Two Important Sites for Japanese Earthquake

[arrana]

Here are two important sites! One is for information and the other is to report scams/frauds.

Google has opened a crisis center to disseminate information and help Japan.


http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Scammers are now using human interest in incidents such as disasters and deaths of celebrities to phish and download malware by using search web page optimization . They race to get spam out, often with fake/sensational information that carry phishing messages or links to malware or set up websites. By taking advantage of the being first in having a website, people’s need for any information on the subject pushes the website to the top of the search list, thus ensuring greater number of victims. The second front of scams will be bogus charities. Google is now trying to evaluate any websites linked to the Japanese disaster.

The Internet Storm Center (of the SANS Institute) has requested that anyone who receives a Japanese Earthquake scam to report it here immediately.


http://isc.sans.edu/diary.html?storyid=10537&rss

So far they have detected Japanese Earthquake scams in :
1. Human Interest
2. Charities
3. Fake Anti Virus

The fake AV scam being used now is one that has a “Security Analysis” warning.

[Miyuki]

Wonderful. As if we don't have enough problems now we have to deal with scammer-vultures. :mad:

[Sphinx]

Pray for Japan and God help the scammer who tries this with Miyuki around.

http://antifraudintl.org/imagehosting/2964d7d94dce7a3f.gif

[Japan's victims]

The message below is a scam and a reminder to all on how you should NOT respond to such messages, but instead seek your local organizations in order to contribute to the relief of Japan's victims;

HOPE FOR JAPAN NOW: DONATE TO THE EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI VICTIMS
Monday, 14 March, 2011
From: "UNICEF Relief Programme" <unicef----2011@att.net>

HOPE FOR JAPAN NOW: DONATE TO THE EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI VICTIMS

The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF, USA) hereby appeal to all Cooperate Bodies, Non Governmental Organizations (NGO), Celebrities, Government Official, Individuals including you as well, on behalf of the Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Victims for financial supports in providing relief and shelter.

Your one (1) cent or $1 counts at this critical time for the Children and citizens of Japan and what ever support you rendered will be rewarded by God. Please fill out the following information's.

1). First Name
2). Last Name
3). Direct Phone Number
4). Email Address (Optional)
5). The Amount To Assist

Note that 100% of funds raised will go towards relief efforts in Japan and there are NO back end costs. A massive 9.8 magnitude earthquake struck North-East Japan on Friday, March 11th 2011. The damage to buildings is extensive and the number of injured or dead is estimated to be over 10,000 of which 40% are children.

Your financial support will help rush emergency supplies to survivors of this catastrophe. Your donation now will help distribute life-saving relief supplies including food, clean water, blankets, medical supplies and tents to children and families devastated by the Tsunami caused by the earthquake and aftershocks in Japan.

Please donate and assist the Japan earthquake & Tsunami victims financially and with your prayers as well. All donations will be made via PAYPAL, WESTERN UNION, and Bank Wire Transfers. Upon the confirmation of your willingness to assist the children and citizens of Japan, we shall respond back to you with the directives on how to redeem your support/donation. As soon as we receive your email response, We shall then provide you with the details on how to redeem and send your donation.

Thank you for your generous gift in this time of need.

UNICEF - SOUTH EAST-ASIA REGION
Address: UNICEF, 19 Phra Atit Road
Chanasongkram, Phra Nakorn
Bangkok 10200, Thailand.
Hotline: +66846533354 ( Open 24 / 7 )
Email: [unicefjapan_tsunami@yahoo.co.jp]

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
• Japan's massive emergency response operation scales up to respond to three consecutive emergencies: earthquake, tsunami and nuclear radiation threat
• Japan is on high nuclear alert as authorities urgently work to cool two nuclear reactors.
• Rescue operations by boat and air continue but many tsunami-affected areas remain inaccessible.
• More than 380,000 people evacuated across the country.
• International emergency specialist teams arrive in Japan to assist the Government emergency response operations.

c/o: Hope For Japan Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake and Tsunami Relief. Your donation will support the following organizations:

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Unicef
American Red Cross
WPF
Western Union
Oxfam America
PayPal

[FreezeAndPixelate]

I wondered how long it would take those bastards to come up with a new format after the disaster in Japan.. :(

Don't be fooled by these type of email scams people! Give your money to verified charities instead of unknown people on the internet.

