We regularly write about phishing emails at BleepingComputer.com in order to warn our readers about ongoing threats. Many scam emails are well crafted and their associated phishing sites are spot on, but sometimes you see ones that are so ridiculous that you have no choice but to laugh.
Such is the case with a phishing email that states it’s from “officialfbidirector@usa.com”, has a subject of “Attension: Beneficiary”, and pretends to be from “FBI Director Christopher Wray”. This phishing email is not new, but someone must have restarted its campaign recently as it is starting to pop up again.
In the phishing email, shown below, the “Director” states that the FBI is helping to coordinate the transmission of $10.7 million dollars to you through Bank of America. In order to move forward with this transmission, you must contact the assigned Special Agent via email.
As you keep reading, the hilarity ensues.
Let’s break down this phishing email
Let’s face it, while some phishing emails are written extremely well and highly researched such as recent tax phishing emails, many are not. This one takes the cake and just begs to have some of its finer points broken down, which we have done below.
1. Do we really think FBI Directory Wray is going to be emailing us personally in order to arrange a transfer of $10.7 million dollars?
2. The “FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET”. That is one BIG wiretap.
3. The phishing email actually tells you that the previous banking scam email was you received legal! WTH.
“We the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) through our intelligence-monitoring network have discovered that the transaction that the bank contacted you previously for was legal.”
4. There are a lot of “scam” on the Internet. Thx for the warning.
“Because of so much scam going on Internet.”
5. That check your receiving will be in a “2.1 kg” parcel. That’s approximately 4.6 pounds and pretty heavy for a check.
6. You have been assigned a FBI Special Agent named Mr. Richard Bowen and his email address is agentrichardbrown@yahoo.com. Who still uses yahoo.com emails?
It should go without saying that the FBI will never be contacting you via email to coordinate the transfer of funds. If you get one of these emails, just give it a read for a chuckle and then delete it.
For your amusement, the full text of the phishing email is below:
OFFICIAL LETTER FROM FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION FBI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FBI FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FBI.WASHINGTON DC.
FBI Director
FBI SEEKING TO WIRETAP INTERNET
Dear:Beneficiary,
We the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) through our intelligence-monitoring network have discovered that the transaction that the bank contacted you previously for was legal.
Recently the fund has been legally approved to be paid via Bank of America. So, we the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) Washington Dc, in conjunction with the United Nations (UN) financial department have investigated through our monitoring network noting you that your transaction with the Bank of America is legal.
You have the legitimate right to complete your transaction to claim your fund $10.7 (Ten million seven hundred thousand united state dollars) Because of so much scam going on Internet. We the Federal Bureau of investigation decided to contact the CARGO LOGISTICS COURIER DELIVERY SERVICE, for They to give us their procedures on how to send this money to you without any further complain or delay. We just got an information from the Bank of America and they have loaded your $10.7 (Ten million seven hundred thousand united state dollars) in CHECK and submit to the CARGO LOGISTICS COURIER DELIVERY SERVICE for immediate delivery to your doorstep. You are required to choose one option, which you will be to pay and also convenient for you,For quick delivery of your parcel containing your "CHECK" and other two original back up documents.
We request that you reconfirm your mailing address to ensure conformity with our record for immediate dispatch of your parcel to you. Only valid residential/Office address and postal address are certified Ok.
DELIVERY DESTINATION INFORMATION:
=========================================
Receiver's Name: ...................
Address: ..................................
Tel/: ..........................................
Delivery Information/ Parcel Description
==========================================
Delivery Terms: International Delivery
Condition of Delivery: Priority Delivery
Consignment Note No: MI 49866-2110
Color of Parcel: ...Brown.
Total Weight: 2.1 kg
Total Net Weight: 1.7 kg
We are here to protect you from any problem till you receive your package; you can as well get in touch with the CARGO LOGISTICS COURIER DELIVERY SERVICE assigned to deliver this financial package to your doorstep. Below is the delivery company's contact
information:
FORT EXPRESS DISPATCH SERVICE
-----------------------------------------------------
Assigned Special Agent: Mr.Richard Bowen
Email: (agentrichardbrown@yahoo.com)
Looking forward to hear from you as soon as you receive this message.
Best Regards,
FBI Director
Christopher A. Wray.
To read the original article:https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-phishing-campaign-from-fbi-director-wray-is-hysterical/