Spammers already employing Christmas-related gimmicks

IT Security firm Sophos has identified a new marketing trick being used by spammers in their attempt to get a hold of legitimate email addresses and user information in the run-up to the holiday season: they are offering to send your child a letter directly from Santa.

The unsolicited email campaign, which includes subject lines like “Letter From Santa For Your Child” and “Santa Letter from the North Pole”, offers a personalised letter addressed to your child. The messages, which have been seen in several of Sophos’s global spam traps, even request that recipients get in touch to notify the sender that they have received the email in error.

“This type of spam message preys on parents wanting to give their child something special for the holiday season,” said Carole Theriault, senior security consultant for Sophos. “Just like any other time of the year, users need to remain vigilant about spam, even if it seemingly offers something desirable. Rather than confirming your email address to a complete stranger by replying to this unsolicited message, delete the email and consider other ways to make your kids happy this Christmas season.”

Sophos recommends companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution which can defend businesses from the threats of both spam and viruses.