Am I being paranoid? (possible junk mail)

[excalibur313]

I got this letter from abuse@gov.us saying that they have this "huge list" of all the illegal websites I visited. I think it's junk mail but I was curious if anyone heard of this to put my mind at rest.
Thanks,
Stephen

 

[strider42]

I got this letter from abuse@gov.us saying that they have this "huge list" of all the illegal websites I visited. I think it's junk mail but I was curious if anyone heard of this to put my mind at rest.
Thanks,
Stephen

yeah, that's gotta be fake. I'd first note that the URL www.gov.us doesn't point anywhere, and that the government doesn't keep any such lists (that they'll admit to anyway). if they new you were on illegal websites (the only one's of which would probably be kiddie porn, everything else pretty much falls under free speech), they'd come in and bust you, not write you a nice little note letting you know about it.

 

[Colonel Panik]

I got this letter from abuse@gov.us saying that they have this "huge list" of all the illegal websites I visited. I think it's junk mail but I was curious if anyone heard of this to put my mind at rest.
Thanks,
Stephen

Well, somehow they would have to trace all your surfing, and then tie your IP address to an email account (by talking to your ISP). So it's fake.

Secondly, the US government would send mail from a xxx.gov account, not gov.us. A look at whois.net tells us the following information:

[whois.melbourneit.com]
Domain Name: GOV.US
Domain ID: D655022-US
Sponsoring Registrar: REGISTRY REGISTRAR
Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited
Domain Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Domain Status: inactive
Registrant ID: NEUSTAR
Registrant Name: NEUSTAR
Registrant Address1: Loudoun Tech Center
Registrant Address2: 45980 Center Oak Plaza
Registrant City: Sterling
Registrant State/Province: VA
Registrant Postal Code: 20166
Registrant Country: United States
Registrant Country Code: US
Registrant Phone Number: +1.5714345757
Registrant Facsimile Number: +1.5714345758
Registrant Email: support@neustar.us
Registrant Application Purpose: P1
Registrant Nexus Category: C21

So you could give them a phone call and ask them WTF they're up to.


Post the email without telling us your email. Make sure you post the headers ('raw source' or 'long headers' in Mail.app). Or you could visit an urban legends site to see if others have got the mail.
Another thing to look at is to see if they've made spelling or grammar mistakes. That'll show it as a hoax for sure.

Actually, I've just entered abuse@gov.us, and got a few hits - seems there's an attachment on the email, and it's a virus, of course. Just delete the mail and get on with life.

 

[seamuskrat]

Classic scam hoping you download a windows trojan or virus.

To ease your mind, there is no such thing as an 'illegal website'. Yes, plenty do illegal activities, and the government tries to shut the sites down directly. As was mentioned, viewing, trading in illegal pron, drugs, or assassinations will get you 'noticed' by the feds, but they will just come by and chat, not send a friendly email.

I got this letter from abuse@gov.us saying that they have this "huge list" of all the illegal websites I visited. I think it's junk mail but I was curious if anyone heard of this to put my mind at rest.
Thanks,
Stephen

 

[parrothead]

It is definitely a scam. Anything that actually comes from a government email address would end with .gov NOT .us. I should know, I work for NOAA (a branch of the fed. gvt.)

 

[Jimong5]

if your using mail, or just about anything, I would look at the full headers, it may shed some insight to the orgin of the message.

 

[seamuskrat]

What do you do with NOAA? I am a former NOAA Marine biologist (now in academics)

I gather from your name and location you may be in the marine biological field as well.

It is definitely a scam. Anything that actually comes from a government email address would end with .gov NOT .us. I should know, I work for NOAA (a branch of the fed. gvt.)

 

[parrothead]

What do you do with NOAA? I am a former NOAA Marine biologist (now in academics)

I gather from your name and location you may be in the marine biological field as well.

I work for the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division as a Coral Reef Habitat Specialist. I am based in Honolulu at the PIFSC. About to head out on my first research cruise in September to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands!