John C Klensin wrote:
(off list)
Actually, it was on-list.
Hector, based on a semi-private FBI briefing two weeks ago, the vast
majority of spammers in the phishing, stock fraud, and related
businesses are not amateurs or snake-oil sales people, but very
sophisticated and organized criminals.
I agree. There are still plenty of amateur spammers, but the
professional ones are the most dangerous. I recently saw a phishing
scam that asked you to call a phone number rather than click a link.
When you called the number, you got a reasonably-convincing IVR menu
that prompted you through entering your bank card number, expiry date
and PIN.
That level of sophistication (getting a VoIP North American number;
setting up the IVR system to collect data) doesn't indicate stupidity
or amateurishness to me.
Regards,
David.