MySpace E-mail-Based Spam Scam Starts With Espion

On October 5, 2006 at 5:35 pm EST, an e-mail was caught in the company's unprotected 'honeypot'. At the same time, Espion's 'Interceptor anti-spam and security device' blocked an identical e-mail. The clogged e-mail appeared like an authentic message from MySpace having the subject as: "New message from Richard on MySpace sent on October 5 15:40:00 -4 2006". Actually a fraud message, it even contained the real address of MySpace, its copyright and privacy information.
A MySpace user, Kurt Thayer, explains that when someone sends a message to you, then your email account number also receives a mail containing a contact to the newly received message. In Espion case, the link was ill intended that tried to thieve your personal details. The trapped e-mail resulted in a traffic flood and so it became necessary to shut down MySpace scam site.

The top spam scams redirect a user's web request to a fake location. The appearance of many bogus sites is becoming widespread, which is very hard to detect compared to other spam attacks. The scam usually, but not always, involves customers getting e-mail asking them to provide their account details or to click on a link that lead them to a duplicate homepage.Espion's Interceptor anti-spam box was able to catch the 'MySpace Spam Scam' message instantly. Other not-so sophisticated anti-spam solutions have problem capturing it before users become victims.

According to Geoff Shively, CEO, Espion International, the MySpace e-mailing is a scam, not a result of a worm although anyone can easily turn it into a full size e-mail worm. Since MySpace sends uncountable 'New message' notifications every day, people will easily fall victims unless the company educates them, fast.
MySpace needs to add a lot of improvements to its site like security, spam detection, code filtering and so on. At the same time, users should adopt safe computing exercises and maintain utmost caution with regard to unsolicited e-mails containing documents of Microsoft Office.

Related article: MySpace Wants Apple To Update QuickTime

» SPAMfighter News - 10/13/2006