Smell Phishy?

Baby Funeral Scammers Pull on Heart Strings

2011-10-20T04:09:00.000-07:00

I always thought that panhandlers actually were living very comfortably.

Fontana police officers responding to a call about a woman begging for money for an infant's funeral led investigators to uncover an alleged scam in which panhandlers netted thousands of dollars on behalf of babies who never died, authorities said Wednesday.

Read more about this scam.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Starbucks is not giving away $50 gif cards

2011-10-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is very similar to the Apple iPad giveaway scam few weeks ago. The biggest hint that this is a fake is the URL. This scam is being spread through facebook primarily and may cause viruses.

Read more: http://blog.dk.sg/2011/10/18/online-scam-free-starbucks-50-gift-card/

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Get a call about a frozen bank card?

2011-10-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Give no information.

Hang up immediately.

Call your bank directly to inquire.

This is very likely a scam. Story Here:

Police in Wayne County are warning of a bank scam in which customers get bogus phone calls claiming to be their banks and asking them for their account. Continue reading

Don't Get Scammed Looking for Government Surplus Auctions

When the United States customs office seizes an item, they make it available for purchase to the public through Government Auctions. This information is provided free to the public.

Common Sense Rules to Avoid a Computer Purchase Scam

If that deal is too good to be true, it usually is. There are also several other clues that will send up a red flag that a deal to purchase a computer or other electronic item is bad.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Wells Fargo Bank Scam

2011-10-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

Scammers are taking advantage of the fact that Wells Fargo and Wachovia have merged and are sending emails that look like an official account transfer. THIS IS FAKE.
In short, don't reply to emails that ask you to click a link.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Free iPad Scam

2011-10-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

This is just a version of the typical free Ipad or free Computer scam. Please don't fall for it.

"Unscrupulous scammers are aiming to take advantage of the news of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs' death, security experts have warned. Sophos' Graham Cluley spotted a Facebook scam that claims Apple is giving away iPads in memory of Steve Jobs.

However, if you click on the link then you'll be asked to fill in online surveys to qualify for one of the free iPads that are supposedly being given away. But it is definitely a scam, Cluley said."

Read more: http://www.pcworld.com/article/241412/steve_jobs_death_exploited_by_scammers.html

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Read this before you buy a car

2011-09-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Consumer complaints rose 25 percent in 2010 and a complaint is filed every 90 minutes, according to a Consumer Reports article citing FBI stats. Regarding auto-related complaints, every hour a car buyer loses more than $1,000.

Read more: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/buyers-beware--nine-notorious-scams.html

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Stop Telephone Scams. Stop Wiring Money

2011-09-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

First of all, wiring money is an outdated mode of sending money. Criminals scam people into wiring money because once it's sent... it's gone. If someone calls you in dire need of money, for whatever reason, refuse to wire it. Send it via another means... after you have determined it is them.

My deal with this is that the money wiring companies will work to fight the scammers if people refuse to use them until they do.

Here's the latest scam:

"Joe Patton was taking an afternoon nap at his Columbus-area home earlier this year when he received a frantic phone call.
The person on the other end of the line claimed to be his grandnephew, who had been to town not too long before visiting Ohio State University. The caller said he had been arrested in Texas for drunken driving and needed thousands of dollars to get out of jail.
Forty-five minutes later, Patton managed to wire more than $6,000 to someone he didn't know. It wasn't until the next day Patton realized he was the victim of a telephone scam."

read more: http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/5093174

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Can You Trust Who's Who?

2011-08-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

Let's put it this way. I am a blogger. Probably C or D list at best. Still, I get letters from Who's Who like I'm somebody that should be included. Any directory that would list me at this point in my career should be suspect.

To top it off, a recent phone call from Who's Who ended when the flustered operator hung up on me because I asked too many questions. Question like, where did you get my information? and How to do I qualify for this?

Here's the latest letter I received.

