A major concern for organisers of the 2010 football World Cup is the current power supply crisis in South Africa that has seen prices rocket and rolling blackouts. Fifa, the South African government and state-owned power utility, Eskom, have moved quickly to allay fears, but in cyber space the scammers are watching.
Symantec researchers have uncovered a spam e-mail purporting to be from South Africa’s National Energy Regulator – the body that oversees power generation in the country – soliciting the recipients’ participation in a contract to boost local power generation capacity before the World Cup (see screenshot).
While the e-mail is plagued by the poor grammar and flowery language that are the hallmarks of such scams, the cyber crooks have done their homework.
South Africa’s power supply problems have received widespread international coverage and leveraging off the World Cup adds both immediacy and legitimacy to the scam.
There’s even a play on the perceived corruption of African officialdom in the sly references to “over-invoicing” and “mutual benefit”. Exclusivity and secrecy are hinted at through the use of the term “private proposal”.
Prospective victims who reply to the e-mail will, no doubt, be asked for personal information and probably an advance “tender fee”.
Comments Symantec’s Dan Bleaken: “Most people would not find this as enticing as a lottery win notification, but some business recipients, especially those that happen to be in the energy business, may see an opportunity and fall for it.”
Unlikely? Perhaps, but it’s worth remembering that conmen have successfully sold international landmarks like the Eiffel Tower to otherwise smart businesmen over the years!