I just received an Internet spam, which as an Internet professional I could instantly recognize as a scam. However, I wonder how the average person would react. Here's the email:
You have been betrayed!!! It’s a pity that this how your life is going to come to an end as your death had already been paid for by someone who is very close to you from all investigations.
I have ordered 3 (three) of my men to monitor every move of you and make sure you are not out of sight till the date of your assassination.
According to the report I gets, you seem to be innocent about what you have been accuse but I have no business with that, so that’s why am contacting you to know if truly you are innocent and how much you value your life.
Get back to me if you sure want to live on, ignore this mail only if you feel it’s a joke or just a threat.
Don’t forget your days on earth are numbered, so you have the chance to live if only you will comply with me.
WARNING: Tell no one about this mail to you because he or she might just be the person who wants you dead, and if that happens, I will be aware and am going to make sure you DIE instantly.
I will give you every detail of where to be and how to take any actions be it legal or illegal, that’s only when I read from you.
You need to stay calm and act unaware of this situation and follow instructions because any move you make that is suspicious; you will DIE as your days are numbered
Even knowing the message was a fake it bothered me. I can only imagine the reaction of someone who doesn't understand how spam works.
I went out to the IP Tracker site to find out from where the message was sent. Here is their analysis:
[quote="ipTRACKERonline.com"][u][b]Header Analysis Quick Report[/b][/u]
[b]Originating IP:[/b] 125.215.236.210
[b]Originating ISP:[/b] Pccw Business Internet Access
[b]City:[/b] Tsim Sha Tsui
[b]Country of Origin:[/b] Hong Kong
Add up the clues: It came from Hong Kong, it wasn't addressed to anyone, the To line in the header was blank and most importantly, I am so lovable that no one would really want to do me in. It's clearly a scam, but a dangerous one for the unsophisticated. So, I immediately tried to fill out the form at the FBI Internet Complaint Center, but they want to know the person or company that defrauded me and how much I lost. Halfway through filling out the complaint, I gave up. So, I tried calling my local police department. They weren't interested. The sent me to the local FBI office. I spent way too much time wandering around in their answering machine's phone tree and eventually was hung up on.
Not knowing how to get my message across to those who are paid to protect us, I took to the avenue I know best -- the Internet. I plan on making this as public as possible. Hopefully, victims of this kind of threat/extortion will be forewarned and not panic when they see it.
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