Spam report of year 2008

The Devoracles servers handle the mail traffic for a few other domains as well. One of our biggest issue in 2008 was spam, our customers who we host the mail servers for were extremely revolted at a given time because of the servers’ inability of effectively catching spam. Later we successfully installed a spam firewall to reroute the emails which are suspicious to a spam blackhole. A spam blackhole is a simple e-mail address which is not used for anything else but to catch spam. The effect was quite dramatic, more than 98% of the spam was caught.

At the beginning of February we started to process the data regarding the source of the spam we’ve handled and the result was quite shocking.
Apparently there’s a myth lingering on the internet that the major source of spam is China; webmasters even ban the whole country because of this myth and seemingly this one of the biggest mistake they do! See the below list of the source countries, ordered by percent of spam received:

Spam source countries in 2008 (%)

1. Germany(DE): 18
2. United States(US): 18
3. Russian Federation(RU): 16
4. China(CN): 9
5. United Kingdom(UK): 6
6. Italy(IT): 5
7. Brazil (BR): 4
8. Ukraine(UA): 4
9. Netherlands(NL): 3
10. Ireland(IE): 2
11. Japan(JP): 2
12. India(IN): 2
13. Estonia(EE): 1
14. France(FR): 1
15. Georgia(GE) : 1
16. Indonesia(ID): 1
17. Israel(IL): 1
18. Korea, Republic of(KR): 1
19. Luxembourg(LU): 1
20. Qatar(QA): 1
21. Romania (RO): 1
22. Spain(ES): 1
23. Tunisia(TN): 1

The above data means that the top 3 spam sender country is the United States, Germany and the Russian Federation, and China is only on the fourth place. We really hope that this data will not cause webmasters to ban the above countries though.

For the visual-type people, here’s a neat graph:

Spam on YouSayToo – I say it too

I was invited a few days ago to this service by one of the readers of this site. The service is nothing special in my opinion. The user interface of YouSayToo is quite simple, just like the idea behind the service: ad revenue sharing is not a new thing.

Also, seemingly it’s a weird form of link-exchange between the YouSayToo website and its users’ blog, spiced with a bit of social networking feeling and a messaging system which enables the users to communicate between each other. The problem is, that even if they have no relation whatsoever.

This messaging system on YouSayToo delivered in my inbox the following message (email address removed):

Hello Dear, My name is Carolin.I got your contact today at(www.yousaytoo.com) and i become interested to be your friend please i will like you to contact me through my email ([removed]@yahoo.com) so that we can know each other better i will like to hear from you soonest yours in love Carolin.

There wouldn’t be any kind of problem with this message if I wouldn’t get one like this every second day.

Now there are two possible reasons why do I get these messages:

1. My nickname is extremely appealing for the ladies and each one wants to base a closer relation with me
2. It’s a new form of e-mail address harvesting for the spammer

I think it’s the second option is more viable, what do You think?

As per the spam, take this message and tell me please whether it’s spam or not:

Received on 20:58 ago
All messages | Chat history

Hello there i am very fascinated with your blogs….I have found a great site to promote your blogs too…and earn with google adsense again, http://[removed].com/sign_up.lyrad2008 promote your hubs there too for more traffic

Google Cash Review and Why Google Cash is a scam?

A while ago we published an article regarding the Google Cash Cow Scam but even now, every once in a while we get an email explaining how a user or in unfortunate case the author of the email was practically scammed by purchasing a quite expensive e-book, Google Cash by name which promised its user that it will help earn huge money fast. Better said a small fortune lightning fast.

The above promise is suspicious from the very beginning: other than the stock-market, real estate and illegal businesses, do you know about any activity, explained in the form of a relatively short book which can bring you a stunning $33.000 per month? Because this is what the author of the Google Cash, Chris Carpenter states: buy his e-book and you get rich in no time.

So why is Google Cash a Scam?

This is system can’t work as promised because of many things, listing some of the most obvious and important:

• The Google Cash system is about affiliate marketing taken to extreme. The affiliate marketing nowadays is almost dying because the financial crisis.
• It explains how to create AdWords ads in a way that is forbidden by the AdWords Terms of service. Nowadays you can’t use hop-urls to fool the users who click on the ads
• The Google Cash e-book states you will earn cash through Google, without a website. This would be OK, if you would be allowed to use hop-urls, but you are not
• This e-book also explains that you will use keywords for advertising on the search network of Google and for which you will pay only a few cents per click. While this sounds good, advertising on the search network is the most expensive option in AdWords and finding keywords which cost only a few cents per click is improbable
• The Google Cash explains you how to get started in a less than 15 minutes. The problem is that creating the ad plus the time frame in which the ads will appear on the Search network is way more

Is Chris Carpenter a liar and the Google Cash a scam? He is not a liar, we wouldn’t be so harsh with him because a few years ago the system he describes could work fine, but the truth is that today, when the World is struggling with a so called Financial Crisis — which evolved in an economical crisis, — and Google updated the AdWords engine many times since the book was published, the Google Cash is outdated and is a system which is designed to specifically fail on the current market.

