Spam Campaigns about Swine Flu Cure Launched in India

Since the World Health Organization issued a warning about the spreading of H1N1 virus or swine flu, malicious spammers have spared no time in exploiting the event and are unleashing their spam scams. These spammers, having targeted other countries, are now eyeing on India, which is also reeling under the threat.

As panic regarding the swine influenza becomes widespread in the country through media, spammers are further enhancing the hysteria with their malicious e-mails. Using social engineering tactics related to the H1N1 flu, which is the most current subject; spammers are managing to largely increase the possibility of recipients opening their e-mails.

Recently obtained news reports state that Indian netizens are receiving an unsolicted e-mail claiming that 'tulsi,' a flavored plant, could help to kill the dreaded influenza. Indeed, spammers have wholly exploited the Indian people's immense faith in Ayurvedic medicines, according to security specialists.

Thus, the spam mails quote practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine to sound not just genuine but also to make the recipients believe the e-mails. They proceed to say that the tulsi can benefit people as it not only stops but also cures the patient.

The spam mailers also suggest that a paste or juice of 20-25 tulsi leaves of medium size should be taken empty stomach at least two times a day as this strengthens the resistance of the body and minimize the possibilities of getting ill.

In the meantime, some other spam mails on the Swine flu topic have been circulating on the Internet. They pertain to 'medicine' type in which spam, using a web-link, leads recipients to an Internet shop.

Hence, e-mail users in India and the world over have been advised that they ignore such spam mails and go for sources that are more trustworthy in dealing with the disease and in suggesting ways to get rid of the virus. Reportedly, the pandemic has already taken many lives on the Indian subcontinent while in Mexico, where the outbreak started, more than 149 people have so far turned fatal, with increasing cases occurring daily.

Related article: Spam Scam Bags a Scottish Connection

» SPAMfighter News - 8/29/2009