Gawker Media just got scammed by a malware company pretending to be Suzuki.

The "ads" crashed readers' browsers, and, in some cases, installed spyware.

Gawker--no babes in the woods on this issue--have been kind enough to share their correspondence with the scammers below.

Publishers have been warned!

Here's the opening email from the slickster-in-chief, who pretended to be working with a unit of Starcom Media Vest:



>

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

> From: George Delarosa <george@spark-smg.com>

> Date: Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 10:56 PM

> Subject: Agency Inquiry

> To: advertising@gawker.com

>

>

> Dear All,

>

>

>

> I am writing from Spark Communications — a full-service media agency

> with a client-centric approach. We are looking to place display

> advertisements for some of our premium clients.

>

> Spark is a part of — and backed by the power of Starcom MediaVest

> Group — one of the largest and most celebrated global brand

> communications and consumer contact organizations, with more than 110

> offices in 67 countries worldwide.

>

> I work with Automotive and Entertainment clients in Spark. First and

> foremost, we want to run a performance campaign for Suzuki across your

> network. Our budget to start is $25k+. Campaign should be live by the

> end of the month. We can also run on moviefone and/or entertainment

> verticals.

>

> Please let me know your rates, inventory and volume so we can include

> you in our upcoming media plans.

>

>

>

> Thank you,

>

>

>

> George Delarosa

>

> Spark Communications

>

> george@spark-smg.com

>

> 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza

>

> Suite 550

>

> Chicago, IL 60654

>

> www.spark-smg.com

>

> (312) 376-8131

>

> Skype - george.delaros

The full correspondence follows in reverse chronological order below, ending with this warning from Gawker. Note that this fellow knew how to talk the talk.

From: GAWKER SALES GUY





Someone is approaching publishers as a representative of Spark-SMG on the Suzuki account, even though Suzuki very recently switched agencies.

George Delarosa and his accomplice Douglas Velez claim that there's a limited amount of money left in the Suzuki account for them to spend, and they need to spend it quickly.

They have intimate knowledge of online ad sales, including terms like eCPM, roadblocking, RON, IAB sizes, lead generation, traffic coordinators, etc.

Email comes from @spark-smg.com instead of @sparksmg.com, though the who-is for their spoof domain is very close to the actual domain (Erin has links in her original email)

They maintain a Chicago area code (where Spark is based) but claim to be in London, even though they couldn't give us the actual time in London when asked.

Unlike most spammers, these guys were happy to jump on the phone to get ads back up and running.

Clue that should have tipped us off was that we had to use our IO template...most major agencies like Spark have their own IO template.

But as far as malware distributors go, this guy is easily one of the most convincing I've ever seen. I doubt George is his real name, but whoever it is definitely worked in online ad sales at some point.











---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: GAWKER SALES GUY

Date: Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 1:34 PM

Subject: Fwd: Agency Inquiry - Suzuki?





Look at how together this guy was! Corporate politics, eCPM, premium branding, IAB sizes, re-evaluating rates! Outrageous.









From: George Delarosa <george.delarosa@spark-smg.com>

Date: Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 2:14 PM

Subject: RE: Agency Inquiry - Suzuki? ---------- Forwarded message ----------From:Date: Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 2:14 PMSubject: RE: Agency Inquiry - Suzuki?

To: GAWKER SALES GUY

Cc: douglas.velez@spark-smg.com







Sorry for the delay, James, but this had to go through the typical corporate politics. Attached is an executed IO. My traffic coordinator Douglas will be sending creatives. Feel free to call either of us if you have any questions with the campaign. thanks

From: GAWKER SALES GUY

Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 8:56 AM To: george.delarosa@spark-smg.com; george@spark-smg.com

Subject: Re: Agency Inquiry - Suzuki?

Just FYI, we'll need tags this afternoon if we want to do the roadblock tomorrow. Let me know if we're good to go!



