The following is from the SpamStopsHere Newsletter and has been republished with their permission. We thought you should know.

We have detected a new spam tactic in which MP3 files are used to promote stocks.

In the first multi-media spam, spammers have begun attaching MP3 files which are named after popular recording artists and songs. After a recipient has opened the attachment, an electronically enhanced voice delivers a message promoting a stock for a particular company. The message is designed to encourage the recipient to invest in a particular company. The spam perpetrators then sell their shares after the stock price has risen briefly. This is typically known as a “pump and dump” scam.

To listen to an actual MP3 spam message, please use the following URL: http://www.spamstopshere.com/spam.mp3

We believe that what we are seeing right now is just a test by spammers to determine the effectiveness of MP3 spam. We do not believe that MP3 spam will be the wave of the future. It is unlikely that people will fall for an MP3 spam more than once or twice, whereas text and image spam is hard to ignore because it is in the body of the e-mail. We do not think that MP3 spam on iPods is feasible, but spammers certainly are looking to target the new Apple iPhone.

If you decide to give SpamStopsHere a try, let them know that High Aspirations, Inc. sent you! If you are one of our clients, let us know and we’ll take care of everything for you!