Thanks to Amit Kulkarni for his contributions to this blog.
Since its launch, the Apple iPhone has been on the wish lists of most consumers. The iPhone 4 has already made an impression in the marketplace, so it is obvious that spammers will make the best of this opportunity. Symantec observed spam tactics just before the release of iPhone 4 and is expecting an even greater spam volume when iPhone 5 is released to the market.
The next generation of iPhone is expected to hit the market in September and spammers don’t want people to wait until the official release. Below is a sample of spammer hype campaigning to lure people into their trap. As usual, the bait is a survey one has to complete to be eligible to own “this coveted piece of art!”
When clicking on the link provided in the email, the user is redirected to a fake survey page where a few interesting questions related to iPhone are asked.
Some of the conditions that the spammers are requiring of users are:
1) Participants be U.S. residents and at least 18 years of age or older.
2) Participants must complete the rewards bonus survey.
3) On completion, a total of 10 reward offers await participants along with Terms and Conditions.
Finally, on completing the survey, the user is asked to enter his or her email address to claim the iPhone 5.
So, before buying gadgets, check the legitimacy of the offer to avoid being trapped in fake surveys or promotions. Symantec has been effective at jamming such attacks from clogging up users’ inboxes. Visit the Cybercrime Index to find regular updates on current cybercrime.
