Recently, several SCA email lists have been subject to spammers and virus-generated posts. These things are far from new, but they seem to be multiplying of late. Please be cautious when clicking links.
If you see a post with no subject line and only a link posted in the body of the message, chances are very good that this was a virus, sent from one of our members (more than likely compromised) computers. While you are free to click as you please, I would highly recommend against opening any of these links.
Another scam of late, that has been perpetrated on several lists that I am aware of, is the "travelling abroad and have been robbed, please send money" tactic. They typically detail vacation trips to foreign countries, terrible muggings by knifepoint or gun in which the perp gets away with all cash and cards and occassionally passports, and an urgent plea to send case as soon as possible to help settle the hotel bills and whatnot.
These come from the accounts of actual members of the lists, but are, most likely, compromised accounts. It has been my observation that they usually come from accounts that have been inactive for some time.
As moderators, we try to catch these as soon as possible, but we have lives too, and aren't always able to get them right away. At best, these accounts will be put on a "moderated" status and posts will be proofed before being allowed on the list. I urge all of you to exercise caution in what you choose to open from posts on these lists.
If you know these individuals, it probably wouldn't hurt to contact them to let them know that they may have a virus, or that their account may have been hacked.
One last side note on an already too long message: If you are fortunate enough to be travelling abroad, yet unfortunate in being robbed, your best course of action would be to seek out a US Embassy for assistance. That's what they're there for.
Turold
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