[Basil]

This lads put off in front of nothing these ... I prefer not to say of what I think.

[arrana]

It's really frightening how professional that scam is written! I bet the scammer or one of his buddies has had training in a charity organization.

[Wonderwoman]

Where is the IP address of this mail ??

Is amazing how far a lack of respect, common sense and values​​ go.

Can we name them human?

[tugbote]

I see that one a LOT. Makes me chuckle. Improper grammar and punctuation are always a dead giveaway IMO.

[Central Scrutinizer]

UNICEF in Thailand.... this is probably Nigerians scammers or maybe Liberians in Thailand trying this. Gotta be.

[Janez]

I am not surprise that these low life scums would do this. The IC3 issued a warning about giving to charities when disasters happen. I think I posted the warning on this site. Below is the link for the warning.

http://www.ic3.gov/media/2011/110311.aspx

The @yahoo is a give away that this is a scam. No charity would use yahoo email service or any other free email service.

[Gulliblephoenix]

This is sick like what my son said these people should have been the ones in the tsunami thingy. :(

[arrana]

Two new FaceBook scams on the Japanese Earthquake were detected today.

One is the “Whale” scam where footage of a stranded whale washed up by the tsunami and stranded in a building is recommended viewing by a “friend”.
The cyber security company, Sophos, reports that the message left on the user’s wall is similar to the following:

“
Japanese Tsunami Launches Whale Into Building
You won't believe this! Crazy Footage!”


“GRAPHIC VIDEO.. Japans Tsunami Sends WHALE Smashing Into A Building!”

The user clicks to see the footage and is click-jacked to another website where the user has to register to view the footage. Once doing that malware is downloaded into the user’s computer. There is no footage of a whale. But the message is spread to each of your friends’ FaceBook pages to trap them into downloading the malware.

The second scam is similar but advertises viewing fake CNN News tsunami footage which does not exist.

If you do get click-jacked and infected on FaceBook, Sophos recommends doing the following:


How to clean-up after a likejacking attack

If you made the mistake of clicking on a link spread via a scam message like the ones listed above, you should check your Facebook news feed and remove any offending links that you might have spammed out to your friends. Hover your mouse over the top right hand corner of the post and you should see a small "x" which will allow you to remove it.
And if you entered your mobile phone number, you should keep a close eye on your cellphone bill and notify your carrier to prevent bogus charges from stinging you in the wallet.
Remember to be wary of any links that look like this. If you really want to watch a video chances are that it's available for free - without you having to complete any surveys - on legitimate video sites like YouTube.

Going forward, it's essential that you stay informed about the latest scams spreading fast across Facebook and other internet attacks.

Source: http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/03/12/japanese-tsunami-launches-whale-into-building-its-a-facebook-clickjack-scam/

[arrana]

BBC News is reporting that a scam SMS text message is creating mass panic across Asia. The message falsely reports that it is from the BBC News. The text warns that radiation levels from the Japanese Earthquake are at dangerous levels and that individuals should take proper precautions. Some of the text messages contain attachments or an active link. When clicked on, the attachment or link redirects the user to phishing sites or malware is downloaded onto the cell/mobile phone.

In the Philippines government officials had to hold press conferences to reassure the public to avoid panic after school children and workers were sent home because of the fake warning texts.

On its website, the BBC has posted the fake text:


BBC Flash news : Japan Government confirms radiation leak at Fukushima nuclear plants. Asian countries should take necessary precautions. If rain comes, remain indoors first 24 hours. Close doors and windows. Swab neck skin with betadine where thyroid area is, radiation hits thyroid first. Take extra precautions. Radiation may hit Philippine at around 4 pm today. If it rains today or in the next few days in Hong Kong. Do not go under the rain. If you get caught out, use an umbrella or raincoat, even if it is only a drizzle. Radioactive particles, which may cause burns, alopecia or even cancer, may be in the rain.

[Miyuki]

Wonderful. We don't have enough problems now we need criminals doing this. :mad:

[arrana]

As far as I can find out, they have done nothing to stop the "whale" and fake CNN footage video click jack scams but I will keep monitoring.

The scam spreads by sending a notice that one of your friends recommends viewing this video. When you get infected, all your friends on FB get the same message that you recommend this video. And that is how it spreads.

But it would seem that FB could somehow monitor the poison links when they pop up in the messages and kill the message. After all...the messages are all the same wording when spreading.