The purpose of me telling this story is to just show how easy it is to fake your identity. I’m an experienced webmaster, and it took me a whole five minutes to get it set up. Most people don’t know you can even do it, meaning they can get faked out easily – but there are many people out there who do know how to do this, and exploit it. Even after downloading a mail server, it is extremely difficult to understand unless you know what you are doing, but people can do it.
This technique is used for malicious purposes all the time. Ever get an e-mail from someone claiming to be Microsoft and offering a free program download? It’s more than likely a fake using a very similar technique to mine (usually, malicious users bounce the message off a proxy server so it is more difficult for law enforcement to trace).
A good feature on the server that I rent is the capability to run a trace-route on any and all e-mails I get. When e-mails come to that server, it can tell me exactly where it came from (by IP address and server routes), and if it isn’t authentic, it is pretty obvious. If you have access to a similar feature, I recommend using it if you are ever unsure of the authenticity of an e-mail. Also, viewing the “full headers” is extremely useful – it allows you to see the route of the e-mail from its source (but be wary, this can be forged too)
Example: Can You Identify a Hoax?
Actual E-Mail
Received: Sunday, May 1, 2005 04:19:16 GMT
From: "Adeniji Mark Engr." editted@editted.com
To: editted@editted.com
Subject: For Our Collective Benefit (Urgent Response)
E-Mail Body: Good Day,
Let me start by introducing myself. I am Engr.Mark Adeniji. Director, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (MPNR) Abuja, I have a obscured business suggestion for you.
We are seeking the assistance of a reliable foreign company or individual into whose bank account we can transfer A huge amount of money This sum arose from a deliberate over-invoicing of contract bills of some contracts, which were awarded by us (MPNR) during the administration of the former military dictator late,General Sanni Abacha who died on 7th June 1998. Since then the money has been lying in our suspense currentaccount of MPNR with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)(our Apex Bank). However, the current favorable political/Economical climate in the country now presents an opportunity for this money to be Transferred out of our country without any hitches – as we hope and believe it would be of mutual benefit to both of us.
I want you to know that, we have put in motion the complete machinery and modalities to enhance successful commencement and completion of this transaction and further actions will commence the moment we hear from you. There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going to adopt a legalized method of payment to indebted contractors. We will prepare all the necessary documents. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall negotiate our sharing percentage and agreed on it.
Should you be interested please send me your full names and current residential address and Kindly include your private Telephone and Fax numbers while replying for easy and effective communication. I will prefers you to reach me on the email address below (editted@yahoo.fr) and finally after that i shall provide you with more details of this operation.
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
Kind Regards
Engr. Mark Adeniji
editted@yahoo.fr
———————————————————————–
*This line was removed because of potentially offensive comments*
*This link has been removed for your security *
–End of Email–
Note – Spammer’s e-mail and URLs were edited to protect the readers.
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“War Games” & “Hackers: The Movie” sure did motivate a few kids to become internet security specialists. Groups formed on mIRC and it became pretty big at that time.