X

Spammers exploit pope's death

Leslie Katz Former Culture Editor
Leslie Katz led a team that explored the intersection of tech and culture, plus all manner of awe-inspiring science, from space to AI and archaeology. When she's not smithing words, she's probably playing online word games, tending to her garden or referring to herself in the third person.
Credentials
  • Third place film critic, 2021 LA Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
Leslie Katz
Nothing is sacred for spammers--not even the death of Pope John Paul II.

ZDNet UK reported on Tuesday that spammers are latching on to the pope's passing with a spam campaign pushing a bogus moneymaking scheme. The spam, detected by British-based security firm Sophos, promises free books supposedly penned by the late pontiff. The e-mails contain a link directing users to a "free moneymaking secrets" Web site with no connection to the pope, who was buried in Rome on Friday.

"Spammers are prepared to plumb the depths in their attempt to get Internet users to buy their goods or services," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "The pope's death has been mourned by millions around the world, yet for the spammers it's just another opportunity to sell their unwanted wares."

Not that we ever thought of spammers as a reverential bunch, but really now...