Incidents

419 scammers using Hurricane Katrina for profit

There’s been a lot written about how the Hurricane Katrina situation is being exploited: fake websites distributing malware, fake charity sites collecting donations, and people setting up sites or spamming email to score political points.

As you can see from the graph at ISC hundreds of Katrina related domains are being registered each day.

Unfortunately it’s not always easy to distinguish between scam sites and legitimate sites, so they should all be treated with great caution.

Sadly, the 419 scammers have also decided to see if they can get a piece of the pie – here’s an example of a Katrina-related 419 scam which has been mass-spammed during the last day or so.

It’s got all the hallmarks of a classic 419 – grammar and spelling mistakes and a large sum of money. If you get a mail with any of these characteristics, make sure you check the source, and think at least twice before disclosing any personal information.


From: markly45@[removed].co.uk
Subject: (Urgent) New Orleans>> Hurricane Katrina

Please help me out in this desperate situation. I am a Mexican national and
also an illegal immigrant living in the state of New Orleans of the disaster
hit area of the U.S.A. I presently work as a member of a rescue team, following
the event of the recent disaster in New Orleans which is caused by “Hurricane
Katrina.

In a relief effort to save the lives of the indigenes, I personally made
a recovery of some treasure boxes which belong to a private banking firm,
here in New Orleans. These boxes which are currently in my possession were
found to be containing uncountable number of defaced foreign currencies,
which ranges from United States Dollars down to Japanese Yens, thus running
into hundreds of millions of U.S. Dollars when converted.

I have so far decided to undisclose these funds to the “Federal Emergency
Management Agency”, pending my personal use, soon after this disaster as
things come back to normal in New Orleans.

Dear colleague, I have already made prior arrangements with a private courier
services firm who will assist me to convey these boxes, out of the U.S.A.

I am desperately searching for a trustworthy individual who would provide
me with a valid home or business address, in outside U.S.A (particularly
in Europe or Asia), where these boxes can be conveyed, so as to start immediate
investment opportunities.

I am sorry, I may not be able to leave U.S.A at present due to lack of authentic
travel document, but I would like to entrust these funds in you, and I will
make my way out of U.S.A as soon as the boxes are moved out of U.S.A.

Thank you for taking out time to read about my problem. I look forward to
your reply.

Please you can always reply me on email: marklyford2005@[removed].com

Your contact information will required for easy communication.

Warm Regards

Mr markly ford.

___________________________________________________________

Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005.
Cheap flights – http://www.[removed].co.uk/travel/flights/
Bargain holidays – http://www.[removed].co.uk/travel/holidays/

419 scammers using Hurricane Katrina for profit

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