Phishers' malignant spam a big problem

The venerable NYTimes ran a piece the other day about "phishers." These are online fraud artists obviously fishing for suckers. [When I was a kid sucker was caught with a net because they wouldn't take a hook. ed.]The story is a pretty good look at the real dark side of spam: where a glimpse of booty or solicitation for erectile support is tame. This is a part of the Internet where amateurs and pros alike pick em off like shooting em a barrel, as it were.

The article has an early statement:

At this point, there are few sure ways for an Internet user to tell if an e-mail message is legitimate. So experts advise people to be extremely wary of providing any confidential information in response to e-mail.
'The crooks are getting slicker, and the bogus Web sites and e-mails are dangerously legitimate looking,' Mr. Wray said."

So, the institutionalization of a legitimate Internet-based transport system that would provide more control and certainty might be a good thing for business, government, and consumers/citizens.

Think about it. I've got an idea.

Posted by Grayson at March 25, 2004 07:42 AM