Fake Online Offers Strike with the Launch of iPad

Apple released its much anticipated iPad for sale on April 3, 2010. Exploiting the product's publicity, Internet scammers are targeting it through spam.

Tech Website, namely GeekSugar.com highlights that spam e-mails are being unleashed seeking people who will test the iPad. Users receiving the e-mails are taken onto Testitandkeepit.com that requests for iPad product testers spanning a few months. The site offers compensation in the form of the iPad itself. But, a prominent indication of the ruse's tricky nature is that it asks for the recipient's password and e-mail ID so that his friends too can be intimated.

Yet another fake offer spread through Facebook. In that, the Internet scammers guaranteed an iPad free of cost in return for doing some research work. But, subsequently they begin phishing for users' private details. Thus, when any user gives his mobile phone number say, by default, he accepts a service, which will mean a $10 charge every month on his phone bill.

Facebook brought down the fake offer, but then, it had already cheated 3,500 users.

In addition to these dual spam e-mails, McAfee, the security firm blogged information that unsolicited messages had reached users' mailboxes offering iPads free of cost. The e-mails caught the recipients unguarded by asking them to first purchase some items, meaning giving their credit card details.

Commenting on the fake offers, Spokeswoman Megan Miller representing BBB of Denver/Boulder (USA) stated that the agency wished everyone to understand that the offers were unbelievably true, meaning there was actually no free iPad for anyone, according to a statement published by Kdvr.com on April 1, 2010.

As a result, BBB suggests that people purchase iPads only through reputed dealers or directly from Apple. Ultimately, a parallel iPad marketplace will emerge on websites such as Craigslist. Anyone thinking about purchasing a secondhand iPad must approach somebody local. Besides, no money should be wired for the product's payment since it may leave him defrauded.

Finally, Internet scammers leveraging benefits by exploiting the hype of a new product isn't something new. In August 2007, a spam scam told probable victims that they were winners of a free iPhone soon as the item was launched.

Related article: Fake Spam Mail Announces Australian PM’s Heart Attack

» SPAMfighter News - 4/13/2010