This is the final notice regarding your inclusion within the 2011 Edition of Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals.
We have sent you several emails requesting your inclusion, and so far we have not received any confirmation on your biographical proof.
Most individuals look at the Who’s Who as the world’s premier source for networking. Our professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career,
and is one of your most valuable assets. The Who’s Who exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return.
Our mission is to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. We believe that in a globally connected economy, your success as a professional
and your competitiveness as a company depends upon faster access to insights and resources that you can trust.
http://www.wintheworld.info/youraward/

We urge you to click here and fill out the appropriate information in order to get the biographical process started. There is no cost or obligation to be listed.
Best of luck in all of your future endeavors,
http://www.wintheworld.info/youraward/

Click Here and get Noticed Today
http://www.wintheworld.info/youraward/

James Parker
Managing Director

Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals
119 Chambers Street
15th Floor
New York, NY 10007
http://www.wintheworld.info/youraward/?q=vhk03646b6875706c7777436ssg&j=ha70646c6f3166727030697yli&un=lp8666e30767364706b647876m&lu=pkmg

Not a scam perse as they are not trying to empty your bank account or give you a virus, but do you really want to pay for this directory with a bunch of people who's names where purchased from God knows where?

By the way, check out the price of the directory (above).

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Spam with a Spam button

2011-07-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

I got a very sneaky spam email today. It was clearly spam, but at the top of the email there was a spam button just like the one you would click to report spam in your email program. I gather that if I had clicked the wrong spam button, I would have been infected with a virus. BEWARE.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section http://www.smellphishy.com/

Facebook Scam: Fake Google+ Invite App Offers 'Direct Access'

2011-07-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Scammers are again taking advantage of the hype surrounding the Google+ social network's debut.

Clicking the "Allow" button will also permit the app to send you emails, post content to your wall in your name, post content on your friends' walls, access your personal information when you're offline, and more.

full story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/facebook-scam-google-plus-invite-app_n_895760.html

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Beware of Casey Anthony Facebook Scam

2011-07-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

A fake post making the rounds on Facebook claims to show a video confession by Casey Anthony, the woman acquitted of the murder of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Clicking on the post can lead to your Facebook account being compromised.

full story here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-casey-anthony-facebook-scam-20110712,0,1639508.story

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Don't Click Links from strangers

2011-07-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

I was really tempted to click the link in this email because I love self employment, but first I had to ask myself a question. Do I know the person it came from? The answer is no. And even if I do know them, is this kind of email something they would send? Emails like this cause viruses that send the same emails to everyone in your address book... beware

Hey there, so I was up late as always skimming on MSNBCs city self-employed testimonials late last monday & read all about a new work online opportunity where US soldiers make up to $3500 per week or more so of course she did not trust most of it in the beginning yet still i really had to see it with my own eyes & Im glad I did since I've managed to make $301.84 my very first day trying. It is completely not hard at all I've already been paid once right into my bank - it's definently the most amazing thing that has happend to me all year..

Here's the page - AOL Researches 2011's Hottest Self Employed Positions fq0 (link deleted) I really think pretty much everybody that has access to a computer could do the work which is why I'm telling all our old freinds & loved ones. I'd like you to begin and make lots of profit your self.. you can also share this email with everybody you know that needs more cash so we can all eliminate the deep recession.

.~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

The Irs will not contact you by email

2011-07-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

The email received appears to be an official Internal Revenue Service notice stating that after reviewing the recipients’ records, they determined they were eligible for an additional refund. There is a button which leads to a form which asks for essentially every piece of financial information available including credit card number; ATM pin number; social security number; bank account numbers; passwords; etc.

Don't fall for it.

full story here: http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2011/07/08/news/doc4e1773353cd99905217433.txt

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment sectionwww.smellphishy.com

Top Scams of 2011

2011-07-08T04:28:00.000-07:00

Top scams of 2011 include:

Magazine sales
prizes
scholarships
vacations and more

full story here http://www.vizworld.com/2011/07/avoid-telemarketing-scam/

Most of these frauds come in the form of a phone call.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Don't get stuck paying for inmates phone calls

2011-07-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

The scam comes in the form of a phone call that goes like this:

“You have a collect call from an inmate at the Such-and-Such Jail, if you do not wish to accept this call press 1 and hang up.”

Don't listen any further, just hang up. If you press the numbers allowing the collect call, you are essentially allowing inmates to make calls from your phone number.

full story here : http://copsandcourts.com/?p=3201

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

New and Inventive Scams on Arizona Senior Citizens

2011-07-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

Don't give out your banking or credit information over the phone:

The men told her they were collecting a list of senior citizens over 60 years old on Social Security and requested her bank account number and check routing number, according to the release. They then provided the victim with her name, birth date, and bank to prove their identity. One scam involved two men with "Mexican accents," who identified themselves to an 87-year-old Cottonwood resident as Social Security employees in the "medical department," according to a news release from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

The "Canadian Jail Scam" reportedly happened to a 63-year-old Village of Oak Creek resident on July 2, the release said. A woman received a call from a man claiming to be her son, who said he was arrested for a DUI in Canada. He then asked the woman for $1,000 bond wired via Western Union, and promised an attorney would call her shortly with more information.

