The scammers promised various perks to potential recruits
Bitdefender Antispam Lab researchers uncovered an ongoing scam campaign involving the so-called ‘Illuminati cabals’ luring gullible individuals into joining their organization in exchange for wealth and a luxurious lifestyle.
A recent analysis of the Illuminati spam campaign revealed that the scammers, operating under various aliases like ‘Grand Masters,’ are still actively seeking new members worldwide. In their updated tactics, the scammers now provide WhatsApp phone numbers for users to establish personal connections and engage in conversations.
The extent of the Illuminati spam campaign shows that while the majority of targets are in the United States (62 per cent), recipients in Australia (11 per cent), the UK and Germany (7 per cent), South Africa (6 per cent), Ireland (2 per cent), and the Czech Republic and Slovakia (1 per cent each) have also received these fraudulent emails. A small number of emails reached users in Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Spain, and Italy.
The spam emails were traced back to IP addresses primarily located in Nigeria (40 per cent), followed by South Africa (16 per cent), the United States (14 per cent), the Netherlands (13 per cent), and Argentina and Brazil (5 per cent each).
Although users are strongly advised not to reply to such requests and delete the messages immediately, the researchers decided to play along with the scammers to gather more information.
During their interactions, the researchers found that most scammers communicated in English but displayed signs of being non-native speakers, including grammar mistakes and odd phrasing. Much of the conversation consisted of copy-pasted texts or videos used to recruit and persuade victims.
The scammers promised various perks to potential recruits, such as monthly salaries exceeding $US200,000, new houses, meetings with celebrities, magic talismans, and free access to the exclusive Bohemian Grove social club. To join the Illuminati society or the ‘Illuminati Brotherhood,’ victims were asked to fill out a membership form requiring personally identifiable information, including full name, date of birth, address, phone number, occupation, financial worth, email address, marital status, age, and a current photo. One of the scammers mentioned that the document would be submitted to the ‘Illuminati Department of Distribution’ (DODIS).
The scam artists relied on tactics like sharing quotes and taking a philosophical approach to captivate their audience before revealing their true intentions. Some quotes were linked to suspicious social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter, while others were attributed to American public speaker and author Tucker Max.
When asked to prove that the recruitment was not a scam, the scammers provided unconvincing answers and emphasized the importance of trust and loyalty throughout the process. However, their responses lacked credibility.
In one instance, the researchers mentioned receiving another email or invitation to join the Illuminati from an alleged colleague of the scammer. The scammer advised them to block or ignore such emails, assuring them that they were in the right place with the right person. This interaction shed light on the existence of impostors posing as Illuminati agents.
After ghosting one of the scammers for a while, the researchers informed him that they couldn’t complete the form due to a stolen wallet containing their ID and credit cards. The scammer advised them to contact the police and assured them that everything would be okay.
Unable to proceed with the requested information, the researchers eventually confronted the scammer, who reacted defensively and denied the accusations. The scammers may also expand their reach by targeting users through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, using the same recycled messages. Individuals are urged to remain vigilant and ignore any messages claiming to be sent on behalf of grand masters or recruiters affiliated with the Illuminati or Illuminati-related organizations.
