New York Times 'Subscription-Renewal' Emails are Spam

28 December 2011 | 03:06 PM ET | Matt Liebowitz, SecurityNewsDaily Staff Writer

CREDIT: Dreamstime

Spam emails are spreading across the Web urging subscribers of the New York Times, along with those who've never received the paper, to avoid cancellation and take advantage of a new, limited-time subscription offer.

The Times wrote today (Dec. 28) on its Media Decoder blog that the emails are addressed to "home delivery subscribers" and appear legitimate. They say, "Our records indicated that you recently requested to cancel your home delivery subscription" and stand to lose your unlimited access to the Times' website and associated apps.

Recipients of the scam are told to call an 877 number and mention a code to continue their current subscriptions at an "exclusive rate of 50% off for 16 weeks."

The Times took to its official Twitter page to squash the cancellation spam : "If you received an email today about canceling your NYT subscription, ignore it, it's not from us."

UPDATE: The New York Times said last night (Dec. 28) that the email was not spam or a phishing attempt, but rather a mistake. Eileen Murphy, a spokesperson for the Times Company, wrote that the subscription renewal email, sent by a Times employee, was intended for a small number of subscribers, but was instead sent to more than 8 million people.

"We regret that the error was made, but no one's security has been compromised," Murphy said.

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