Spam: CharityHope

Right... the link in this spam took me to a page full of porn video links, not a form for submitting a resume. Thankfully, I'm cautious enough to use a text-only browser when checking out such things, so I may have been spared an unwanted anatomy lesson. I also tried without the numeric extension on the end of the URL, and that took me to a page containing Javascript which did nothing, but looked a lot like Javascript I have seen on sites which try to exploit security weaknesses in web browsers.

All in all, if you managed to find this page before clicking on any links, I highly recommend that you don't. If you clicked already, and you run Windows, you may want to scan your computer for the latest malware. It's also entirely likely that the number at the end of the URL is a unique tracking ID, and the spammer is creating a list of suckers who are silly enough to click on links in spam, which is always a bad idea (unless you're some kind of idiot who writes a blog about spam).

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cleo <gerr[@]shapel.bir.ru>
Date: 13-May-2007 12:27
Subject: _The best time to join the team of CharityHope. Contact us by sending your resume.
To: undisclosed-recipients

Our Charitable Center, established in year 2000 by a team of highly qualified professionals who feel privileged to help world and people in their sorrow. We are working to help people donate money for realization our social and charity programs, called up to help growing generation to get education, for providing of charity projects, directed on formation of favorable social and informational area around children. We are working on developing of new children centers for their education, we are taking active part in support and adaptation of homeless children.
Our organization is pleased to inform you that there are available vacancies for a Donation Manager Position.

your resume - http://81.29.241.160/in.php?21352828

Our team is really happy to invite you to our company!

Spam: job@headfirm.net

Here's an interesting spam I found while sifting through the usual job scam spams. At first glance, this appears to be a standard job scam, but on closer inspection it lacks key ingredients. For example, it expresses as strict requirements that the applicant be registered with the SEC.

This is perhaps a clue to what they're really doing here: trying to find registered stock brokers. My guess is that this is the first stage of a "spear phishing" attack: anyone who contacts them claiming to be a stockbroker will be sent some documents in return, such as Microsoft Word documents. These are actually Trojan horse documents, crafted in such a way that they will attempt to install other software on the stockbroker's computer. The attackers probably want to gain access to stock trading systems so that they can buy and sell stock to manipulate the price for their own gain, or some similar scam.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: [redacted] <[redacted]@hotmail.com>
Date: 10-May-2007 09:58
Subject: Good job offer from careerbuilder
To: [redacted]@gmail.com
Cc: [three more gmail.com addresses redacted]

This position is open as of 05/09/2007.

Financial Consultant Retirement Advisor - Stock Broker

Financial Consultant - Registered Rep - Money Management - Retirement Planning

We're looking for established money motivated reps. Huge payouts! 100% Commission.

We're an independent Financial Services and Investment Services firm looking for the next great member of our team. Our Financial Consultants provide Investment, Insurance and Financial Planning services tailored to meet the needs of business and individual clients. Are you ready to step away from the micro managed environment of the larger firms?

Would you like the freedom to actually give objective advice? If so, Keep Reading!

What's in it for you:

~ A professional work environment. We are passionate about what we do!
~ The freedom to do what's right for your client. No pressure to sell the monthly special!
~ Solid earning potential and benefits package. Strong Commission Structure.

What we are looking for:

~ Registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)(required)
~ Registration with the Medallion Guarantee Signature program (required)
~ Bachelors degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Communications or related field
~ 3 + years experience as a Financial Consultant, Registered Rep or Broker
~ Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
~ We're looking for proven producers with an entrepreneurial streak!

So, If you are a talented and experienced Financial Consultant or Financial Advisor, with a Bachelors degree and 3 or more years experience . . . Apply Today!

Salary: $350,000.00 - $600,000.00 /Year

Required Skills

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Consultant, Retirement Planning, Stock Broker, Estate Planning, CFP, Relationship Management
If you are a good fit for the Financial Consultant Retirement Advisor - Stock Broker position, and have a background that includes (and/or):

Financial Consultant, Retirement Planning, Stock Broker, Estate Planning, CFP, Relationship Management and you are interested in working the following job types:

Sales, Business Development, Marketing

Within the following industries:

Banking - Financial Services, Accounting - Finance, Mortgage

About The Rewards

Work hard, perform well, and you'll be rewarded with a dizzying number of benefits including:

Competitive base salary
Bonuses and commissions
Medical and dental coverage
401k retirement plan
Paid vacations
Tuition reimbursement
Paid training programs
Comfortable work environment
Business casual dress

This offer will remain open until 04.30.2007. If you decide to accept our offer, as we hope you will, please sign the enclosed copy of this letter in the space indicated below and return it to us as soon as possible.
Should you have any questions regarding this letter, our offer of employment or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are excited to have you join our organization and look forward to working with you.

Our email is job@headfirm.net

Sincerely Yours,

CyberCoders Sales & Marketing Specialists

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In response to the above offer of employment (INITIAL ONE ONLY):

______ I accept.

______ I do not accept.

Dated: ___________________, 20___

____________________________________________
[Insert employee name here]

P.S. If you accept this offer We would be glad to invite you to your personal interview.