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Email from FBI Looks Odd

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Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#151

Post by not1ofU »

jazzyjackson wrote: post #65
3np wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't even seem like phishing; there's no contact info and the sender bounces in a way that seems like it doesn't go to the one who sent it. Is it general FUD (eroding FBI legitimacy) or a smear campaign against Vinny Troia..? EDIT: Or it's a diversion of attention; there's something else going on somewhere else that they want to go unnoticed.

vinny troia himself washing out the google results for his name?

never heard of him before, but after a few minutes digging, I tend to agree.

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#152

Post by TheRealNGenius »

Raed667 wrote: post #33

We have been made aware of "scary" emails sent in the last few hours that purport to come from the FBI/DHS. While the emails are indeed being sent from infrastructure that is owned by the FBI/DHS (the LEEP portal), our research shows that these emails *are* fake. https://twitter.com/spamhaus/status/1459450061696417792

Why did they feel the need to emphasize are?

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#153

Post by jerry1979 »

dsukhin wrote: post #25

The email domain where the messages originate is from some sort of federated identity management system that was created in 2010 (here is a proposal deck [0] with technical details). Found this program simply by searching Google for the sending domain. Based on the guide for using this system [1] (see step 15) looks like this specific email address is the one that sends automated confirmation emails upon registration…

The twitter link[0] posted in another thread appears to show a copy of the attacker's email. It looks like the attacker sent the email in a bid to lay down psychological cover fire in order to get sysadmins to work with an attacker who would identify themselves as "TheDarkOverlord".

[0] https://twitter.com/spamhaus/status/1459452609979371520/phot...

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#154

Post by teddyh »

Alex3917 wrote: post #111
elliekelly wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FBI doesn’t offer immunity. The DOJ does. There’s also usually a signed document called a “proffer letter” or a “Queen for a Day” agreement that’s signed by an AUSA. I’m not sure an email would pass muster. Maybe it would, but it would certainly be a very big departure from the norm.

> The FBI doesn’t offer immunity. The DOJ does. Fair. But if the FBI gave someone a cryptographically signed offer of immunity and the person then confessed, you don't think the case would get thrown out?

“Your faith in the legal system is appalling.”

https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2009-06-26

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#155

Post by pangolinplayer »

enkid wrote: post #51
dsukhin wrote: post #25

The email domain where the messages originate is from some sort of federated identity management system that was created in 2010 (here is a proposal deck [0] with technical details). Found this program simply by searching Google for the sending domain. Based on the guide for using this system [1] (see step 15) looks like this specific email address is the one that sends automated confirmation emails upon registration…

It could be the Russians trying to make the FBI look incompetent and make people trust the government less.

Done and done.

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#156

Post by mark-r »

jazzyjackson wrote: post #69
notahacker wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other episode that springs to mind is the hackers who managed to compromise the Twitter accounts of the likes of Obama and Elon Musk, but used it to promote a shitty Bitcoin gifting scam, which netted them an easily traced $100k and a prison sentence. Probably the scammers promoting the same sort of scheme in the comments with legal fake accounts make more money

i’ve heard it said, “if criminals were any smarter they wouldn’t be criminals” - but of course its a selection bias because smart criminals don’t get caught, you only hear about the dumb ones

If you work with police, you'll hear no end of dumb criminal stories. My favorite was the guy who coated his fingers with glue so he wouldn't leave fingerprints at the scene - then peeled off the glue and dropped the peelings in the trash on his way out. Leaving perfect fingerprints.

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#157

Post by pangolinplayer »

sennight wrote: post #53
hungryforcodes wrote: post #39

From the Reddit thread: "got it too. i called the FBI helpdesk and they are getting flooded with calls..." I mean as a spammer (or whateveer) do you REALLY want to piss off the FBI like that?

What are they gonna do in response, bankroll somebody to say they have a tape of Russian hookers peeing on you? The FBI is famously inept at anything beyond questionably legal political games, so much so that the Secret Service was in charge of enforcing telecommunications related law for the longest time.

True

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#158

Post by gzer0 »

systemvoltage wrote: post #131
stevebmark wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I continue to see Twitter as an invaluable real time news source. It often seems to have more direct information on breaking topics than other mediums. I often discover news on Twitter well before seeing it on other platforms.

Agree, but also keeps feeding me extreme bias and straight up nonsense. Let’s not forget its destructive aspects as well.

You can mitigate this, at least partially, if you go into your account settings and deselect “show me personalized content and ads”; this paired with ublock origin can do wonders.

Re: Email from FBI Looks Odd

#160

Post by baby »

oxymoran wrote: post #43

I find it fascinating that one can be intelligent enough to be able to do something like this but they just couldn’t put together a coherent enough email to actually fool you, especially because they seem to have a decent enough command of English. The tone is waaaaaay off though.

The author is probably still in school, and has no idea how bureaucracy talks.
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