Friday, May 06, 2011

You visit illegal websites?... I'm Skeptcial

I received this email today:

"Sir/Madam, we have logged your IP-address on more than 40 illegal Websites. Important: Please answer our questions! The list of questions are attached. uh drg oc"

and the email had an attachment of Documents.zip

On the face of it, I can stop 4 red flags with this email

First Red flag is "Sir/Madam". The email author claims to have my IP address and the obviously have my email address, but they don't know my name? Very suspcious

Second, Why would the FBI contact my by email? Isn't that just inviting a person who did view so-called illegal sites to delete all browser history and perhaps even destroy the computer before the evidence can be collected? This would be tantamount to a police officer calling you and saying, we will be by in an hour to arrest you so don't go anywhere. 
Third, why does the email end with "uh drg oc". Those are not initials or anything else understandable, so why is it on the email message at all?

Lastly, why would a questionnaire be attached as a zip file? If this was an official email by the FBI, at the very least it would give you a link to the FBI website or perhaps a phone number. There is no good reason to send a questionare in this way, especially in reguards to illegal activity.

This analysis took me all of 5 minutes, yet I have had people mention to me they got this email and were considered about why the FBI was watching them. Just use a little skeptical thinking and you will be fine.

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