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March 30, 2011

A spam email message claiming to come from the UK Apple Store promises iPad 2 models at a discount. There is such a fever over this hard-to-find gadget that I worry that plenty of recipients of this message will fall prey to the scam.

Here's the message:

From: APPLE STORE UK
Subject: Apple iPad 2 is here!!! Get Yours Now

INTRODUCING THE NEW 2011 APPLE iPAD 2

BUY 3 UNITS GET 1 UNIT FREE

INTRODUCING THE NEW APPLE iPAD Wi-Fi & 3GS UNLOCKED WITH COMPLETE
ACCESSORIES, NEVER USED, COMES ALONG WITH 12 MONTHS INTERNATIONAL
WARRANTY.

RUSH NOW AND GET A BRAND NEW APPLE iPAD 2 AT AFFORDABLE PRIZES.
FREE SIM WORKS WITH ALL NETWORKS. BUY 3 UNITS GET 1 UNIT FREE.

UNIT PRICE:
NEW APPLE iPad2 Wi-Fi 16GB: ................ $450
NEW APPLE iPad2 Wi-Fi 32GB:................. $550
NEW APPLE iPad2 Wi-Fi 64GB:................ $650
SHIPMENT:.................................................. Free
SHIPPING TYPE:............................FEDEX EXPRESS.

iPAD with Wi-Fi & 3GS (UNLOCKED):
NEW APPLE iPad2 Wi-Fi & 3GS 16GB:.................$600
NEW APPLE iPad2 Wi-Fi & 3GS 32GB:.................$700
NEW APPLE iPad2 Wi-Fi & 3GS 64GB:.................$800
SHIPMENT:.................................................................free
SHIPPING TYPE:........................................................FEDEX EXPRESS.


PACKAGE CONTENT:
· iPad 2
· Dock connector to USB cable
· 10W USB power adapter
· Documentation
· Cleaning/polishing cloth


THE iPAD WARRANTY:
iPad comes with 1 year of complimentary technical support. In
addition, your iPad, its rechargeable battery, and all included
accessories are covered against defects for a full year from the
purchase date by a limited hardware warranty.

FOR MORE INQUIRY CONTACT PLEASE CONTACT OUR SALES MANAGER::
Mr. TOM
Apple Store, UK.
Tel: +44704[removed]
Email: apple[removed]@live.com

To those who know and follow Apple, there are so many wrong things in this message that it's laughable. For example, neither Apple nor its individual stores would ever send an email of this type (no graphics, misspelling, and an overall design that retail advertisers would call "borax"). Individual Apple stores wouldn't have the authority or power to offer discounts or special deals on brand new items. Additionally, the phone number is to a U.K. cell phone, and the email address is at a free email account. Finally, if you study the message header, you discover that it originated from a hijacked botnet computer attached to Earthlink.

So, what's the deal here, you may ask? The deal is simple: You email or telephone this phony store your credit card info, your credit card is charged, and...well, don't sit on your doorstep waiting for the FedEx truck to drive up. It will never come.