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March 16, 2012

Look at this bullshit:

From: Apple® <iPad3request@apple.com> Subject: deal or no deal

These fraudsters are also kind of stupid. To broadcast a bogus offer for the iPad 2 on the release day of the succeeding generation is idiotic at best. I mean, if you're going to hold out a fake carrot, at least make it a good one.

[Update: Apparently the crook has updated the artwork to say "iPad 3", which is equally ludicrous.]

It's clear the sender hopes recipients believe this offer comes from Apple, and a simple click is all you need to finish the job. What isn't clear is that the link is to a domain whose name includes the word "timeshare". That page redirects to another domain that wraps you up into a barrage of surveys (for which the host makes money) and other costly tricks that aren't worth the effort (and usually entail giving up the email addresses of your friends in the process).

Forging the headers, as this message does, is enough for them to be prosecuted for CANSPAM violations. But that assumes the crooks behind this scheme are in the U.S., which I doubt. In any case, don't fall for it. Don't even click the link to satisfy your curiosity because the links might be coded to verify your email address.