Can you make fast and big money with Google Cash? The chance is extremely low.

Need a proof regarding Google Cash is a scam? This image is taken from the websites which advertises and sells the Google Cash e-book and related products.

If you look closely, then you shall observe that: 1. This ClickBank report is from 2006. At the time of this post is 2009. A lot of things change in 3 years. 2. Look at the report date period again: 2006-04-01 through 2006-04-15. Now look at the bottom of the image: Current ClickBank Date: 2006-04-10, so basically either the ClickBank system was so smart that it predicted the sales for 5 days in advance, or, and this is more plausible, the image is faked.

Have a second opinion? Post it below in the comments section!

How to wash laundry…ahem, money – by Dr. Roger Amar

Dr. Roger Amara, a doc from Malaysia explained me today how his client and himself wanted to transfer money from one account to another in order, probably to loose it’s track. Only one problem appeared: his client died, and now I would be the one who’d need to continue the process. Too bad it’s a scam.

ESTEEM GREETINGS

Good day to you.I would have contacted you through surface
mail, but because of time and for security reasons,I had
to reach you by email I apologize for breaking into your
privacy.

Meanwhile,let me introduce myself to you.I am Dr.Roger E.
Amar,I am a doctor at Hospital Queen Elizabeth
Malaysia,For the past six years,I have been the private
doctor to her Excellency,Chief Mrs.Stella Chincona
Obi.Last month,she came to our clinic for a liver
transplant and my assistant (NAME REMOVED) helped me in
the transplant operation.

The liver transplant was successful,but minutes later she
had some Complications that threw her into a terrible
coma.all the efforts we made,she died.A day before the
transplant operation,she came to my apartment to finalize
a deal with me,She has already called me from her country
two weeks before her arrival in Malaysia,to inform me
about this transaction and what she want me to do for
her.the main plan is to use my position as a reputable
doctor with the hospital,to remit the sum of $4.5 million
into Hospital Queen Elizabeth account with our bank.

The whole arrangement was completed and the fund was
carefully deposited with our bank.Her plans was to
transfer the fund into some private bank accounts in
Switzerland once she gets back to her country,so that the
management of the hospital will not know about the fund
and claim it. But unfortunately.she died some hours after
the liver transplant.

My main reason for contacting you is for you to assist in
transferring this sum of $4.5 million by presenting you
as a business partner or beneficiary to the deceased since
she has no next of kin,and more over no one knew about
this funds apart from me and her,because some auditors
will be coming in to check and balance Hospital Queen
Elizabeth account by next month and they will surely
discover the fund. Then,the hospital management will claim
the fund.

based on this secrecy of this fund,I would not be able to
handle this transaction alone.I need somebody that is not
related or connected to me in anyway,to be able to secure
this fund,as soon as possible.So,I consider it necessary
to intimate you on the profitable venture.I am even
thinking of us going into partnership,we can invest the
fund in any profitable business there in your country and
you will be in charge of all the affairs there.Which ever
way you want it is okay by me.

We don.t have much time to waste,so please,reply
immediately to enable us arrange on how to get this fund
transferred before the hospital claims it.

My sincere regards,

Dr.Roger E. Amar.
d602rogar@pisem.net
d601rogar@krovatka.su

Oh well, I got another million… by Mr. Song Li

I have to be the most lucky guy in the world: there’s no day when I don’t inherit or win a few millions. At least that’s what the emails i get state. Like the one below:

Good Day

Compliment of the day to you, although you may be skeptical receiving this
email as we have not met before, I am Mr.Song Lile I work with Hang Seng
Bank Ltd.I have a business proposition involving the sum of
$24,500,000.00usd in my bank which I know we will be of mutual benefit to
both of us, and I believe we can handle together, once we have a common
understanding and mutual cooperation in the execution of the modalities.

Should you be interested, please forward the following to me:

1.Full names,
2.Occupation,
3.Private phone number,
4.Current residential address.

Via this email address: info_songlile02@yahoo.com.hk
Your earliest response to this mail will be highly appreciated.

Best Regards

Song Li.

It is clearly a scam. I’m not going to answer this one, but if I would, the phisher most likely would ask me to wire or deposit some money in a bank account which would cover the expenses of the transfer. Nonetheless to say that I would see nothing in return. He would be happy, me not.

Confidential Spam from Ahmed Moola

Since is extremely confidential, I’m going to publish it.
The mail arrived to me in this format, without linebreaks or any formatting whatsoever, so don’t blame me, please.
This is a scam and if you received this e-mail too, please, don’t answer it.