Full story here: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_northern_az/other/phone-scams-target-n.-arizona-seniors

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Beware QWEST Customers

2011-07-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

Unscrupulous salespersons are misleading customers to believe that the company is going out of business when in fact, it is just changing names.

A few salespeople for competing communication companies have thought plenty about it, and it appears they came up with a new sales pitch for telemarketers. The script goes something like this: “We understand you are a Qwest customer. You know, Qwest is going out of business. We don’t want your (insert one or all of the following: phone, Internet, satellite TV) interrupted, so we’re offering a special deal to move to our company.”

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/07/07/1717766/qwest-has-merged-it-is-not-going.html#ixzz1RPtoER9k

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Beware of reverse mortgage scams.

2011-07-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

If you want a reverse mortgage, don't do business with someone who solicits you, get referrals and and choose the company yourself

Beginning in March 2009, Incandela, 24, and Echevarria, 29, called senior citizens to pitch a reverse mortgage, which is a type of loan where a bank purchases a homeowner’s equity and makes installment payments to the borrower.
After the seniors filled out the applications, Incandela and Echevarria had the homes appraised and then inflated the property’s worth in order to create the appearance of substantial equity in the home.
After receiving the inflated loan proceeds from Genworth, closing agent Mackey would divert a substantial portion of the money into a personal account managed by Incandela, rather than paying off the existing mortgages.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/06/2302886/reverse-mortgage-scam-targeted.html#ixzz1RPt1KFq4

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Investing in someone else's "business"

2011-07-07T04:04:00.000-07:00

Three former PTA mothers used their connection with a suburban elementary school to recruit investors in a phony $14 million get-rich-quick scheme.

The alleged swindle started in 2008, when the women told fellow PTA members they had the exclusive right to sell products from a well-known local dairy to Disneyland, Disney hotels, and other small retailers.

Investments, which had to be made in cash, ranged from $5,000 to $208,000. The 40 investors used their life savings, maxed out credit cards, and took out second mortgages to come up with the money

Full Story: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/07/07/3_calif_moms_accused_of_using_pta_in_ponzi_scheme/

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Spear Phishing is up

2011-06-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Customers of a telecommunications firm received an e-mail recently explaining a problem with their latest order. They were asked to go to the company website, via a link in the e-mail, to provide personal information—like their birthdates and Social Security numbers. But both the e-mail and the website were bogus.

It’s a real-life, classic case of “phishing”—a virtual trap set by cyber thieves that uses official-looking e-mails to lure you to fake websites and trick you into revealing your personal information.

It’s also an example of an even more mischievous type of phishing known as “spear phishing”—a rising cyber threat that you need to know about. Read more here

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Just because it's a Google Ad doesn't mean its safe

2011-06-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

The odds are getting better though:

Google has revealed that it took down over 93,000 ads linking to scam sites from July to December last year, in response to requests from UK consumer protection authorities. "The UK's Office of Fair Trading requested the removal of fraudulent ads that linked to scams," Google said in the report. "We complied with the request and removed 93,360 items in total."

Read more:

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

No one should still be falling for these letters!

2011-05-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

THE STORY OF MY LIFE (SECRETE OF MY LIFE )

My names are Suzanne .Geyster , i am the daughter of Nancy Mckenzie , i lost my father when i was 5 year old i never knew whom my father was then till his death i was born and raise in chicopee Massachusetts USA , I am 31 year old girl i am working under dies eon group of company .According to my mother she told me that about 25 years ago , my father deposited some luggage into one security company called Diplomatic Courier Company which is located in Ontario Canada was last week when my mother was cleaning the house and she saw one document in my late father room and this document signifying that my father deposited a luggage with one security company in Canada for very long time ago so trace the address of the security company and we contacted with name of my late father and we spoke to the security company manager and he said he check their files to see if there is a name like that on their files and they called mom back to tell they found my father name on their file list and they ask mom to come

