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April 23, 2008 3:48 PM PDT

Spamming via Google Calendar

by Elinor Mills

Spammers are now using Google Calendar, according to the SANS Internet Storm Center (ISC).

"Every once in a while I see a new spamming method. This one came from (Google Calendar)...as a meeting invite," writes Donald Smith of the ISC. "I deleted the e-mail, but due to my preferences in Exchange it appeared in my calendar anyways."

The text of the meeting invite was in French from someone at the International Clearing House West Africa-Benin, and promised $1.2 million in exchange for paying a $150 nonresident tax.

Spammers always have been early adopters.

Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service, and the Associated Press. E-mail Elinor.
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Happens on Mac, too
by amandachuck April 23, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
I got a spam "meeting" in my Calendar.app, and it is annoying.
Only happened once, but it has to be one of the most intrusive
methods of harassment I've seen in a while.
Reply to this comment
Spam and 419 are two different things
by hudsonliberty1 April 23, 2008 5:36 PM PDT
A lot of people are calling the frauds know as 419 spam. It really confuses the issue. Spam is unsolicited business email. The information that you are talking about is outright fraud and a scam. Not all Spam are Scams and not all Scams are Spam.
I got one too
by russkeller April 23, 2008 7:14 PM PDT
I was using Google calender for about a week before I saw one of these. It was about two months ago or so and it was the only one I've seen since. But I remember getting frustrated beyond belief trying to find a way to get in contact with Google to report it.

I never did find one.

Well at least I found one solid comparison with Google and Microsoft. The support of both of them just runs you in circles unless your paying for the help. Even if your just trying to report a possible issue.
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