Scammers Target Hearing Impaired Users with Lottery Scam

According to security experts, online scammers' ethical values have fallen to such an extent that they have launched an e-mail scam that targets disabled persons, particularly the deaf. They attract them by promising huge Lotto wins.

News reports reveal that the deaf Internet users in Western Australia are getting fake e-mails from the "Deaf Lotto International Program." The e-mail informs the recipient that the program is operating in the United States and he has won $US 85,000 along with a new laptop.

Winners are notified that they should forward their personal information to Paul Petrie, who asks them to pay an advance fee of $US 850 to receive the prize.

Describing more incentives, the sender of the e-mail 'Mr. Petrie' also informs people that they have won another lottery of $US 150,000 and a two week trip to EuroDisney absolutely free.

But the e-mail tells the winners that they should pay $US 125 to Nigeria through Western Union.

Security experts reveal that the lottery scam which basically aimed at plundering identity of a targeted victim most often takes place via social networking websites. It is said that scammers search for victims on social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to start their conversation through instant messenger and e-mail and encourage them to invest some money to make their fortune.

Hence, WA ScamNet has had discussion with the WA Deaf Society on the circulation of the e-mail and it has also informed the social networking website about the misuse. It is said that these social networking websites will display a special security tip and are asking disabled users to remain cautious of such e-mails.

Meanwhile, security experts studying the e-mail lottery scam have advised disabled users to thoroughly check the e-mail before sending reply to it with complete financial and personal details. They warned users not to get too much excited reading the amount of money mentioned in them. Hence, it becomes inevitable for netizens to distinguish between illegitimate and legitimate e-mails.

» SPAMfighter News - 02-07-2009

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