DIPLOMATIC COURIER AGENT MAN AND YOU WILL SIGN THE RECEIPT OF THE PAYMENT AND CALL ME ON PHONE THAT YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVE THE LUGGAGE AND THEN I WILL BE FLYING TO DUBAI THE NEXT DAY TO MEET YOU TO THE FINAL STAGE I WILL COMPENSATE YOU WITH 20% OF THE MONEY INSIDE THE LUGGAGE BUT PLEASE DON'T DISCUS OR TELL ANY BODY THIS , ITS JUST A SECRET OF MY LIFE COS THE MONEY IS ABOUT $16.5 MILLION US

DOLLAR SO DON'T EVER TELL ANY ONE ABOUT THIS STORY I TOLD YOU , ITS A SECRET AND STORY OF MY LIFE.YAHOO EMAIL

(IF YOU DO YOU HAVE YAHOO EMAIL ADDRESS OR HOT MAIL ADDRESS YOU CAN ADD TO ME TO YOUR YAHOO MESSENGER SO THAT WE CAN CHAT WITH WEB CAM AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL I AM VERY REAL AND MY STORY IS VERY REAL SO DON'T DOUBT ME COS I AM HERE WITH FULL TRUST AND DIGNITY .(suzanne.geyster@yahoo.com.)

I am Looking lovers and friends. Somebody kind and caring. Somebody that I can talk to. A man that isn't afraid to share his feelings. Somebody who will be happy to just spend time with me. A man that will love me for who I am and not who she wants me to be. Someone who likes the simple things in life. A man that can love me as who i am .i am Caring, Faithful, Loyal, Truthful, Loving, Generous, Goals Achiever, Honest, Spiritual oriented, Future driven, Confidential, Understands the ups and downs of life, committed to relationship, Visionary, Conservative, Passionate, Romantic, sexy and loving, I am a very warm and fun loving person. I am very close to my family and friends. I enjoy all kinds of sports, I love to travel and enjoy learning about all the different cultures our world has to offer. People tell me I am a great listener, I am always interested in what someone has to say. I have a good sense of humor and enjoy giving a good laugh. I'm a good cook, I can prepare delicious meals like fried rice with

IF YOU DO YOU HAVE YAHOO EMAIL ADDRESS OR HOT MAIL ADDRESS YOU CAN ADD TO ME TO YOUR YAHOO MESSENGER SO THAT WE CAN CHAT WITH WEB CAM AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL I AM VERY REAL AND MY STORY IS VERY REAL SO DON'T DOUBT ME COS I AM HERE WITH FULL TRUST AND DIGNITY .(suzanne.geyster@yahoo.com.)

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section http://www.smellphishy.com/

Now Emails from your friends are suspect

2011-05-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

If your friend sends you an email that seems out of character (i.e. a short blurb and a link ) DO NOT CLICK. Someone has farmed your friends email address book and are attempting to do the same to you.

Here is an example of such an email:

It works really well. It's the best thing since sliced bread!... http://ideartegrafico.net/friends_links.php?heID=18ty

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Don't let them steal your gmail account

2011-04-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

Here's the phish letter I have been receiving:

Dear Gmail User ,
your two incoming mails were placed on pending status due to the recent upgrade to our database,In order to recieve the messages Click here. (link removed) to login and wait for responds from Gmail. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Regards,Gmail Team.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Visa Inc?

2011-03-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

This is strangely vague, and definately a SCAM

At Visa Inc. , we take the job of protecting our customers very seriously, so for your protection we are proactively notifying you of this activity. We are contacting you to inform you that certain restrictions has been placed on your credit/debit card possibly due to the last payment made by you. remove all restrictions below now.

Online VISA Log on

If you have any questions, or need any further information please contact your local branch.

Thanks again for using Visa .

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Five New Scams for 2011

2011-01-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

1. Scholarship scams (you don't have to pay for scholarship information)
2. Online Dating scams (individuals will contact you thought the dating site, ask you to take the conversation off the site, and then coerce you to wire them money.
3. Ponzi schemes... still alive and well... people will contact you through churches and other places where you feel safe and ask for investment money(affinity scams)
4. Smishing and vishing. phishing scams over text messages and voice internet protocol.
5. Unemployment scams: Don't pay anyone for a list of jobs.

Please watch the video.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Beware of Health Insurance Quote Information

2011-01-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

If you didn't solicit it, delete the email. following any links could cause viruses or theft of information.

