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Where there is passion on the internet, there is someone who seeks to exploit it. Thus, in the wake of the massive fan-driven controversy surrounding the ending of Mass Effect 3, a new scam has been unearthed that seeks to trick users into clicking on affiliate advertising offers in exchange for a download of a supposed "new ending."
The spam email, as uncovered by GFI, directs users to download a ZIP file containing a password-protected downloader for the supposed new ending. A text file inside the ZIP instructs downloaders to go to a web site where they're asked to take part in one of a number of shady offers to get access to the supposed password.
"Last Mass Effect 3 Ending, was really bad, but here, you have NEW, EXCITING ENDING," reads the download page. "You only need, to downlad [sic], and run it, downloader will automacitally [sic] start, download, new ending files, you will like it!"
You'd think obvious misspellings like "automacitally" and the generally poor grammar would raise the warning bells for users even remotely familiar with internet security, but nevertheless the download link has attracted at least a few hundred gullible players since its first appearance, according to publicly displayed statistics.
Recently, Bioware told fans they would be working to address the rampant criticism of the Mass Effect trilogy's vague ending with new downloadable content that will help answer lingering questions. However, the official DLC will not be available until April, and will likely only be available on Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network, and Origin (EA's download service.) Even then, it's unclear whether the new content will significantly change the game's existing ending or merely add new context an explanation to the existing narrative.
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