If you have suddenly found yourself receiving oodles of spam as a “member” of a Google group for which you never signed up, well, you’re not alone. This tactic, while not new, seems to be experiencing a resurgence, as newly minted spammers discover that you can force-subscribe someone to a Google group, and all posts to any Google groups to which they have been subscribed will end up in their email inbox.
A perfect example of this Google Groups abuse is the Google group “All About Ads”, which can be found at
http://groups.google.com/group/all-about-ads and, of course, in the inbox of unsuspecting targets.
We have seen several samples of these abusive ‘posts’ in the past few days, each of them ending with this advisory:
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “All About Ads” group.
To post to this group, send email to all-about-ads@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
all-about-ads+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/all-about-ads?hl=enThe group is to share the views on everything related to Advertisements. And to see interesting views on Ads please visit “http://bestadreviews.blogspot.com/”
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All of them were some variation or other of these three below – do any of them look familiar?
From: aaliregina@gmail.com
Subject: Some Latino women need to meet you
Date: November 22, 2010 1:19:34 AM MST
To: all-about-ads@googlegroups.com
Reply-To: aaliregina@gmail.com
“http://qu.pe/cEGu”
It is time to think about your marriage
—
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups “All About Ads” group.
To post to this group, send email to all-about-ads@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
all-about-ads+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/all-about-ads?hl=en
The group is to share the views on everything related to Advertisements. And to see interesting views on Ads please visit “http://bestadreviews.blogspot.com/”
From: jobs.mumbai@fourseasons.com
Subject: Thank you for your interest!
Date: November 22, 2010 1:09:09 AM MST
To: all-about-ads@googlegroups.com
Reply-To: jobs.mumbai@fourseasons.com
Greetings from Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai!
Thank you for your interest in joining Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai.
We will review your application and assess possible opportunities
commensurate with your skills, experience and personal qualities and
contact you to set up preliminary rounds of screening should a vacancy
exist in the preferred area of operation.
We look forward to getting in touch with you soon. In the meantime, please
visit www.fourseasons.com as it will give you an insight into our company.
Yours Sincerely
Rimal D’Silva
Human Resources Manager
—
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups “All About Ads” group.
To post to this group, send email to all-about-ads@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
all-about-ads+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/all-about-ads?hl=en
The group is to share the views on everything related to Advertisements. And to see interesting views on Ads please visit “http://bestadreviews.blogspot.com/”
From: microchamps@gmail.com
Subject: The Next Education System?? : A brief view of Indian Education
Date: November 19, 2010 9:43:48 PM MST
To: all-about-ads@googlegroups.com
Reply-To: microchamps@gmail.com
Abhishek has sent you a link to a blog:
Its a BLOG on the prevalent education system in India and its detailed analysis. Everyone please go through this link and leave your valuable comments regarding what else can be done.
Blog: The Next Education System??
Post: A brief view of Indian Education
Link: http://nextedusys.blogspot.com/2010/11/brief-view-of-indian-education.html
—
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—
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups “All About Ads” group.
To post to this group, send email to all-about-ads@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
all-about-ads+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/all-about-ads?hl=en
The group is to share the views on everything related to Advertisements. And to see interesting views on Ads please visit “http://bestadreviews.blogspot.com/”
They also all had that last line: “The group is to share the views on everything related to Advertisements. And to see interesting views on Ads please visit “http://bestadreviews.blogspot.com/””
“http://bestadreviews.blogspot.com/” is, as you would probably imagine, a site full of ads. It does seem to at least make a pretense of critiquing advertisements. But more interesting is that it openly states that it is run by one Jyotish Khanna, who has, among his other Blogspot sites, the “The Next Education System?? A brief view of Indian Education” Blogspot site. Note that the spam immediately above is for, hey, “a BLOG on the prevalent education system in India and its detailed analysis” and it is that very blog of Mr. Khanna’s.
All of which suggests that Jyotish Khanna is in fact the spammer behind the “All About Ads” Google group.
So, Jyotish Khanna, if you are reading this, stop using Google Groups to spam. In fact, stop spamming, period.
And, Google, if you are reading these, stop allowing people to be signed up to Google Groups without their permission.
The Internet Patrol is completely free, and reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP.
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