Healthy and Happy - Affordable Health Insurance

Health Insurance Solutions for (my email)

Find great rates on health insurance, save big, shop here.
(http://circusjet.com/

4p02zkglyc86z6y)

You could save hundreds on health insurance. Get a quote:
(http://circusjet.com/qwj6vtvnu2n2vei)

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

USAA account PHISH

2010-11-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

I know this email is a PHISH email for the reason that the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) offers banking, investing, and insurance to people and families that serve, or served, in the US Military. I am neither in the military, nor have such and account for any reason. If you get this email and/or have responded to it by clicking the link in the email, you need to immediately change your account access information. The phish email is below:

Dear USAA client,

You have received this email because you or someone had used your account from different locations.For security purpose, we are required to open an investigation into this matter.

In order to safeguard your account, we require that you confirm your banking details.

The help speeed up to this process, please access the following link so we ca complete the verification of your USAA Account registration information.

*http://1135971833/index-internet-savings.usaa.com.html(do-not-follow)

If we do no receive the appropriate account verification within 48 hours, then we will assume this USAA account is fraudulent and will be suspended.

The purpose of this verification is to ensure that your bank account has not been fraudulently used and to combat the fraud from our community. We appreciate your support and understanding and thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Email accounts under attack

2010-10-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

I have been getting emails from a friend and knew it was spam so I ignored it. Today, I realized that the same spammer got hold of my email information and is sending out emails to all of my friends. '

Emails may read Excelent drugstore! Try it! (email)

or...

Hello friend,

Everything goes well. I buy a handbag and a pairs of Nike shoes from website (link) 5 days ago and got it today. It is really very nice and so fast. The price is also very best .They are almost the same with the original ones. Any assistance on prices or other problems you can free to them ! The payment way via paypal, the safe for us.

I did not click on any links but my email was still violated.

I changed my password, but the damage was probably already done. They farmed my account for email addresses and are using my email address to cover their fraudulent address. Fortunately, this is my Spam/Phish email. It is the email I put in forms so all the junk mail does not go to my real account... I used it actively in the past, which is the only reason they were able to get me friends' names.

To let my friends know not to open such emails, I sent emails out to all of my friends saying don't open emails from this address, plus I set a 3 month vacation response to the email account in question explaining that the account has been hit by a spammer.

If you have had this happen to you, change your password and consider changing your email account and setting an auto vacation responder on the account.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Facebook Password scam warning

2010-09-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

If you get an e-mail telling you your Facebook password has been changed and a new one Is attached, delete it immediatel!

See full article from WalletPop: http://srph.it/bftKnO

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

You can get scammed through a personal connection

2010-09-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this scam hit so close to home.

A person close to me was offered a high end laptop for a low price through someone they had worked with for years. Because they felt they knew the person, they felt safe.

Now the questions asked to the person who took them up on the deal was:

Are you sure this is legal?
Doesn't this sound too good to be true?
Could these computers be stolen?

Because of the personal connection, this person felt safe and went through with the deal and decided to purchase 2 computers.

The computers were delivered and cash exchanged hands. Dummy computers where in the box. $1000.00 was lost.

How could this happen?

1. The deal was too good to be true.
2. Friend of friends, are not necessarily trustworthy.
3. Money exchanged hands before the unit was opened and powered on. The scammer make it a point to drop off the units when they knew the victim would be rushed and so they could drop it off and run.
4. Even if it was a good deal, this was not the honest and legal way to purchase a NEW computer. Even if they received the computers they expected the chance of it being stolen was very HIGH. Morally, the deal should have been turned down, and none of this would have happened.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Don't open the attachment

2010-09-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

The following email is offering a loan that I did not solicit. It has an attachment. It could very well contain a virus. Don't reply to loan offers that you did not solicit and always beware of attachments that come with it. In addition, it is likely that the bank name was lifted from a real company. I wouldn't be surprised.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

iPad Promotion - Due to the great success of this program, we have extended
our promotion again.

