« Spooforama [Updated-2] | Main | Google Resume Malware Lure »

October 03, 2010

Look at this unsolicited email offer for low-priced Apple merchandise:

Subject: BRAND NEW APPLE i-PHONE 4G/ i-PADS/i-MAC: ORDER 2 GET 1 FREE

COMETS TECH UK is An Authorized and Registered Company with APPLE INC,We are offering APPLE i-PHONE AND i-PADS PC, BRAND NEW AND UNLOCKED,Factory Sealed Boxes,complete Accessories and 1 year Manufacturer’s Warranty
and Guaranteed to work with all GSM Carrier Worldwide.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/
APPLE i-PHONE 4G 32GB = $400

http://www.apple.com/imac/
Apple iMac 27" 2.8 Quad Core i7 8GB = $1200
Apple iMac 21" 2.8 Quad Core i7 8GB = $950
free shipping worldwide

http://www.apple.com/ipad/
APPLE i-PADS PC 16GB/3G with WiFi = $450
APPLE i-PADS PC 32GB/3G with WiFi = $550
APPLE i-PADS PC 64GB/3G with WiFi = $650
free shipping worldwide

ORDER 2 Pcs Get 1 FREE

ALL OUR APPLE i-PADS/i-MAC ARE ORIGINAL FROM APPLE INC USA AND THE i-PHONES ARE 4G UNLOCK,OPEN TO ALL NETWORK WORLDWIDE..

We ship worldwide via FEDEX,UPS and DHL in 3/4 days.

FOR MORE ENQUIRIES AND FAST RESPONSE PLEASE EMAIL US

Comets-Tech Lmtd (UK)
Dominion Court,41 Station Road,
Solihull,Birmingham B91 3RT, UK

Aside from the too-good-to-be-true angle with a two-for-one sale, there are a number of more subtle clues that this is a scam. First, there is no way in hell that Apple would "authorize and register" a dealer to sell goods at discounts of such magnitude (and wouldn't a UK dealer be "authorised"?). Nor would Apple allow any true dealer to flagrantly screw up its trademarks (or even use them without acknowledgment). There is no such thing as an "i-PHONE" or "i-PAD" from Apple. Additionally, the current iPhone model is iPhone 4, not "i-PHONE 4G".

Last, the return email address is a free email account at live.co.uk. If you dig deeper into the email message header, you discover that the email originated from a (presumably botnetted) computer in South Africa.

I'm sure these scam artists will be quick to accept your credit card info. From there, they'll either defraud the credit card company or hijack your account (cue nightmare for you). Just don't keep watch for the Fedex, UPS, or DHL van because it's never coming.