Greeting Card Scams Foist Trojans
Be extra suspicious if (a) the greeting card doesn't address you by name; (b) the card sender's name isn't included in the body of the email or the name isn't familiar; and (c) it's not a holiday, a birthday, or any other occasion that might warrant a card. If the card requires that you install a special viewer or tries to download a file to your system, treat it like a trojan. Cancel the download and scan your system with up to date antivirus software.
Be extra vigilant. If you receive a card from someone you know but you aren't quite sure it's legit, compose a new email to that person and ask if they sent you a card. Don't reply using the email you received - the From address just might be bogus.
Typically, the bogus greeting cards try to trick you into downloading a trojan that then tries to download other malicious files to the system. Even worse, the trojan is often cross-infected with the Parite virus. One example of a cross-infected 'greeting card' trojan is Backdoor:IRC/Zapchast.AN.
There are two victims with these greeting card scams - the user who fell for it and the legitimate greeting card company whose good name was used to trick that user. For example, there have recently been several reports of these scams pretending to be from the legitimate - and quite harmless - Bluemountain Greeting Cards site. This is not the first time Bluemountain has been caught in the crosshairs - in 1999 they were the victim of a virus hoax that also tried to discredit their name.
Comments
I’ve seen these in my E-mail and nod32 picked it up no problem. Haven’t opened them all though. It can be tricky to spot. Nice tips.
I just got the bluemountain greeting card hoax today. Complete with virus/trojan
I just got the bluemountain greeting card hoax today. Complete with virus/trojan
I received the hoax today and since I’d just left my boyfriend to go on vacation I thought it was a legit card from him, even though the spam filter picked it up. I clicked the link and it prompted a download, which made me suspicious, so I cancelled the download. Nevertheless, my computer is now shutting itself off randomly. I have a mac… I thought macs didn’t get viruses!
I should’ve known, since my name wasn’t on the card, and if I’d read closer I would have seen the poor English contained in the message.
Does anyone have advice?
I stupidly opened the card and now how do I get my computer safe
Scan your system with up-to-date antivirus software. If you don’t already have current antivirus, there are several free antivirus scanners that work well. You should also scan with a few of the free rootkit detectors. All of these scans should be run from Safe Mode if possible.
I received the hoax today, Microsoft would not let me open it, thank goodness! Then I got suspicious and did some research. Microsoft Phishing alert saved me!
This past week I have been receiving 5 to 10 suspicious greeting cards a day in my junk folder. Seems like a lot of activity lately
I’ve been scammed on July 26th by the greeting card hoax and stupidly clicked on the link. I’ve downloaded and bought additional virus scans and my computer still has it on. Can’t access my Outlook. Any suggestions?