Twitter – New Destination for Spam Attacks

A high traffic of spam has hit the Twitter and thereby, resulting into slowdown of microblogging community. Security firm F-Secure has explored a phony Twitter account which tricks the users into a Google scam, by assuring them a Range Rover car without any charges.

The fake link committing free-of-cost Range Rover car seems to come from Nevada-based Jason (Terri962). It directs the users to a page which says of earning $5,000 every month by just posting a link on Google.

Another scam detected involves Kristen Andrew's Twitter account, whose recent tweet states that her boyfriend had e-mailed to her a site which was having a $5,000 slot tournament on April fool's day and there was no entry fee for it. A URL followed the message. Kristen Andrews asserts to be a resident of Miami/Florida with a fan-following of over 1,000 people. The link provided therein directs the users to a page that asks them to download a Casino game "goldencasino.exe".

Once any of the links provided is clicked, the users may get forwarded to onlinewizards.net, after being redirected via krovs.com, which says that the user can earn $6,500 every month by becoming Google Cash advertiser. It asks users to furnish their credit card information as well as other personal details.

The blog of F-Secure reports that phony accounts are increasingly creating problems for users by heavily pouring unwanted messages and thereby, slowing down the site.

However, Twitter is very well aware of the problem and thus, deleted Kristen's account in just 10 minutes, according to F-Secure. But the major problem is that new Twitter scams are making their way out in abundance. Tweeter account holders should be utterly careful about who's following them and should be wary while clicking tinyurls or URLS.

In early March 2009, a Twitter scam involved receiving an e-mail, purporting to be coming from Twitter. When the users clicked the link provided, it took them to a site that resembles a Twitter site. Then, it asked for their personal details to steal them.

Security experts noted that scammers have been using the phishing technique to trick the Internet users for long, continuously shifting to new modes of attacks. They have acquired sufficient proficiency, matching their pace with improving technology.

Related article: Twitter Flaw Compels Victims to Follow Hacker’s Account

» SPAMfighter News - 4/4/2009