Phishing Email Baits Hook with PM Heart Attack Story

By Greg McNevin

February 20, 2007: As the battle for inbox eyes continues, spammers are becoming increasingly inventive. With the novelty of stolen news stories wearing off they are now making the headlines themselves, which is why many Australian’s will find an email declaring that John Howard is currently in intensive care struggling for his life.

While deviously resembling a true-blue press release, the email’s poor grammar and disguised site links immediately betray it. A sub editor would be looking for a new job if a story starting with “The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard have survived a heart attack. Mr Howard, 67 years old, was at Kirribilli House in Sydney, his prime residence, when he was suddenly stricken” was given the all clear for publication.

The email goes on to state that “Mr Howard was taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital where the best surgeons of Australia are struggling for his life,” before imploring the reader to click on a link titled “The Australian - keeping the nation informed” for more information. Naturally, instead of heading for the The Australian’s website, the link subversively directs users to an illegitimate site where presumably nefarious software will be installed their PC’s.

Wheeling between details of Howard’s private life, his career achievements and even his dealings with George W. Bush and the war in Iraq, the spammers seem to have done their research. However, with sterling lines such as “Howard was born at, a suburb of Sydney Australia” they certainly aren’t doing themselves any favours to build their scam’s credibility.

If anything the email puts across the feeling that while phishing techniques are becoming more sophisticated, all junk mail filters need is a passing grade in primary school English to keep ahead of threats.

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