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| CURRENT SECTION :: TechZone | UK's most visited IT Contractor Site - 250k unique visitors March 2008 |
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Social networking websites are being infiltrated by Nigerian conmen posing as friends of the site’s users desperately in need of finances and favours. Karina Wells, a Google Australia employee, was reportedly among the first users of Facebook to hear from a 419 scammer messaging as her pal Adrian, stranded abroad. Despite being asked to send the air fare, Wells was not suspicious until ‘Adrian’ started using Americanisms, like ‘cell phone’ instead of ‘mobile’ in his messages. At this point, she contacted the authorities and reported what had become attempted fraud and theft of $500 from a cyber crook, thought to be based in Lagos, Nigeria. Users of social networking websites were advised not to automatically think appeals they receive were legitimate just because they appear to come from an on-site friend. But security experts added that emails from social networks are much more likely to hit users' inboxes as they don't contain the signs which filters trace. With bot-net spam, for example, known-bad sender IP address, known-bad headers, or known-bad email construction are normally binned on arrival. Graham Cluley of Sophos said: “Unless people take more care when securing their computers and personal data, there's no doubt that we'll see more electronic conmen using stolen Facebook identities to steal money from the innocent by posing as their online buddies.” Nov 12, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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