BlackHat SEO targeting Haiti-related searches

by Steve Ragan - Jan 14 2010, 23:30

As expected, criminals wasted no time exploiting phrases and keywords related to Haiti and the devastation its people currently face. This recent example of criminals hijacking search engine results plays out like previous attacks regarding current events. The result is the spread of Rogue anti-Virus software.

The newest SEO attack targets keywords related to the earthquake in Haiti, where thousands are feared lost or dead. Loading up the search results for terms such as 'Haiti', 'Port-au-Prince', 'RT (re-Tweet)', 'Wyclef Jean' and his charity, as well as seeming unrelated terms, such as 'Haiti Map World', the criminals are pointing users to what they believe to be legitimate news and images related to the tragedy.

Both Websense and Zscaler are reporting several Rogue anti-Virus variants being spread through BlackHat SEO techniques, and, in addition to the malicious software, several scam sites have cropped up including one that leads to a donation portal using PayPal.

The scams related to the horror in Haiti recently led The Tech Herald to remove one reference to a charity in a previous story because links to the Yele Haiti Foundation are being hijacked as well. Oddly, while we were searching for scam sites, we found none related to The American Red Cross, which is odd considering that scams from Katrina and the tsunami in 2004 each used that organization.

As we mentioned previously, the moment tragedy hits, the first instinct for many is to ask how they can help. Sadly, this need to assist victims of tragedy is a goldmine for criminals seeking to capitalize on the suffering of others. The sudden and expected appearance of hijacked search results lends weight to that statement.

According to a warning released by the FBI, “...users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti [are urged] to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests.”

“Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause,” it adds. 

More information on scams related to charities, including those supposedly seeking aid for Haiti, can be found here.

Remember to use caution when making donations online, and if looking for up-to-the-minute news, stick to known and established sources and try to avoid links in search engines that are using URLs with keywords you just used.

Around the Web