Sonoma State University
Department of Computer Science
CS-370: Software Design and Development
Exercise 12: Phishing

OBJECTIVE

To identify the tell-tale signs of a phishing attack for an unsolicited SPAM email message.

The exercise:

  • How many signs of phishing can you spot in the following email message? List each sign of phishing and justify your answer.
  • Does this email message use spoofing? Justify your answer.

Email message:

Gerald Blunt <judeatuXXX@gmail.com>
Thu XXX
Bcc: XXX

Congratulations,

This is MoneyGram International Inc. branch London - United Kingdom
and we are contacting you concerning your winning $1,500,000.00
dollars. Your email address has won the sum of $1,500,000.00 USD
dollars through Internet contest, Lottery bonus under MoneyGram
International branch London.

We have concluded the arrangement that you will receive your winning
fund from the Head Office, which you suppose to contact the agent of
MoneyGram International London UK, Mr. Webster Michael.

Contact Mr. Webster Michael for more details.
Branch Email: ( moneygramXXX@gmail.com )

Regards,
Mr. Gerard Blunt,
Supervisor MoneyGram Branch London-UK

Uploading your solution:

  • This is an individual exercise, not a team exercise.
  • Please upload your answer in either Word (Microsoft), PDF (Acrobat), an image file (i.e. digital scan of a paper document), or as a text file.