Sophos Uncovers Fresh nanny/au Pair Job Scam

Security researchers at Sophos have detected one spam outbreak, which offers a salaried work for au pair/nanny, where the salary stated is absolutely unimaginable.

Essentially, probable victims through the spam mail are presented one simple work of minding two kids. Craftily written, this e-mail is tempting enough for anybody to abandon his existing job, particularly whilst the new boss is likely to be superb, pays beyond a reasonable salary of 2,700 pounds (EUR 3,500 or $4,185) as also provides a separate room containing a laptop, TV as well as other essential electronic devices.

Moreover, the e-mail informs the reader that the job isn't very difficult. And while the recruiter doesn't think it necessary for monitoring or supervising anyone for performing her job, he expects the person will be capable of doing fine without any instructions, the e-mail adds.

Thereafter there's more to the e-mail than the anticipated web-link or attachment that could be malicious.

Senior Technology Consultant Graham Cluley with Sophos elaborates that answering the e-mail could facilitate the scammers to enquire any amount of private details from the user. While that could prove sufficiently harmful, yet circumstances may become still trickier with au pair/nanny spam campaigns, Cluley analyzes. Nakedsecurity.sophos.com reported this, 15th December 2011.

In addition Cluley says that the probable recruiter may dispatch payment in advance to the employee telling her about depositing it into her bank account. But, prior to the check's clearance, she may get another e-mail from the fraudster telling that an awful misfortune (like some steamroller on the runaway killing his wife and kids) has taken place and so doesn't any longer need her service.

What's more, the scammer, pretending to be terribly grief-stricken, may request the victim to return the greater part of the cash, possibly through Western Union and help solve the tragic situation he was in, at the earliest.

Nevertheless, the victim, assuming that she has got the check, which will get credited to her account, may even proceed to wire the requested money, ultimately losing on both ends.

Conclusively, it's advisable that Internauts distance themselves from job e-mails, which appear unbelievably true.

Related article: Spike in Attacks Causes Early Release of Windows Patch

» SPAMfighter News - 12/27/2011