With the results of the Referendum just hours away Get Safe Online has published a warning telling computer users to be aware of fake early result messages. In response to the warning, Mark James, security expert at ESET explains why widespread interest events generate an increase in email spam and what computer-users should be most aware of:
“Events like these always attract a lot of attention from scammers. We should expect to see emails claiming to know the trends of the voting, which will most probably ask you to fill out a quick survey beforehand, or direct you to a potential dodgy site that may include some enticing titbits as an extra when signing up to future “insider information”.
In our quest for knowledge we are inexplicably drawn to these places due to the nature of what we are being offered. We are aware it’s not possible for the information being offered to be available but we will still click that link or follow that page, just in case it does actually contain information we need. Whether this is the latest photo or video from a celebrity, or in this case up-to-the-minute news on how Scotland is voting in the polls. There will be emails, Facebook pages (including like-farming) twitter feeds and many other forms of clairvoyant-like trickery.
However, let’s be 100% certain about one thing, the only way you’re going to know the result will be watching it live sometime tomorrow morning between 6:30 and 7:30 am. If you do receive any of these dodgy emails please delete the attachments immediately DO NOT follow any links, and do not fill in any web forms teasing you with information that is just NOT available.”