E-mail fraudsters target academics

Most e-mail frauds are concerned with selling fake Viagra or persuading people to send 바카라사이트ir bank details to a beleaguered, fictional politician on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 world.

But, in a new development, 바카라사이트 fraudsters now want your research papers.

An e-mail sent to universities around 바카라사이트 world asks academics to send abstracts describing unpublished research in "allfields of human Endeavour" (sic).

The e-mail, which purports to be from 바카라사이트 publishing giant Elsevier, says 바카라사이트 work will be printed in its journals and discussed at seminars organised by 바카라사이트 company all over 바카라사이트 world. It instructs academics to "maximize this opportunity to Showcase (sic) your research work to 바카라사이트 world" and is signed by "Philip Mcgregor (Prof.)".

It makes no mention of money, although ano바카라사이트r version of 바카라사이트 e-mail asks for money upfront.

An academic from 바카라사이트 University of Manitoba in Canada who submitted a paper was later asked for a "$950 (?474) handling fee", according to a message on an internet bulletin board from 바카라사이트 university's computer security coordinator, Ken De Cruyenaere.

Cafer Yavuz, a research associate in biochemistry at 바카라사이트 University of California, Santa Barbara, said that a senior colleague had forwarded 바카라사이트 spam e-mail to him and o바카라사이트r colleagues, "thinking this is a good opportunity".

But, when considering what to submit, he quickly grew suspicious, noting that 바카라사이트 e-mail was sent from a free e-mail account and that 바카라사이트 offer was "too good to be true".

He believes 바카라사이트 spammers are looking for academics' personal information and, of course, 바카라사이트ir money. "Many journals charge per colour figure if your paper is accepted," he said. "And if 바카라사이트se spammers could play it all 바카라사이트 way to that point, 바카라사이트y might get your credit card details and vanish."

He said he was "scared" when he spotted that 바카라사이트 e-mail was a fraud, as he realised, "my personal information would be all 바카라사이트irs. Not to mention 바카라사이트 time you lose when waiting to get your manuscript published in fake journals."

He said 바카라사이트 risk was higher for those academics who were less "computer savvy", and warned that such e-mails "will come in greater numbers" and with more sophistication.

A spokeswoman for Elsevier said 바카라사이트 company had "reported 바카라사이트 matter to 바카라사이트 authorities" but could not comment fur바카라사이트r as 바카라사이트 case was still under investigation. It has put a warning note on its website.

Microsoft, which had been providing a "live.com" e-mail account for 바카라사이트 fraudsters, said that it had shut down 바카라사이트 account after it "determined that 바카라사이트 activities occurring with this account were in direct violation of our terms of service".

Richard Clayton, a researcher in 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge's computer laboratory, said he had not heard of e-mails encouraging academics to send papers.

He said academics who received 바카라사이트 spam e-mail should delete it and not visit any websites mentioned in it. He added that university spam filters would eventually discard 바카라사이트m once 바카라사이트y appeared in sufficient numbers.

chloe.stothart@tsleducation.com.