Scams like these

[prozac]

Received an Aldi email this week offering a gift voucher if I completed a survey....yeah right.
If I can retrieve it I will post it. It is very convincing.

 

[Lemon_Party]

I actually think the scammers are getting better with scamming.

It's bizarre just how bad the majority of phishing emails seem to be. You wouldn't think it would be that hard to just rip off a legitimate email with pictures, logos, styles, disclaimers and embed a few bogus links, yet somehow most of them have dreadful spelling, obvious grammar issues and immediately questionable style/context.

 

[RAM]

It's bizarre just how bad the majority of phishing emails seem to be. You wouldn't think it would be that hard to just rip off a legitimate email with pictures, logos, styles, disclaimers and embed a few bogus links, yet somehow most of them have dreadful spelling, obvious grammar issues and immediately questionable style/context.

..or are they the Trojan horse's setting you up to become 'comfortable' at what a scam one looks like (poor attempt) to sucker you in for their near perfect one at a later date?

There is big money in the scams and it is only getting bigger. The encrypting of hard disks/storage demanding payment by bitcoin is nearly untraceable let alone able to be prosecuted.

Did anyone see the recent program that basically showed that you can lose tens of thousands (unfortunately there are way too many who do) and not one State or Federal authority follows up on you lodging an official report?

Seems the reporting web site is purely 'seen to be done' and has no follow-through.

The story came down to not in anyone's jurisdiction. States point finger at Feds who point finger at States.

The most alarming one was a 'seemingly legitimate' virtual broker who made recommendations that made money. So suspicious (not enough though) couple gradually increased their investment through them over some months until the phone number was no longer answered and they lost the lot.

 

[Major]

It looks like I have a new friend in the Middle East.


Hi dear friend,

This message might meet you in utmost surprise and however, it’s just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you via email for this benefit transaction. My name is Olive Agustine, a banker by profession working with First Gulf Bank in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) and currently holding the post of Director Auditing unit of the bank .

I have the opportunity transferring the left over funds, in tune of (US$30,000,000.00 Thirty Million United State Dollars) of one of my bank Customers who died along with his entire family on 15th July, 2009 in a plane crash in Northern Iran, who had no relationship to claim the fund and I want you to help me receive the fund in your country.

Is an opportunity for us to claim funds and give our lives a complete definition. Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between two of us, in the ratio of 50/50 percentage . If you agree to my business proposal. Further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return mail, further details and information should be forwarded to you, try to send your responds with your telephone number so that I will call you for more clarifications.

Please I'm waiting for your urgent response at my private E-mail (olive.agustine@xx_xx)

Best regards,
Olive Agustine .
olive.agustine@xx_xx_

 

[QF WP]

I just noticed that my spam folder was busy filling up:

From: Delta Air Lines <deleted address>
Sent: Tuesday, 7 March 2017 5:14 AM
To: QF WP
Subject: Your Flight Ticket Invoice 66222 - [my christian name]

[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]This is a payment confirmation e-mail for the ticket you ordered on Delta.com website.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Your credit card has been charged.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Flight Number : WA222270
Date : MAR 7 2017, 17:45 CDT
Departure : Washington, DC[/FONT]

[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]You can download and print your ticket from our website :
<redacted weblink>[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]
For more information regarding your order, contact our technical support by visiting :
<redacted weblink>

Thank you for flying with Delta Airlines[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]©2017 Delta Air Lines, Inc.[/FONT]

plus another go from efax which I'll leave well alone

 

[sinophile888]

It looks like I have a new friend in the Middle East.


Hi dear friend,

This message might meet you in utmost surprise and however, it’s just my urgent need for foreign partner that made me to contact you via email for this benefit transaction. My name is Olive Agustine, a banker by profession working with First Gulf Bank in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) and currently holding the post of Director Auditing unit of the bank .

I have the opportunity transferring the left over funds, in tune of (US$30,000,000.00 Thirty Million United State Dollars) of one of my bank Customers who died along with his entire family on 15th July, 2009 in a plane crash in Northern Iran, who had no relationship to claim the fund and I want you to help me receive the fund in your country.

Is an opportunity for us to claim funds and give our lives a complete definition. Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this money can be shared between two of us, in the ratio of 50/50 percentage . If you agree to my business proposal. Further details of the transfer will be forwarded to you as soon as i receive your return mail, further details and information should be forwarded to you, try to send your responds with your telephone number so that I will call you for more clarifications.

