The hype surrounding the Rugby World Cup has set off a series of 419 scammers says Symantec Intelligence. A new scam claims that the recipient has been awarded US$2.5-millon in a lottery connected with the 2011 Rugby World Cup has spread around the internet.
The global software security firm also reports that 419 or advance fee fraud scammers are highly skilled at using current events to their advantage.
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“Recently we have seen scams taking advantage of unrest in Libya, the devastating March 2011 earthquake in Japan, and other events. 419 or advance fee fraud works by promising the recipient a vast sum of money, but before any money is paid, various (and increasingly inventive) up-front fees are demanded until the victim realises they’ve been duped, and give up. The promised vast sums of money never materialise,” says Symantec.
Of course, the lottery is fake. There is no lottery for the tournament. The tournament which began in New Zealand of Friday has the world attention and is guaranteed to be the most discussed topic in most online circles in the coming weeks.
