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| Fake and replica luxury watches are increasingly
being sold through spam email. |
Researchers at anti-spam specialist Sophos have reported a
significant increase in the last week in the number of spam emails
trading on the name of the luxury watch manufacturer Rolex.
Examining all the spam seen in the last month, Sophos's global
monitoring stations have recorded a 300% rise in the number of junk
emails referencing Rolex.
"Spammers hawking cheap watches are the internet equivalent of
Del Boy and Rodney, but few computer users who have to wade through
a barrage of unsolicited emails every day will find their antics
amusing," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at
Sophos. "Spam continues to be a nice little earner for the
spammers, because people continue to purchase goods sold via junk
email. However good the offer may seem, the message is simple -
never buy from a spam email."
According to media reports, Rolex has sent a 'cease and desist'
notice to a website offering bogus Rolex watches, following
concerns that its trademark is being infringed. Earlier this year,
pharmaceutical giant Pfizer - the maker of Viagra - announced that
it was taking legal
action against dozens of illegitimate online pharmacies to
block sales of counterfeit drugs and help reduce spam.
"It's not the first time that a big brand has been targeted, and
it's unlikely to be the last, but it will be interesting to see
what action Rolex takes to protect its name from the abuse of
spammers," continued Cluley.
Sophos urges computer users not to purchase products advertised
via spam, and to deploy a consolidated
solution at the email gateway which can protect against both
spam and viruses. Sophos has also published best practice advice for dealing with
spam.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.