Oct 14, 2010 17:45 GMT  ·  By

Security researchers warn of a new scam, which involve tricking company representatives to sign an expensive contract, to have the business listed in an international registry.

The scam begins with emails that bear a subject of "World Company Register 2011/2012" and are sent by one Laura Allan <[email protected]>.

"In order to have your company inserted in the registry of World Businesses for 2011/2012 edition, please print, complete and submit the enclosed form (PDF file) to the following address: Europe Business Guide, P.O. BOX 2021, 3500 GA, UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS," the enclosed message reads.

The attached file is called EBG_2011.pdf and is a well designed forn that looks legit. It has fields for filling in the company information and other details.

Security researchers from Belgian Email security provider MX Lab point out that this document is actually a contract.

First, receipients are mislead into thinking that completing the form and sending it back doesn't cost anything.

"To update your company profile, please print, complete and return this form. (Updating is free of charge)," a note inside the document reads.

However, at the end, in barely visible letters, it says "I hereby order a subscription with service provider EU Business Services Ltd 'Europe Business Guide'. I will have an insertion to its data base for three years. The price per year is euro 990."

The scammers hope that people who realize their mistake when receiving the first invoice, will pay up anyway in order to avoid complications, such as lawsuits.

"Do not pay, even if they imply to take your case to court," MX Lab advises. "If you have paid a certain amount, stop the next payments. Expect that you won’t get a refund either," it adds.

Both serv2ebg.com and europebusinessguide.net, two of the domains associated with this scam, were registered earlier this year by private persons through Chinese domain registrars.

The group behind this attack has been active since at least 2009 and this is the third time when they switched domains and started fresh campaigns.

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