Mr. Ahmed Moola. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT ABSA BANK LTD. JOHANBNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. TELL: 27732401244 Re: to accountant-moola@webmail.co.za ahmed.charteredaccountant.mool@gmail.com URGENT REPLY NEEDED Attn: I am Mr. Ahmed Moola, Chartered Accountant of AMALGAMETED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA.(ABSA)I have decided to contact you through this medium based on a business proposal which will be of mutual benefit to both of us. However, I got your contact through a BUSINESS TRADE MANUAL in South African Chamber Of Commerce in my search for a foreign business partner whom I will transfer this fund in his personal or company’s account . During the annual bank auditing, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$ 42,000 000:00 (FORTY TWO MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY) in an account that belong to one of our foreign customers (Dr. Mohamed Gale) a citizen of Saudi Arabia, who lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 31, 2003.View this website;(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm ). Since we got the information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money, because we can not release it unless some bodies apply for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines. Unfortunately, nobody has come forward to claim this money. It is based on this, that some officials in my department and I have decided to establish a cordial business relationship with you, hence my contacting you. If you indicate interest in this transaction I will let you know they steps to take for a smooth transaction for the approval of this fund from the Bank in your favor. The mode of sharing after the transfer of the money into your nominated bank account will be as follows: 65% for me and my colleagues, 30% will be given to you for your assistance and 5% will be mapped out to offset expenses during the course of the transaction. In receipt of this mail, call me immediately via the above phone or email and kindly send me your private telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. Please treat this business proposal STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. Hoping to hear from you soon. Best Regards, Mr. Ahmed Moola. http://www.absa.co.za/absacoza/content.jsp?/Home/Personal/Our-Customers/Islamic-Banking/About-Islamic-Banking/Management-&-People

Mr. Zafar Habib Khan sais I’m a millionaire… again

United Arab Emirates. One of the coolest places on the planet. This time I got a letter from Mr. Zafar Habib Khan, who, as he states works for a bank in the UAE. As usual, his client died, money is frozen in his bank and he needs my help to grab the money. Here’s the full story:

Greetings from Dubai,

This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe
it is only a day that people meet and become great friends
and business partners. I am Mr. Zafar Habib Khan,currently
Chief Investment Officer with a reputable bank here in U. A. E.
I write you this proposal in good faith,believing that I can
trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you.

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition
for you. On November 6, 2000, an Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant
/contractor with the CHEVRON PETROLEUM CORPORATION, MR MOHAMMAD
AL NASSER made a (Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar months,valued
at US$17,500,000.00 (seventeen Million Five hundred Thousand
Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be his account officer
before I was moved to my present position recently. Upon
maturity in 2003, as his account officer and as well the bank
manger, it is my duty to notify him on the maturity date so I
sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but the
letter was returned undelivered.

After sometime, I tried sending back the letter, but it was
again returned and finally I discovered from his contract
employers, Chevron Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Mohammad Al
Nasser died as a result of torture in the hand of Saddam
Hussein (former Iraqi President) during one of his trips to
his country Iraq, as he was accused of leaking information
to the Americans. On further investigation, I discovered
that Mr. Al Nasser’s family wife and two sons died during
the Gulf War in Iraq and was the reason why he did not declare
any next of kin or relation in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank and did not
leave any WILL. This sum of US$17,500,000.00 have been
floating and placed under dormant/unserviceable account by my
bank management since no one have heard from the owner since
2003. I wish to let you know that all the investigation I
have made so far, my bank management is not aware of it, I am
the only one that have the information.

With the recent change of government in my country and with
their efforts to support the United Nations in checkmating
terrorism aid in the U. A. E. By end of this year, the
government will pass a new financial control law which will
give the government authority to interrogate account owners
of above $5,000,000.00 to explain the source of the funds,
making sure it is not for terrorism support. If I do not
move this money out of the country immediately, by end of
the year the government will definitely confiscate the money,
because my bank cannot provide the account owner to explain
the source of the money.

I cannot directly transfer out this money without the help
of a foreigner and that is why I am contacting you for an
assistance. As the Account Officer to late Al Nasser,coupled
with my present position and status in the bank as Chief
Credit & Risk Officer , I have the power to influence the
release of the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the
next of kin to the account, with the correct information
concerning the account, which I shall give you. All documents
to enable you claim this fund will be carefully worked out and
there is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of law, beside U. A. E is porous and anything
goes.

If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you
wish us to share the funds in percentage, so that both
parties will be satisfied. If you are interested, contact
me as soon as you receive this message so we can go over
the details. Thanking you in advance and may God bless you.
Please, treat with utmost confidentiality. I shall send
you copy of the

deposit certificate issued to Al Nasser when the deposit
was made for your perusal.

I wait your urgent response.

Regards,

Mr. Zafar Habib Khan.

