On 11/08/01 at 17:12, Jerry Pasker wrote: > This is semi-on-topic......... > > I've noticed that I've been getting some very strange email lately. Ones > that aren't obviously spam, but are just odd, and designed to elicit a > reply. I've done some searching to see if these are indeed real spammer > tactics, but so far, I've turned up nothing. My gut feeling is that this > is a big thing... bulk verification of email addresses, disguised as simple > and innocent mis-addressed email. One line e-mails like "Hey, Jim, this is > Pat, let me know if you got my last email" or "JPASKER, THE TREES ARE ALL > DOWN -GEORGE" My thoughts are that they're obviously designed to > convince the user to reply, so the spammer can verify an email address is > live.
Do these have attachments, by chance? If so, it sounds a bit like the SirCam e-mail virus (but not exactly). > The best part about this is that the spammer can spam to verify email > addresses, without arousing too much suspicion, or creating too many spam > reports. > > Today, I even got one from someone claiming to be some exiled queen of an > African county, seeking help investing 25 million dollars that she needs to > wire to an account in the USA, but she needed my contact information, so > she could further communicate with me, so I could help her. (oh, gimmie a > brake!) That sounds like a variation of a relatively old and well-known hoax/scam that gets circulated every so often. Not really spam per se. See <http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBScams.shtml#nigerian419> > There's no level of server defense that can protect a user from their own > ignorance. True 'nuff. There's always someone out there thinking up new ways of making fools of the naive. > Can anyone verify this, or point me to a web link confirming or denying my > suspicions? Some internet/e-mail hoax sites from my bookmarks: <http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/> <http://www.nonprofit.net/hoax/default.htm> <http://www.datafellows.com/news/hoax.htm> Christopher Bort | [EMAIL PROTECTED] Webmaster, Global Homes | [EMAIL PROTECTED] <http://www.globalhomes.com/> | PGP public key available on request ############################################################# This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the INDEX mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