Finance or Refer any customer who leases equipment through Benchmark and you
will receive a free iPad*

*         Benchmark is a Direct Lender in all 50 States
*         Quick Response - As little as 2 hour credit decisions
     Start-Up's to $100,000
*         Application Only up to $150,000
     A-B & C Credits

     Call us for a free quote today

*Lease/Loan must exceed $17,500. You must mention this promotion when
submitting the application to qualify. Offer expires 11/1/10

To be removed from future emails, please reply with "unsubscribe"

Patrick Davis   Benchmark Financial Groups, LLC.
Director of Marketing   65 Enterprise
Office: (949) 716-2100 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Toll Free: (800) 680-3946
Fax: (949) 716-2101
pdavis@benchmarkfingrp.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Job email scam with professional looking email signiature

2010-09-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

The first half of the email looks like a typical job email scam... the second half might make you look again just because of the signature line that makes it look like it came from a major corporation or lawfirm. Don't be fooled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good Day To You,

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Mr Tse Joseph W.Y and I work with a Bank in Hong Kong.I got your contact from the online web directory and I am contacting you because I have a discreet business suggestion which I would like you to handle with me by assisting me execute the business from Hong Kong to your country.Please If interested, contact me confidentialy by my private email(tse.joe1965@yahoo.com.hk) for more details. I patiently await your response.

Tse Joseph W.Y

This electronic mail message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. To the best of our ability and knowledge, this mail message has been scanned and is free of viruses and malware.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Now they just send teasers to try to get you interested

2010-09-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

Here's one such email:

This information comes from the Director of Wing Lung Bank with business proposal of $12.5m USD,Contact Dr.Philp po-him Wu for full details Email: philipwuo@live.com

Just delete it.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Inheritance Scam

2010-08-27T20:45:00.001-07:00

Final Notification from Dr. Michael Miller

Greetings,

This message will be the last notification that I will send to you as my earlier letters to you through Post Office was returned undelivered.Hence
I decided to reach you via email because this information needs urgent attention.

I'm contacting you because you bear the same surname with our deceased client who died in 2005, and the management of my bank have issued me a
notice to provide an extended next of kin of the deceased or have the account confiscated within the next 14 ban king days.

I am the Telex Department manager of my bank and also the personal account officer to the deceased, and I will be disappointed if thelabour of my
deceased client is confiscated.

So kindly get back to me with any of your identification for appraisal.

Regards,

Dr. Michael Miller

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If someone had an inheritance for you, they wouldn't communicate it via email .

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Financial Agent Jobs

2010-08-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

Please don't fall for this.

Here is the email:
My Name is Eiji Hayashida, President & CEO of JFE Steel Corporation

Due to the increase in demand of our products in North and South America continent, we decided to move our products fully into the continent of America. We are searching for reliable persons/companies who will act as our FINANCIAL AGENT in collecting funds owed to us by Our delinquent Customers within your jurisdiction.You can work part time and you need no prior experience. Please advice if you are interested in handling this position

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emails like this are designed to steal your personal information or to get you to defraud others on their behalf. Beware.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Classic Nigerian Email Scam goes Chinese

2010-08-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

I got a kick our of this one as they are sending me a neck rub and not a letter... see bold below:

This massage is highly classified AND very Confidential.
Dear Friend,

I am Mr.Wong Shim a Fund Manager with KASIKORN BANK PLC,BANGKOK(KINGDOM OF THAILAND) My position has made me to have access to classified files and products that can help you if you are in one way or the other interested in South East Asia business connections.

In April 2006,Lu Yunpeng, a multimillionaire and president of Henan-based Yunpeng Cultural Development Co Ltd China moved £18.7 Million pounds through our online system from England.The fund arrived in South East Asia during the time Lu Yunpeng was been tried for murder in China. As his account officer he instructed that I should put a hold on the fund that was supposed to go to China pending on the outcome of his trial.

In May 2006 he was sentenced to death and the fund remained unclaimed till date. As his account officer I was aware that nobody knows about this fund movement except his cousin who was also sentenced to death with him.

Please see: http://en.ce.cn/National/Local/200605/18/t20060518_7005764.shtml

I want to utilize this opportunity and make use of this fund. I want to work with you on it.There is no risk attached and the funds in question can never be dictated or traced. Our sharing ratio is 60:40. (60 for me 40 for you) If you are interested, reply back and let’s benefit from this golden opportunity.

Please reply and send your direct telephone numbers to me for a smooth discussion of this transaction in further details. Please, if you are not interested or see this mail as a scam or hoax simply delete it and forget I ever contacted you. If after 72 hours I didn't hear from you I will assume you are not interested, and then I will proceed to look for someone else that might be interested to work with me. This is a clean and straight forward bank deal, it is safe and risk-free, as I have taken care of all necessary steps to ensure a hitch-free movement.