Please I'm waiting for your urgent response at my private E-mail (olive.agustine@xx_xx)

Best regards,
Olive Agustine .
olive.agustine@xx_xx_

I don't believe that Olive is an honest enough person for you to consider having dealings with! I suggest you wait for a better offer.

 

[N860CR]

Any follow up to this, N860CR?

The saga continues. PayPal eventually got back to me and said "doesn't look fraudulent to us

I followed up again with SQ (had previously emailed screenshots twice) and finally spoke to someone who seemed a bit switched on. He dug through it and said "yes it was marked as fraud and was refunded 5 days ago, it'll take 4 weeks to get the refund". Nobody bothered to contact me... Passenger names were "John and Jane Smith". That's all I got out of him before he realised he was probably saying too much.

 

[prozac]

... Passenger names were "John and Jane Smith". That's all I got out of him before he realised he was probably saying too much.

Yeah, he really gave away their identities.

How would they use the ticket if names don't match the passports? I suppose they could cancel and get a refund.

 

[N860CR]

Yeah, he really gave away their identities.

How would they use the ticket if names don't match the passports? I suppose they could cancel and get a refund.

Not really sure to be honest. I don't know enough about how SQ does things. I thought maybe they could cancel it and take a credit with the airline, but that's usually linked to the name as well. Or maybe SQ refund PayPal payments to the email address in the booking? That seems to simple though.

Will teach me to be very very careful with PayPal though. I've changed my password to make it more complex. Unsure really how they even got access to the account. PayPal as a company are clearly pretty hopeless, but I already knew that

 

[Hvr]

If ever in ANY DOUBT, even the slightest - NEVER click but revert to old technology,

instead ring the company/Govt Dept on your land line preferably.
​

Why on the land line? Many government departments have caller ID on their phones and some can even see silent numbers.

 

[cove]

I would get about $5000 worth of free $500 gift vouchers every month.

 

[wandering_fred]

Almost got bit by a real travel scam at CGK. My experience at the taxi stand after immigration was not the introduction to the country I would have liked.

I was staying at the IBIS Styles near the airport entrance and hadn't found the pickup location for the shuttles (On the departures level to the right of entrance 1 facing out - every 90 minutes - departures level is ALSO where the ATM machines are found

). I innocently asked and the first table replied with 250000 IDR- to which I expressed a disinterest as too expensive. Reply was that was the minimum fare. The second table offered 150000 and the young lady led me to a cab - which I entered and another gentleman suggested I pay the driver - which I did.

However, when I got to the hotel, the real driver wanted another 100000. After much discussion, in front of the hotel staff which gave him no support, he drove off. The hotel staff advised that the normal fare should be 100000.

I would suggest that perhaps a receipt when handing over money might be a good idea. Advise of travelers who more regularly frequent CGK is welcomed.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[defurax]

Almost got bit by a real travel scam at CGK. My experience at the taxi stand after immigration was not the introduction to the country I would have liked.

I was staying at the IBIS Styles near the airport entrance and hadn't found the pickup location for the shuttles (On the departures level to the right of entrance 1 facing out - every 90 minutes - departures level is ALSO where the ATM machines are found

). I innocently asked and the first table replied with 250000 IDR- to which I expressed a disinterest as too expensive. Reply was that was the minimum fare. The second table offered 150000 and the young lady led me to a cab - which I entered and another gentleman suggested I pay the driver - which I did.

However, when I got to the hotel, the real driver wanted another 100000. After much discussion, in front of the hotel staff which gave him no support, he drove off. The hotel staff advised that the normal fare should be 100000.

I would suggest that perhaps a receipt when handing over money might be a good idea. Advise of travelers who more regularly frequent CGK is welcomed.

Happy wandering

Fred

I think at CGK it's always best to prebook a driver, but that may be a bit more expensive than a cab. I think I paid AUD40 to the Sheraton.

 

[wandering_fred]

Back to the more mundane phishing emails Except I got 21 of them at the same time.
Attachment duly ignored...

More wandering

Fred

BPAY Deposit Instructions

You have received a BPAY online payment.
Contact your bank or financial institution to receive this payment. For more information please check attached BPAY Secure Document.

 

[ExpeditionCruiser]

Poor old Happiness, on her last legs and her thieving family are a bunch of unbelievers.. Luckily she found me to do god's work by helping distribute the funds to the poor orphans.



