The Cheltenham Festival, also known as the National Hunt Meeting, is a popular horse racing event that occurs every year in March in the United Kingdom. The festival usually coincides with Saint Patrick’s Day. This year, the festival is currently in progress and will end on March 15. A large amount of gambling takes place during the Cheltenham Festival, a fact that spammers seem to be well aware of as we are presently observing an increase in online gambling spam.
One particular sample of spam included instructions on how to register a free bet. The link provided in the message directs the user to a form where they can sign up and get a free bet worth up to £50.
Some of the email header information found in this spam campaign includes the following:
Subject: Bet on Cheltenham with the Best Odds!
From: Cheltenham Festival Bets <xxx@BestWorldOnlinexxx.com>
From: xxxCheltenham Festival Betsxxx“ <xxx.@x.greatnewoffersxxx.com>
From: xxxCheltenham Festival Betsxxx“ <xxx.@x.ExcellentDealsOnlinexxx.com>
Figure. Cheltenham Festival gambling spam
Once the user registers, their personal details are in the hands of the spammers. This situation can be even more alarming if the user shares their banking details. Beware of any fake betting offers from such sites; the reality is you are partaking in much more than a free bet of £50.
Symantec also advises our readers to be cautious when handling any unsolicited or unexpected emails. We are keeping a close eye on spam related to the Cheltenham Festival event, and another upcoming festival—Saint Patrick’s Day.
