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Spam E-Mail Campaign Uses Google Branding to Promote Rogue Internet Drug Outlet
A spam e-mail campaign promoting a rogue Internet drug outlet and misappropriating Google branding has been tracked by Symantec’s MessageLabs Intelligence. The MessageLabs blog describes how the scam works and provides images of the messages used in the scam. The MessageLabs blog illustrates how a spam e-mail message promoting a certain drug contains a link. When followed, the link opens a blog displaying a fraudulent Google logo and promoting a supposedly "Google-accredited" online pharmacy. The links on the blog lead to a rogue Internet drug outlet.
Google has taken several actions to fight similar scams and to fight Internet drug outlets. A Google spokesperson noted that, "Google has a track record of fighting similar types of scams, and we also recommend that users carefully review online offers that look too good to be true before entering any of their information.” The Google blogspot provides additional information about some of the company’s efforts to fight such scams. As reported in the October 1, 2010 e-News, Google filed a federal lawsuit on September 21, 2010, against one individual and 50 unnamed defendants allegedly connected with promoting rogue Internet drug outlets. Google’s suit claims that the defendants violated Google AdWords policies that went into effect in March 2010 and require Internet pharmacies seeking to display ads in its sponsored United States search results to be accredited through the VIPPS® (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM) program.