Hello My Dear

Calvary Greetings in the name of the ALMIGHTY

I am Mrs Happiness Gabriele from Switzerland I am married to Late Mr.Gabriele Joseph who is a wealthy business man here in Burkina Faso we were married for many years without a child before he died after a brief illness

Before his sudden death we where devoted christian When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of Seven Million Two Hundred United State Dollars ($7.200.000.00) in one of the prime bank here in Burkina Faso Presently this money is still with the Bank,

I am very sick from Kidney cancer that i may not last till the next two months according to my doctor so now i decided to donate this money to a honest individual who will use it to work for Almighty, orphans, widow and maintenance of church to fulfill the vow i and my late husband made to Almighty, and i have chosen you after praying.

I want this money to be use as i have said since i do not have any child to inherit it and our relatives are all unbelievers and i don't want our hard earn money to be used in ungodly way so you will take 40% of the fund for your effort and use the remaining as i stated, as soon as i read from you i will give you more details on how to achieve it, I need your urgent reply as i don't know what tomorrow will result, i wish you the best in life. Please Always remember me in your prayers.

Yours Sister,
Mrs Happiness Gabriele.

 

[RAM]

Why on the land line? Many government departments have caller ID on their phones and some can even see silent numbers.

1) Only person who can hack a landline easily is NSA/ASIO. Now that Telstra is preparing its defense against 'mobile phones causing cancer' (have you seen the changes to their T&Cs as well as the statements about possible risks?) then given whichever company/Govt dept you ring you are likely to be in a queue for a length of time... minimise possible risk.

I was not suggesting a landline to disguise who you are, just a precaution and for some people not on a monthly plan - also cheaper.


2) On a related point this article is well worth a read, and pin to the noticeboard in your office (if you are located in one from time to time).

Phishing: Would you fall for one of these scam emails? | ZDNet

I always knew social media (AFF excepted is dangerous.

3) Got a call from AMEX on a suspected fraud attempt 25 minutes earlier. A system generated email was sent through to me almost instantly and as I did not reply to it they called as a follow-up. Multi-country attempt. A USD1 test charge to a US utility followed 5 minutes later by a GBP 602 charge attempt.

Top marks to AMEX, pity, I can easily remember that card's number. No VFF points for a few days now

... and the only transaction not a repeat transaction on that card was at a certain UK based web site. Hmmm.

 

[samh004]

Poor old Happiness, on her last legs and her thieving family are a bunch of unbelievers.. Luckily she found me to do god's work by helping distribute the funds to the poor orphans.

I wonder what 'she' would say if you replied that you were of a different religion, or some other crazy response sure to eliminate you? I'm sure there are websites with people who take great pride in ripping apart scammers attempts to scam you.

 

[ExpeditionCruiser]

I wonder what 'she' would say if you replied that you were of a different religion, or some other crazy response sure to eliminate you? I'm sure there are websites with people who take great pride in ripping apart scammers attempts to scam you.

Yes, have a read of 419eater.com - you almost feel sorry for some of the poor buggers the way they get the run around.. ALMOST.. The great baiters keep them just dangling on the line for months, with the 'pay off' almost always seemingly just out of reach..

 

[Lemon_Party]

Yes, have a read of 419eater.com - you almost feel sorry for some of the poor buggers the way they get the run around.. ALMOST.. The great baiters keep them just dangling on the line for months, with the 'pay off' almost always seemingly just out of reach..

Getting a carved bust of his own head sent from Nigeria was always one of my favourites...

 

[Ikara]

I received this in the mail today.................

Just love the senders email address. Looks just like a real Qantas address NOT! And Qantas with a "U"!

Customer Service [[email protected]]; on behalf of; Customer Service [info@archerxx_xphotos.com]


Dear John,

Thank you for choosing to be rewarded with Australia's favourite airline loyalty program. You have collected 1000 points with us and therefore from now on until December 2017 we are going to send you our best possible deals. But that is not all...

As a thank you surprise, tonight we would like to offer you a $1000 Qantas Voucher.

HOW DID YOU COLLECT YOUR POINTS?
THERE ARE 3 GREAT WAYS TO EARN QUANTAS POINTS WITH SHOPPING

---

​

You probably do some kind of shopping every day. As a Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) your shopping is earning you points. For instance you get these points with Woolworths Rewards or you earn them with top brands in the Online Mall as well as when you buy vouchers, magazine subscriptions and more. I often wonder how people can be sucked in by these?? Delete, delete, delete! JB