Month: December 2011

So the same scam has been sent to me again (well, the Adobe version this time, not the Skype one). This scam has been around often and long enough (already back in 2010!, prior to them stealing my identity for one of the scam runs) that it has a Snopes page.

The updated spam, which I received a couple of days ago, again invents new versions of the adobe products that don’t exist. This time it’s Adobe 2012, and they are “charging” (i.e. stealing your details) for Adobe reader – which is always free.

This is what the scam looks like (and please don’t go to the links in the scam unless you know what you are doing) – although the mailout redirect goes through a third party, so the links have a landing page which collects usage information before sending you to the scam landing page. The scam landing page then takes you to the scam page proper that takes your money.

[sourcecode language=”html”]
INTRODUCING UPGRADED ADOBE ACROBAT READER 2012

Adobe is pleased to announce new version upgrades for Adobe Acrobat Reader

http://www.adobe-upgrade-2012.com

Advanced features include:

– Collaborate across borders
– Create rich, polished PDF files from any application that prints
– Ensure visual fidelity
– Encrypt and share PDF files more securely
– Use the standard for document archival and exchange

To upgrade and enhance your work productivity today, go to:

http://www.adobe-upgrade-2012.com

Start downloading the update right now and let us know what you think about it.

We’re working on making Adobe Acrobat Reader better all the time !

Copyright 2011 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Adobe Systems Incorporated
343 Preston Street
Ottawa, ON K1S 1N4
Canada
[/sourcecode]

So the main difference that I’ve noticed with the scam is that this time they’ve used some extra money (also presumably stolen) to pay for the site whois to not be shown:

Domain Name:adobe-upgrade-2012.com
Record created:11/29/2011
Record expired:11/29/2012


Domain servers in listed order:
	 ns1.dns-diy.net 	 ns2.dns-diy.net

Administrat:
   name-- Domain ID Shield Service
   org-- Domain ID Shield Service CO., Limited
   country-- CN
   province-- Hong Kong
   city-- Hong Kong
   address-- 1102-1103,11/F,Kowloon Bldg.,555 Nathan Rd.,Mongkok,Kowloon
   postalcode-- 999077
   telephone-- +852.22060092
   fax-- +852.30030133
   E-mail-- ad4561094151701@domainidshield.com
Technical Contact:
   name-- Domain ID Shield Service
   org-- Domain ID Shield Service CO., Limited
   country-- CN
   province-- Hong Kong
   city-- Hong Kong
   address-- 1102-1103,11/F,Kowloon Bldg.,555 Nathan Rd.,Mongkok,Kowloon
   postalcode-- 999077
   telephone-- +852.22060092
   fax-- +852.30030133
   E-mail-- ad4561094473302@domainidshield.com
Billing Contact:
   name-- Domain ID Shield Service
   org-- Domain ID Shield Service CO., Limited
   country-- CN
   province-- Hong Kong
   city-- Hong Kong
   address-- 1102-1103,11/F,Kowloon Bldg.,555 Nathan Rd.,Mongkok,Kowloon
   postalcode-- 999077
   telephone-- +852.22060092
   fax-- +852.30030133
   E-mail-- ad4561094473303@domainidshield.com
Registrant Contact:
   name-- Domain ID Shield Service
   org-- Domain ID Shield Service CO., Limited
   country-- CN
   province-- Hong Kong
   city-- Hong Kong
   address-- 1102-1103,11/F,Kowloon Bldg.,555 Nathan Rd.,Mongkok,Kowloon
   postalcode-- 999077
   telephone-- +852.22060092
   fax-- +852.30030133
   E-mail-- ad4561094539504@domainidshield.com

Despite this, it all does look very very similar and the one thing that cannot be hidden is the creation date of the URL. It is always a giveaway that if a website is contacting you unsolicited, and asks for your money from a web domain that has been put together in the last few days, they are up to no good.