Ipod, Rolex, Now Harry Potter Spam?

Spambuster maker Sophos claims their systems have picked up on a new get-rich-quick scheme. Apparently the scam exploits peoples strange hunger for new books in the Harry Potter series.

Sophos's servers have apparently detected large numbers of messages with instructions on how to obtain the unreleased book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

When users click on the website to obtain more information - it actually links to a pyramid scam site. There is no further information on how to get the book.

Sophos's system for blocking junk e-mail uses collective data gathering to monitor trends in spam. While this brings up security and privacy concerns, it can provide useful data on upcoming patterns in spam e-mail.

The emails claim that recipients can get a free copy of the book by clicking on a link, but this in fact takes users to a website offering advice on "free money-making secrets", with no mention of the troubled teenage wizard.

SpamButcher offers Outlook Express spam blocking along with support for other email clients that support POP3. SpamButcher's filters use powerful A.I. technology to eliminate up to 98% of unsolicited mail messages.

These kinds of bait and switch techniques have long been used by spammers in an effort to lure in users who wouldn't otherwise be interested in their wares. E-mail messages with misleading subjects lines have in theory been banned by the CAN-SPAM act. The author of this article has not seen any notable decrease in such messages.

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