The spam phishing emails are so dumb!

From: teamsupport-xyz (where 'xyz' is a name)

Subject: Your ICLoud account has been disabled.

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I don't know what ICLoud is? Maybe an Apple thing? I don't have or use Apple products.

I suppose it only takes one person out of every 1000 to open up a suspect email to infect a system with malware or be subjected to a hardcore phishing attempt designed to extract personal information and bank account details from someone.

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FreddieUK · 70-79, M

I had an email yesterday apparently from a well known company from whom I had purchased some glasses last week. It was asking me the usual guff about 'how did we do?' and asking me to click on a link to a survey. Because I had recent contact I was on the brink of clicking when I realised that the email I was logged into was not the one they had. No click and immediately deleted from the computer. But so close, because they had found someone vulnerable by chance.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@FreddieUK Ooh - close call there!

Found you by chance or by tracking in some way?

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@ArishMell I think by chance, because it ended up in an email account belonging to the charity I volunteer with but which is on my computer alongside a personal account. I have a completely separate web email a/c for all commercial dealings which is where I could have expected to see it and fallen for it.

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

@FreddieUK The 'how did we do' emails are so wierd. Why would anyone seriously want to engage with a supplier after the fact when they already have taken your money and theoretically delivered the good or service you bought and paid for? Mostly they'd be legit I think, but it only takes one to look legit 'enough' to trap you.

Basically, they are trawling for marketing data to use for targeted advertising which while legal still comes across to most people as 'unsolicited spam'.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

That is the point: they blanket as many people as possible, knowing only a tiny fraction of their attempts will succeed, but that is all they need.

There is probably no such thing as "ICLoud". The criminals invent names that look vaguely credible. I think "Cloud" is a Microsoft brand anyway.

A common trick is to pretend to be representing some real organisation or agency, but usually without knowing the proper name or method of working; and not even knowing if the message recipient actually uses the organisation anyway.

emmasfriend · 46-50, F

@ArishMell

iCloud is a service from Apple - storage of docs, photos etc, and an email service. Not small i, small l in the real name.

I do not use Apple products or services, but I do receive mails from @iCloud.com addresses.

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