Cyber criminals are launching even more targeted attacks at Irish computer users. Native Irish-language speakers are being spammed As Gaeilge and are no longer just random spam recipients.
According to electronic security firm ESET Ireland, Irish speakers apparently seem to deserve the attention of cyber criminals on the increased level, which prompts them to construct scamming emails, even in Gaelic language, in the hope they will convince potential victims that the email is directed at them and genuine.
Here is an example of such a scam email:
Subject: GNÓ TOGRA
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:32:59 +0100
From: Mr Patrick K. W. Chan
Aire
Tá mé an tUasal Patrick KW Chan an Stiúrthóir Feidhmiúcháin agus Príomh-Oifigeach airgeadais Hang Seng Bank Ltd, Hong Cong.
Tá mé togra gnó brabúsaí leasa choitinn a roinnt le leat;
Baineann sé leis an aistriú suim mhór airgid.
Fuair mé do tagairt i mo cuardach a dhéanamh ar dhuine a oireann mo chaidreamh gnó molta.
Má tá suim agat i obair liom teagmháil a dhéanamh liom mo trí r-phost príobháideach le haghaidh tuilleadh sonraí
Dearbhófar do fhreagra túisce chun an litir seo a mhór.
An tUasal Patrick Chan
“Needless to say, the business proposal mentioned is bogus, intended to extract money from victims and anyone receiving such spam should disregard and delete it and not try to contact the perpetrator,” warned Urban Schrott, communications manager with ESET Ireland.
By John Kennedy
Photo: Cyber criminals are targeting Irish-language speakers through e-mail scams
