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Someone explain this spam email

by dmaster555
7 replies
Kathlene just sent you $3,182.00 USD with Paypal.


[Bob click here to continue] (no link)


if you can't click above, then click here Bob

Best of luck!
Kathlene
#explain
  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Classic way hackers get control of a computer.

    If you click the link (and it ends with ".php"), the software installs a virus.

    Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
    They're getting creative, wonder how many clicked it and than said "oh sh**'!
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  • Profile picture of the author amvoctelemarketing
    Thats right. U open the link & comes some advertisement. buy this, buy that. Genetals enlargement etc. But the main motive behind is to plant virus in ur pc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Whitney Segura
    Lol, they are targeting people that do not have much, if any, usage or experience using computers. You would be shocked at how many people, still don't know jack about the internet, who are 40+ years old even. It surprises me all the time, I live in Lafayette, Louisiana the deep South, and I meet these types all the time, who order tons of things online too
    Signature
    Whitney Mike Segura - "Things will come to those who wait, but only things left behind by those who hustle."
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  • Profile picture of the author dmaster555
    Thanks for the responses.

    I actually was wondering more about why they specifically did that.

    Like were they using a pattern interrupt? or some other psychological tactic?

    What exactly is the point of purposely creating a fake link and telling them to click the other one instead?

    I know it works especially for computer illiterate, but does it stop someone from questioning the legitimacy of the email?

    if say, they got distracted by seeing that the link didn't work and maybe instinctively clicking the working link because they were directed to do so?

    ----

    In other words,

    why would they make a broken link on purpose and say "if this link doesn't work, click that one over there".

    why wouldn't they simply put one working link and say "click here" ?

    I know it's just a spam email, but I believe there was a reason for doing it this way. Was hoping someone had some insight.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      It looks different from your regular phishing / scam messages people get.

      It requires a decision, therefore, distracts people, makes some less likely to go into this-is-a-scam type of thinking.

      Many times when you ask people to make a decision, no matter how unimportant, they just make a decision based on the request. They do.

      Originally Posted by dmaster555 View Post

      Thanks for the responses.

      I actually was wondering more about why they specifically did that.

      Like were they using a pattern interrupt? or some other psychological tactic?

      What exactly is the point of purposely creating a fake link and telling them to click the other one instead?

      I know it works especially for computer illiterate, but does it stop someone from questioning the legitimacy of the email?

      if say, they got distracted by seeing that the link didn't work and maybe instinctively clicking the working link because they were directed to do so?

      ----

      In other words,

      why would they make a broken link on purpose and say "if this link doesn't work, click that one over there".

      why wouldn't they simply put one working link and say "click here" ?

      I know it's just a spam email, but I believe there was a reason for doing it this way. Was hoping someone had some insight.
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  • Profile picture of the author Natalie25
    There are so many people who would truly appreciate this amount of money that some of them would definitely risk clicking the link to check if it's real or not even if it may sound unbelievable.

    Those who try to cheat or abuse you, or take control over your personal information are unscrupulous and use different forms of manipulation just to make us do what they want.

    May the force be with us, not with the dark side .
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