download (50)

Image: Flickr.com

 

Email scams are apparently evolving with the changing times. Just as we live in a world where everything trendy is farm-to-table, or handcrafted in small batches, email scams are getting smaller and more targeted. Bloomberg reports that “artisinal spam” involves sending scammy emails to fewer people, in smaller batches, in an effort to thwart email filters and land more of those annoying emails in your inbox. For example, a cyber-security firm called Agari Data says they tracked attackers working in France who were trying to steal iTunes passwords from Apple customers. The scammers sent out just 5,000 emails instead of the usual 50,000, and it was a spam success; most emails found their way past filters and into victims’ email inboxes. While cyber-security experts figure out a way to stop the threat, you’re best bet is to contact any company that emails you asking for sensitive information directly and find out why they need it. (Consumerist)