Sincerely,
Mr.Wong Shim
~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Warning about Car Interest Rates... getting scammed by dealerships

2010-08-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

I just saw a news story about dealerships having every right to pull a bait and switch deal when it comes to getting financing for your car.

Here's the deal: If you buy a car and drive it off the lot the same day, your deal is not complete... your interest rate is not set. The dealership can claim that a credit issue means a higher interest rate and change the deal.

Here's is what you can do:

1. Slow down. Let the car sit on the lot until the deal is complete with the interest rate set... it can take up to a week.

2. Get financing from a credit union (or buy cash). This way you get the financing you want and the car you want for the price you want.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Winnings From the Google giveaway board

2010-06-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

This is an attempt to steal your personal information.... so not respond:

You won £ 500,000.00GBP. (CGPN):7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number:
00869575733664, Serial numbers:/BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky
numbers:12-12-23-35-40-41(12). Contact Mr. Graham Benfield, E-mail:
grahamsbenfield57@gmail.com

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

When legit companies give you the run-around

2010-05-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

I am only a mite off topic today, but I have to vent. I spent 2 hours today trying to chase down my morning paper. As a customer of Charter Communications in my local area, I am also supposed to get a local newspaper delivery everyday. (This is specific to my location, and not a nationwide thing.)

Anyway, after paying my bill this morning and seeing my online receipt, I was reminded of the fact that I am supposed to get a daily paper. Meanwhile, I see a paper 3X month... at most, I may get a full week out of a month... this is unacceptable.

I attempted to speak to people at Charter to no avail. I spent 2 hours calling customer service (an 866 number giving me foreign operators) who didn't know what I was talking about. They finally told me I had to drive to the local office to get it straightened out in person... not my idea of a good time.

So I continued to attempt to reach the local office by phone or email. Guess what.. it is not possible. They don't have a local contact number unless you are trying to reach a specific person and know who you are looking for, and you can't even get that number through the website. I tried an online chat which was dropped. I tried emailing the CEO... it bounced back. Charter Communication has NO way to reach a real person that you can escalate an issue to. UGH!

Finally, I decided to call the newspaper service itself and resolved the issue in a few minutes. The carrier has been alerted that we want our paper daily and will report them if we don't get it and all is good in the world.

Or is it? I am still pretty burned up that there is no way to reach anyone at the local charter office without driving to the location and waiting online to talk to someone at the counter. It seems to me that they purposely make it difficult to resolve issues hoping customers will give up. Meanwhile, there are people all over my county not getting their agreed upon paper, and they have little recourse to address it.

This is just sad. If the whole racket isn't a little phishy, I don't know what is. Search Amazon.com Kindle Store for

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Copywrite infringement letter scam

2010-05-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

This is similar to the lawsuit/possible scam email of a couple of months ago. The only difference is that they don't include the name of a lawsuit in the scam. It is very likely a worm or virus. Don't click.

FYI... if you were infringing one someone's work, they would use your name and more personal information that you would recognize.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To whom it may concern,
It has come to our attention that you have made an unauthorized use of my copyrighted work
in the preparation of a work derived therefrom. We have reserved all rights in the Work,
which was first published in 2008, and we have registered the copyright.

The copyrighted images which appear on your web site, are essentially identical to the Work and clearly used
the Work as its basis.
You neither asked for nor received permission to use the Work as the basis for it nor to make or
distribute copies of it. Therefore, we believe you have willfully infringed our rights under 17 USC Section 101,
et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as $100,000.

I demand that you immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing works
derived from the Work, and all copies of it, and that you deliver to us all unused,
undistributed copies of it, or destroy such copies immediately, and that you desist from
this or any other infringement of my rights in the future. If we have not received an affirmative
response from you by 10/05/2010 indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements,
we will be taking the full legal remedies available to rectify this situation.

Please view the attached file for a copy of the suit documents.

Sincerely,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

The Nigerian Scams Never Stop (with name abuse)

2010-05-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

Good day to you,

I came upon your contact information on the internet today
and wish to let you know about an opportunity that came up
in the bank where I work. When I hear from you and be sure
we can work together in a mutual way, I will then give you
more details of the deal.

I like you to know that this is about an opportunity that
just came up in the bank where I work and I need a partner
that will be trustworthy,working for our collective interest
while I guide you and use my position in the bank to
facilitate the whole process to our advantage.

