Spammers Inviting Netizens to Join “Tagged”

An online scam making rounds in the Internet world is creating worries for several e-mail users. According to reports, an e-mail luring recipients to join the social networking site "Tagged" claims to be coming from a friend, but its authenticity remains doubtful.

Security experts revealed that the mail sometimes comes in the form of a private message or photos; however, the trick involved remains the same. The suspicious message asks recipients to provide their e-mail ID as well as password. Once these details are revealed, it may give fraudsters access to the entire address book of the victim that, in turn, may be used to send e-mails to the people listed therein, thereby preying them in the same manner.

Surprisingly, this particular e-mail is spamming some people nearly a dozen times a day. However, it does not appear as if the e-mail is creating any problem besides spamming the recipient's contact list.

Though Tagged.com is a legitimate site, but the approach used by the site is considered as spam by many, and several complaints have been lodged by consumers against it. It is learnt that, Greg Tseng - the co-founder of Tagged, who had also been the co-founder of Jumpstart Technologies - was penalized $900,000 way back in 2006 in charges of breaking the CAN-SPAM Act, according to the Federal Trade Commission. It was the largest fine imposed for illicit spam at that time.

The security experts advised netizens not to reply to an e-mail that invites them to log-on to some website, asking for their personal details like password, e-mail ID, etc. Users should avoid opening any attachment from an unknown source or having any suspicious appearance.

Besides, users should also remain away from e-mails asking for money (via cash or check) or to wire money - commonly known as "Nigerian e-mail scam". Such messages, usually asking for money, promise users of a handsome amount in return. They may claim to be coming from some overseas businessmen or from some person in urgent need of help.

The users should ensure that the site they are using to verify the authenticity of an e-mail is legitimate. Moreover, they should not copy and paste any URL provided via a suspicious e-mail into the browser; they should better type it on their own.

Related article: Spammers Continue their Campaigns Successfully

» SPAMfighter News - 6/17/2009