EDITOR’S NOTE: This post quotes content from an email received early this evening by the PP Blog. Some readers may find the language objectionable.
UPDATED 11:16A.M. ET (U.S.A., Nov. 22) In what it views as part of a continuing pattern of harassment and a bid to chill its reporting on online fraud schemes and Internet crime, the PP Blog apparently was fraudulently registered as a new member of an online “opportunity” and has received an email that apparently “confirms” the registration. The email, which was received at 6:01 p.m. (ET) today, was sent to the Blog’s support address — specifically to the attention of “RatBastard Fucktard.”
“Dear Rat Bastard,” the “registration” email began.
It is possible that the email originated off a server in Michigan that is associated with a cash-gifting program.
The person who used the Blog’s address fraudulently appears to have caused a fraudulent “affiliate” site for the “opportunity” to be created with the Blog’s address, while causing the word “Doomsday” to appear in the body of the “registration” email to further hector the Blog.
In late October and early November, the PP Blog was subjected to sustained DDoS attacks. The Blog shared specific details of the attacks with law enforcement. At 8:29 p.m. today, the Blog forwarded the “header” information from the “registration” email to law enforcement.
After the “Dear Rat Bastard” greeting, the “registration” email continued:
“Everyone in our community welcomes you as a valuable and productive member. You will now be able to share the message and mission of ‘Winners 2011’ which is spreading like a wildfire across the globe. We are grateful of your decision and assure you that the entire community will support you at all times as well as those you help by inviting them to also become members of ‘Winners 2011’.”
The PP Blog made no decision to register for a program known as Winners 2011 and has no knowledge about a program by that name, except for cursory knowledge it gained this evening after being registered fraudulently for the program. Moreover, the Blog never agreed to receive email from Winners 2011 or subscribe to a list controlled by the program. The “registration” email received by the Blog this evening did not include an unsubscribe link.
The Blog’s address appears to have been entered into a form by a criminal who made a calculation that the “Rat Bastard” and “Doomsday” references would chill the Blog’s reporting while at once creating maintenance chores for the Blog.
“WE urge you to login to your back office and become very familiar with all the information it offers so you will be able to speak to potential new members intelligently and knowledgably,” the “registration” email continued. “Stay in close contact with your inviter and their inviter as well as teach your people to do the same, this is a team effort.
“Remember: Winners have simply formed the habit of doing things losers don’t like to do,” the email concluded.
The Winners 2011 program may be associated with a gifting program known as 14Eagles, which is being pitched from websites, social-media sites and forums.
Today’s false registration of the PP Blog as a member of Winners 2011 follows a pattern of strange events that have occurred on Sundays. Read earlier story based on events that occurred on Sunday, Oct. 3.