Gone fishing… Sorry, Phishing: 4 million dollars and me

Gucci, Rolex and Viagra. These are the offers of the spammers without imagination. But sometimes there are men who are clever enough and go another route: offer people high amount of money in exchange for their personally identifiable information, like name, address and so on.

This day is a great day for me, because Mr. Peter Wong offered me 50 per cent of 8 million US dollars, if I send some of my details. The bad part is, that — in this story –, this money belonged to an Iraqi family. 8 million dollars, huh?

Read the message, should be interesting:

Dear Friend,

I am Mr.peter wong Executive Director of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd,
hong kong.

An Iraqi named farouk bassem,a business man made a numbered fixed
deposit for 12 calendar months, this is valued to Eight Million
United State Dollars only in my branch.

Upon maturity several notice was sent to him, even during the war,
four years ago(2004).Again after the war another notification was
sent and still no response came from him.

We later found out that farouk bassem and his family had been killed
during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home at Mukaradeeb.

After further investigation it was also discovered that farouk bassem
did not declare any next of kin in his official paper s including
the paper work of his bank deposit. My proposal is to put you as next of
kin and have the funds released to you for us to share 50/50 for your
assistance.

Should you be interested in executing this with me; indicate your
interest by sending me Your response with your name,address,
occupation and phone number to reach me at my personal email address below:

peter.wong44@yahoo.com.hk

Sincerely,
Mr.peter wong

My public answer for Mr. Peter Wong: Currently I’m not in need of 4 million dollars, sorry.

Gone fishing… Sorry, Phishing: For my speccial attention!

A day without spam and phishing messages: priceless.

My attention is NOT special, Mr. Patrick K. W.Chan. Also, please understand that I’m apprehensive regarding your offer because it seems to be as dark as the side of our Moon we never see.

If you loose your job because I didn’t delete, more than that, I published your email here, you’ve made it with your own hands, and perhaps you will learn to not send unsolicited e-mails to unknown people.

So, as I promised, the e-mail:

FROM: MR. Patrick K. W. Chan
(Executive Director & Chief financial Officer)
Hang Seng Bank Limited
83 Des Voeux Road, Central
Hong Kong SAR

FOR YOUR SPECIAL ATTENTION

It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because
you do not know me but I have a lucrative business proposal of mutual
interest to share with you. I got your reference in my search for someone
who suits my proposed business relationship.

I am Mr. Patrick K. W. Chan Executive Director & Chief financial Officer of
Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an obscured business suggestion for you. I will
need you to assist me in executing a business project from Hong Kong to your
country. It involves the transfer of a large sum of money. Everything
concerning this transaction shall be legally done without hitch. Please
endeavour to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue.

Once the funds have been successfully transferred into your account, we
shall share in the ratio to be agreed by both of us

I will prefer you reach me on my private email address below
(kwchan_patrick@yahoo.com.hk or patrickchanhsb@gmail.com) and finally after
that I shall furnish you with more information’s about this operation.

Please if you are not interested delete this email and do not hunt me
because I am putting my career and the life of my family at stake with this
venture. Although nothing ventured is nothing gained.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Mr. Patrick K. W.Chan

Gone fishing … Sorry, Phishing: I’m helping a millionaire spending his money

Now this e-mail beats the previous ones with its creativity, the fact that the writer wanted to touch my feelings and with that it tried to manipulate me. Many doesn’t know, but others manipulation is not an easy job. You have to be smart, clever and creative, else you will not be able even to come up something which can be considered manipulation.

So, read below, have fun.

Hello

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have
not yet met. I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any
pains so i decided to contact you through this medium .As you read
this, I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone
will die someday.

My name is SALAM JAFER, a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been
diagnosed with prostate and esophageal Cancer that was discovered very
late due to my laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all
form of medicine and right now, I have only about a few WEEKS to live according to medical experts.I have
not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for
anyone not even myself but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always
hostile to people and only focus on my business as that was the only
thing I
cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more
to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world.
I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I
would live my life a different way from
how I have lived it. Now that I know my time is near, I have willed and
given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended
family members
and as well as a few close friends and Schools in the UAE. I have
decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one
of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money
to some charity organizations in the U.A.E,

London and Ireland. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I
cannot do this my self any more. I once asked members of my family to
close one of my accounts
and donate the money, which I have there to charity organization in
Bulgaria, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do
not trust them
anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for
them. The last of my money which is the huge cash deposit that I have
with Financial Firm Abroad .I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations
and let them know that it is I SALAM JAFER that is making this
generous donation.
I am writing this from my laptop computer in my hospital bed where I
wait for my time to come. I pray that God uses you to support and
assist me with good heart

God be with you.
MR. SALAM JAFER

The message came from the RIPE network, Netherlands and was routed through a Russian server.

Next Page »