The Spam Omelette #16

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Week in review: February 25 – March 4

 

1. EMAIL
still hangs to the top in Canadian Pharmacy scheme

Ranking number one for about four weeks in a row, the word EMAIL has
been identified by the BitDefender Spam researchers in spam waves promoting
especially Canadian Pharmacy drugs and sexual enhancements. The message comes
with a less-common subject, namely “Complaints about your car”, in order to
increase the recipient’s curiosity and make them open up the message.

Just as any
“respectable” spam message, the unsolicited mails feature a forged disclaimer
mentioning a more or less trustworthy company and a link to unsubscribe.

2. Unsubscribe,
take 2

As if it would like to compensate for its long absence from the spam
scene, Canadian Pharmacy strikes back this week with yet another spam wave.
Coming second in our spam top, the word UNSUBSCRIBE (also associated with the
previously-described spam campaign) has been detected in another spam wave
emerging from Canadian Pharmacy.

The new template also builds on people’s curiosity in order to force
them open the message. This specific template announces the user that their
password had been changed. Although the message does not exactly state which
password had been changed and why, by the time the user realizes that they had
been tricked, it’s already too late: the advertisement has already reached its
target.

3. SERVICE
Information: you have been spammed

Ranking third in this
week’s top, the word SERVCE has been identified in different spam campaigns
promoting cheap OEM software as well as natural alternatives for stopping hair
loss.

Please note that
purchasing OEM  software from such
websites is illegal, as this type of licensing only allow users to get
discounted software when they buy original
hardware such pre-built desktop systems, notebook computers or other
peripherals.

 

The
second spam wave abusing the word SERVICE
advertises hair loss natural remedies. Just like the Canadian Pharmacy
offerings, the spam messages are disguised under allegedly important warnings
and pieces of information (