World Cup spam floods UK inboxes

Latest threat offers a $500 'prize'

Matt Chapman, vnunet.com 30 Jun 2006

World Cup spam is weighing down the UK workforce, according to security firm Sophos.

The company said that World Cup-related spam seen so far has included notifications of bogus FIFA-sponsored lottery wins, deals to get cheaper phone calls until the end of the tournament, and offers of tickets to the matches in Germany.

In one of the latest examples, spammers offered recipients a $500 Visa gift card if they answered a question on which team they think will win the World Cup.

However, Sophos said that clicking anywhere on the email results in the user's internet browser being taken to a website promoting plasma TV sets.

"Users will feel as sick as a parrot when they realise they are unlikely ever to receive a prize, and have confirmed that their email address is active to the people who fill up their inboxes with junk every day," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

Sophos also reiterated its previous warnings about the malicious Sixem email worm which infects Windows computers by persuading gullible users to click on an attachment alleged to contain pictures of naked football fans.

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