Posted on behalf of Mathew Nisbet, Malware Data Analyst, Symantec Hosted Services People all over the world are currently feeling a great deal of sympathy for the people of Haiti, who were recently hit by a severe earthquake. Humanitarian aid is being offered by many countries around the globe, and aid charities are looking for donations so that they can send all the help they can. And then there are people who don’t want to help and will use any means to try and get those donations. '419' advance fee fraud scams are common and the perpetrators are always looking for new attention-grabbing topics which will trick people into handing over their money. Something like the humanitarian crisis of the Haiti earthquake is, sadly, a prime target for these scammers. They count on the public’s good nature, concern, and desire to help, and hope that they won’t see through the scam email which they are reading. The desire to help can often cloud a person's good judgement. Below (screenshot attached) is a 419 style scam we have already seen. They have used the correct postal address, and there is indeed a British Red Cross appeal for donations to help the victims of this disaster, but the BRC do not use Western Union for donations. Also, the email address supplied for contact is not one belonging to the BRC. Any money sent using the instructions in this email would not help anyone in Haiti, it would end up in the pockets of a cyber-criminal. If you wish to make a donation to help fund the BRC humanitarian effort, you can do so via their website (http://www.redcross.org.uk). General advice is that at any time you learn of an appeal for donations that you wish to contribute to, you should contact the charity directly yourself to ensure that it is a genuine appeal, and that your money really is going where you want it to.
This is a very informative post!
This is a very informative post.I hope that the BRC get many more donations because even though it has been some time since the earthquake there are still victims out there.
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"Wherever money and people appear to want to take advantage of this. That if we can tell people. These crooks mercy of people and enjoy themselves, without even thinking for a moment that those funds are intended for men reached the limit of desperation, people have nothing to eat, children are dying of hunger and disease." I totally have to agree with this man!
Data entry scams or home based typist job con typically target people searching for 'work at home' business chances. Data entry scams can have numerous variations, but a lot of them involve deceptive people into buying affiliate marketing materials in the name of data entry work.
That is horrible ... Many people use the disaster to their advantages.. I am truly ashamed of people that do such cruel things. I hope no one do that again someday... Good post symantec...
I think they should get a job like everyone else. I work for a data recovering company and I have expiereced that most damaged computers are due to these spammers. I really think this is a very interesting and fun website.
In my personal op[inion, this behaviour is not only highly illegal but it is also unethical as it exploits kind hearted, generous donating people out of their hard earned cash thinking its going to a needy cause when it simply is not. I am truly ashamed of people that do such cruel things. Good job symantec.
I've re-read this blog post three times because I cannot understand what sort of person would try and take advantage of earthquake victims. I don't know what is more disappointing; knowing that this circulated to millions or people or knowing that humans are capable of this kind of deception.
Scammers are always looking for new ways to rip people off. It seems like they have no conscious. There difinitely needs to be harsher punishment for these offenders.
Thanks for the great read
Unfortunately this is wellknown tric and bad people still use it ! It is sad but some generous members of our society send money in hope that they help someone
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Perhaps these kinds of frauds should be considered as crimes so that these people could be sentences in a court. Wherever money and people appear to want to take advantage of this. .
Wherever money and people appear to want to take advantage of this. That if we can tell people. These crooks mercy of people and enjoy themselves, without even thinking for a moment that those funds are intended for men reached the limit of desperation, people have nothing to eat, children are dying of hunger and disease.
Thanks a lot for the informative and interesting publication first of all. Actually I was looking for this information for a long time and finally have noticed this your entry. Reading this great post I have found so many new and useful information about the Haitian Earthquake, which I have not known before. I am so glad that I have bookmarked this website because I see that it is full of various and attractive information about everything. Thanks one more time for this publication, it was really interesting to read it. Regards, David Gregor from Missouri
Frankly, it's quite sad for me to hear about people who are using the Haiti disaster for their own good. Perhaps these kinds of frauds should be considered as crimes so that these people could be sentences in a court.
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If there's anything that deserves severe punishment, it's matter as like this. Exploiting the victim of the Haitian earthquake, there's no excuse for that. I just think there has to be a harsh punishment for scammers of this nature.