,colleagues, and relatives. Considering the specificity of the videos you like to watch (you perfectly know what Imean), it will cause a real catastrophe for you.

I also have no issue at all with making them available for public access (leaked and exposed all data). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Under the rules of the law, you face a heavy fine or arrest. I guess you don't want that to happen.

Let's settle it this way:

You transfer 2.1 Bitcoin to me and once the transfer is received, I will delete all this dirty stuff right away. Afterthat, we will forget about each other. I also promise to deactivate and delete all the harmful software from yourdevices. Trust me. I keep my word.

That is a fair deal, and the price is relatively low, considering that I have been checking out your profile and trafficfor some time by now. If you don't know how to purchase and transfer Bitcoin - you can use any modern searchengine.

You need to send that amount here Bitcoin wallet: [removed]

(The price is not negotiable). You have 5 days in order to make the payment from the moment you opened this email.

Do not try to find and destroy my virus! (All your data is already uploaded to a remote server). Do not try to contact me. Various security services will not help you; formatting a disk or destroying a device willnot help either, since your data is already on a remote server.

This is an APT Hacking Group. Don't be mad at me, everyone has their own work. I will monitor your every move until I get paid. If you keep your end of the agreement, you won't hear from me ever again.

Everything will be done fairly! One more thing. Don't get caught in similar kinds of situations anymore in the future. My advice: keep changing all your passwords frequently.

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Also, seriously, people…

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/cobalt-strike-beacon/30308ccf-3cf1-468f-a110-8439dd3c8efb

Stop falling for this shit.

[dennyjones]

We have some elderly friends that fell for the grandson is in jail scam.   They sent over $3k to the scammers before calling the grandson's parents!   It's amazing to me the amount of people that are naïve, gullible, and ignorant of potential scams.  The people that pull these scams are relentless. 

I believe there is a video somewhere here on site about Mark Rober with help from some very talented computer people trying to expose a big international scam center.

 

[boogielicious]

50 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

We have some elderly friends that fell for the grandson is in jail scam.   They sent over $3k to the scammers before calling the grandson's parents!   It's amazing to me the amount of people that are naïve, gullible, and ignorant of potential scams.  The people that pull these scams are relentless. 

I believe there is a video somewhere here on site about Mark Rober with help from some very talented computer people trying to expose a big international scam center.

 

My mom gets these calls and strings them along for a while then gives it to them. 

[mcanadiens]

4 hours ago, iacas said:

enduring an enormous amount of pleasure

Coffee shot out of the nostrils on this phrase.

 

[Zippo]

9 hours ago, iacas said:

It's expensive to send spam

I'm curious why you say that it's expensive to send spam? Also, not to quibble too much, but I'd say the example you posted is from what I'd consider a scammer - not a spammer.

The difference between spam and scam - Afdtechtalk

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Spam and Scam both connote something negative. That's what most of us get right. But unbeknownst to many, there's a contrast between those two terms.

And, sure - there'd be no scam or spams if people didn't fall for them. But what did P.T. Barnum say?

[iacas]

11 minutes ago, Zippo said:

I'm curious why you say that it's expensive to send spam? Also, not to quibble too much, but I'd say the example you posted is from what I'd consider a scammer - not a spammer.

It's an unsolicited email. It's still spam, even if the point of the spam is a scam.

Spam: Unsolicited e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups; junk e-mail.

It's spam.

12 minutes ago, Zippo said:

I'm curious why you say that it's expensive to send spam?

Because it is.

You might have a different definition of "expensive" than I do, but… there are companies spending thousands of dollars per day to send spam. They need to make more than that to make it worthwhile.

It's expensive to get valid email lists. Computing resources and bandwidth aren't free. You have to know how to hop around so as to avoid detection and/or to get your emails through filters. You have to know how to avoid CAN-SPAM fines… etc.

[boogielicious]

This skit is where the term originated supposedly.

I get a lot of those, “you’ve won a gift certificate at X store”. DELETE!

[ChetlovesMer]

Ah crap. It just dawned on me.

I'm not going to be getting those gold bars that my long lost relative in South Africa said he was going send me! 

[Darkfrog]

I've been getting 1-2 of these every day, routed directly to spam folder. I'm guessing this is some sort of phishing attempt.