6 October 2007 07:59 GMT
What about Small Vick Ljah?
Another day, another spam campaign. I wondered, though, is this one a scam or a genuine plea for help?
If the email is to be believed, there’s a lovely little 5 year old girl dying of a brain tumour in Russia that needs your help to get an operation in Germany. At least that’s what I get from reading the English-as-translated-by-online-services text that the spammers used in the body of the message (author grudgingly admits it's better than trying to read it in ‘insert any other language here’).
The cynic in me says this campaign is like any other spam campaign. Immediately I’m reminded of those leeches who duped people into donating money believing it would go to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina or the tsunami victims of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. And I wonder if this isn’t just another scammer trying to make a quick buck.
The humanist in me says have a little heart. I remember shortly after that tsunami, a chain mail was sent out with a picture of a little girl, an orphaned survivor, asking if anyone recognized her. Months after they'd found her (I did a bit of research on it) the messages were still being forwarded around. That campaign presented a slightly different moral dilemma. On the one hand you have a clearly legitimate email but on the other it is a chain mail and the crisis it represents is clearly over.
Whether to block this one was an easy decision. These messages are clearly being sent from a botnet. The originating IP's span the globe, and (of the small sample set I looked at) are typically registered portable addresses, etc. The main targets were Italian and Australian customers, though it's entirely possible, that its only just starting up and other countries will be represented more later.
Here is the guts of the message:
Small Vick Ljah - 5 years. It has arrived to Moscow from Ukraine . At it a tumour of a brain. Behind - two most complicated operations Ahead - long treatment on which absolutely there is no money. Because at Vicks are only the grandmother and the grandfather. Therefore rescue it we can only we.
Looking at a photo of a crumb, you think - the boy. But it because of cheeks and short hair. Actually Vick - the remarkable girl. It ask - you a badger? It answers - I princess!. Hear at Vicks do not grow because of chemotherapy. And cheeks thick - because of prednisolon. It is the standard scheme of treatment of a tumour of a brain. The chemotherapy - which is so toxic, that is spent to reanimations, Hormonetherapy
- from which get fat, beam therapy - from which falls hemoglobin, and all parameters of blood, and it is necessary to be restored long. Vick of all this has passed. And up to they be two cranial trepanations after which to Vick has half paralysed.
Unfortunately, illness Vicks is those, that all these efforts will appear vain without double transplantation of a bone brain with even more rigid chemotherapy. In Russia it to make it is impossible - therefore now to Vick prepare for sending to Germany . Unfortunately, it is not clear yet, what scheme of treatment will be chosen by German doctors - they will answer to 10-th of October. Without it it is impossible to receive the account from clinic. When the account will be - Vick should take away urgently. Urgently - within a week. Its illness does not suffer delay.
While it is clear, that money it will be necessary much. Accounts begin about 70 000 euros and, most likely, by estimations of German physicians, 200 000 euros will reach.
It is possible still pair words about Vick? It the remarkable little girl. Dances - one handle is paralysed, but restored, and Vick tries to wave to it and to clap. It is awfully pleased, when it turns out. Draws - basically dolphins, bright, paints. At everyone come looks with hope - the new person? Something interesting? Necessarily asks - you love me? It - loves all.
Vick the unique grand daughter at the grandmother with the grandfather. So it has turned out, what exactly they brought up it since a birth. Mum cannot have children any more. For native Vicks a life - everything, that at them is. It will end - and to live there is no need.
Let’s make so that their lives - have not ended.
Now Vick it is treated in Moscow , In NPC in Solncevo (street of Pilots, 38). To it any is very necessary and important, is absolute any help. Sergey and Valentine “foreigners” to Russia and all treatment of their immensely dear small little man costs greater money. Fortunately, Committee of public health services of Moscow has given Vick an opportunity to receive preparations for chemotherapy free of charge, on the Moscow quota, however the girl should be in individual paid chamber and daily hand over analyses, except for that a feed of the sick child, care of it and is simple stay of relatives in Moscow also demand significant expenses. Help it, without your help our girl death. We understand, that in the Internet it is a lot of people who in the different ways try to find money, but you to trust us please, for it it is necessary, if each of you dear Ladies and gentlemen though will a little give money, you will help the girl to make that a step to rescue of its life. We ha
ve opened the dollar account in bank of our city and if each of you dear Ladies and gentlemen will show though a few to regret and understanding and will put on our account there can be one dollar, it will be the big step to rescue of the girl.PLEASE HELP!
Needless to say, I wont be sending them any money.
Neil, SophosLabs AU
