Select Page

Cyren Security Blog

The Cyren Security Blog is where Cyren engineers and thought leaders provide insights, research and analysis on a range of current cybersecurity topics.

419 scam uses Ebola virus tragedy

Cybercriminals will stoop to any level it seems, even using the tragedy of the Ebola virus in West Africa to steal money.
In the latest “419” rendition, scammers distribute an email claiming the recipient is the beneficiary of a large amount of money left in a bank account by a client who became a victim of Ebola. To add credibility to the email, the sender suggests the recipient “go to google and find out more on the Outbreak of EBOLA VIRUS in West Africa.”

In this instance, the scammer uses a semi-realistic dollar figure—$300,000—to entice the victim. Other versions also appearing on the Internet claim miracle cures for Ebola by simply contacting the doctor or “priest” listed in the email and presumably paying them money for their cure.

Find out more about CYREN Embedded AntiSpam solutions

You might also like

Phishing with QR codes

Don’t Scan or be Scammed By Maharlito Aquino, Kervin Alintanahin and Dexter To In 1994, a type of the matrix barcode known as the Quick Response code, now widely known as QR code, was invented by Masahiro Hara from a Japanese company Denso Wave. The purpose of the...