First there was the Amish computer virus, which said:
You have just received the Amish virus.
Since we have no electricity or computers, you are on the honor system.
Please delete all of your files on your hard drive. Then forward this message to everyone in your address book.
We thank thee.
Of course, that was a joke.
Now, there is a flagrant phishing hoax which promises:
The following complete hacking tutorial IS GUARENTEED TO WORK AND ITS FREE!! The hacking method is based on a flaw in the PayPal (www.paypal.com) mailing address confirmation system THAT MY UNCLE HAS SHARED WITH ME AND NO ONE ELSE!! I am giving this to you because it has helped me out ALOT and it will help you too. It will only work BEFORE PayPal discovers this serious security flaw and fixes it. Take your action FAST! This method works only works for hackers with PayPal accounts with CONFIRMED PAYPAL ACCOUNTS. It will never work for PayPal user without a confirmed account.By strictly following instructions in the following tutorial, you’ll gain unlimited access to various PayPal accounts with confirmed mailing addresses. Use those accounts AT YOUR OWN RISK. You’re responsible for your action and ENJOY!!! I DID!!
Of course, in order to take advantage of this “hack”, you need to send your personal information to a “mailerbot” address.
Link here, with copious acknowledgment to Lance James at Secure Science.
Call it gallows humor, but I found this painfully funny. More seriously, though, is that some poor soul is probably going to fall for it.
Alex Eckelberry