Yet another lottery-style e-mail scam has emerged - one with a twist that may fool even relatively savvy users. The cyber-crooks have hijacked some of the highest profile brand names – Yahoo, Hotmail and Microsoft - in computing in a clever bid to add legitimacy to their con.
According to Symantec’s Dan Bleaken, the e-mail message is simple carrying the subject line “Free Ticket to Fifa World Cup” and urging the recipient to open the attachment “Yahoo Internet Awards 2009”.
The attachment itself is, at first glance, quite credible (see screenshot below).
Claiming to be from the Yahoo Awards Center, it informs recipients that they have won 5-million UK pounds in a promotion organised by Yahoo, Hotmail and Microsoft Internet services for Internet users with Yahoo and Hotmail e-mail addresses.
Says Bleaken: “Once again ‘winners’ are advised to keep their winning information confidential, and to send their detailed personal information to a supposed employee of Halifax Bank PLC. Another warning sign is that the postcode of Yahoo Internet Awards is from Manchester, but the city cited is London!”