Most of the phishing we have talked about comes by email, but that does not have to be the only way. A more sophisticated phisher knows there are other alternatives, such as the voice mail we previously commented on, and chooses the right attack vector for the right target. Today we will once again step away from emails and talk about one I consider particularly effective: messaging.

Yet another lazy phisher. The email supposedly pretends to be from facebook. If you are like me and use a mail app that shows you the header and allows you to see what the links in the email are really linking to, this email is just too obviously phishy. Unfortunately there are mail apps that act like the messaging ones I mentioned before, not letting you find out what the button links to until it is too late. I despise said programs with passion.

Another cookier cutter phishing email. You are probably thinking “man, he is really scrapping the bottom of the barrel here.” Yes I am; this site depends on contributions from readers like you!

Contrary to popular belief, phishing attacks do not only take place through emails. While that is the cheapest way, specially if trying to reach as many potential victims (the marks) as possible, there are other ways.

Early this year we commented on the classical phishing email disguised as an invoice, which usually contains a malware-laden attachment. Well, this is a variant of that email:

While this is not technically a Nigerian Prince phishing email – its claimed country of origin is two countries South of Nigeria – like the beautiful masterpiece we talked about in a previous post, it is one in spirit. Take a look at the email, posted here in glorious ASCII, and see if you agree with me.

Google/Microsoft Office365 docs, forms included, are a great way to phish someone. You create a document with a macro or just a link, and send it in a way to entice the potential victim. We have talked about using the carrot angle – prizes and free money – and the stick one – fines and receipts for outstanding bills – but how about nothing at all? That is what this phisher is going for: no clever titles or descriptions, and no explanation for why you should fill the form. All it offers is just a request, “I’ve invited you to fill out the following form:”

In the end of last month I received this uninspiring but not badly put together phishing email. I will start with saying this email is completely not in the same league as the phishing one we covered in the previous post.

I guess this is Classic Phish Month, and today we sure have a real classic amongst us. I was going to talk about another, lesser phishing email, but when I found this morning a Nigerian Prince-class email waiting in my mailbox, I knew I that it was the one.

First of all, this is the first phishing email contributed by a viewer like you. Thank you! I can tear down and make fun of a phishing email like the best, but that is hard to do without new material. Don’t be stingy! If you get a phishing email, send it my way and I will promise to fillet it properly.