My name is Mr. John Garrett and you will know more about me
when I hear from you and please do reply immediately because
time is of essence.No breach of the law in the entire process.
You can contact me on this email address: jgarrett009@gmail.com

God Bless you and thankyou

John Garrett

(*Note, I am sure this is not the Comedian John Garrett, or the British Politician,or the photographer, but instead someone who chose to use a name that sounded American or British.)

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

Scam-ish and Phishy Jobs for College Students

2010-05-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just wrote this article for AOL on jobs college students should avoid.

"Summer is nearly here and many students will be taking temporary or seasonal jobs. But beware positions promising travel and easy money. Tempting as it may be to hang out with others your age and see the country, many of these jobs may end up costing you money and in extreme cases, can even put you in peril."

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Please help get the word out.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section www.smellphishy.com

There has been a change to your 2010 credit report

2010-04-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Don't click the link in such an email. First of all, there is no such thing as a 2010 credit report... it is a credit report... period.

Second, since I never purchased a credit report online, then I should not have been receiving a notice about a credit report change.

If you find an email about a credit report change notice delete it... don't go poking about. You could upload an information stealing virus if you click the link.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Fake BBB email

2010-04-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

Beware of an email from the address seatac@bbb.org with the subject line “BBB Complaint Case #” followed by a nine-digit number. The email claims the company didn’t respond to a complaint filed by a Jason Harlow (other names may have been used as well) and includes a link to a page at www.ca-bbb.org, where the business can supposedly review the complaint.

Read full story here

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Free Ipad? Not likely.

2010-04-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

I have heard of Ipad's definitely being one in a contest, but there are no legitimate mass give-aways based on you testing it to get it for free... they already know it works.

Tech Web site GeekSugar.com recently warned about spam e-mails requesting product testers for the iPad. The e-mail directs to the Web site Testitandkeepit.com which claims that they are looking for people to test the iPad for a couple months, as compensation you get to keep the iPad. The biggest red flag with this offer is that you have to provide your e-mail address and password in order to “tell your friends.” Read more

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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IRS Warns of convincing internet scam

2010-04-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

The IRS is now warning about scams that really could mess with a person's identity, if they fall victim... the e-mails look frighteningly like our own," said Kris Schmuhl, a customer service specialist at the Internal Revenue Service...

these "phishing" schemes are popular this time of year but that this is one of the more sophisticated versions she's seen...

The fake form, called a 1042-W, asks for all sort of sensitive information -- like a person's bank account number, PIN number, Social Security number and even a copy of their passport. It then instructs the person to fax it to a number.

Read the Full Story Here

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Twitter caims to have reduced spam

2010-04-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

Twitter boasted that the number of daily junk tweets and blatant spam profiles have been reduced to almost one percent. In a blog posted Tuesday Twitter displayed a graph that spans from February 2009 to February 2010 showing the rise and fall of garbage tweets clogging the micro-blogging site.

Read more here:

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Sorry, Ikea is not giving away $1000 gift cards.

2010-03-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Have a Facebook pal dangling before you the unbelievable opportunity to get a $1,000 gift card by being among the first (you fill in the blank) fans? Don't do it. Read more at WalletPop.com

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Don't get yourself implicated in an IRS Fraud

2010-03-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

There are fraudulent tax preparers out there who will trick you or encourage you to cheat the IRS for their benefit.

Types of fraud include Return preparer fraud where they skim a portion of your return and charge inflated fees.

Misleading or false claims, preparers urge you to fill out a 100 Original Issue Discount (OID) form claiming false withholding credits, will get you in hot water down the line.

Frivilous arguments or outlandish claims where they try to convince you to disobey IRS laws.

Retirement plan abuse where taxpayers are encouraged to shift appreciated assets at less-than-fair market value into IRAs.

Fuel tax claims that are excessive is also considered fraud.

Find out about scams IRS is expecting here.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Your Computer is Infected

2010-03-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

If you have seen a popup warning you that your computer has a virus, close the browser immediately. According to PC World, "Victims reportedly receive ads warning them of the existence of threatening viruses and/or illegal content allegedly found on the victim's computer. When victims click on the fake pop-ups, malicious code is downloaded. Victims are directed to purchase antivirus software to repair their computers, but in some instances this resulted in viruses, Trojans, or keyloggers downloaded onto their computers."

Read The 5 Toughest Internet Scams to find out more about this and other serious internet scams.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Don't get your facebook password stolen!

2010-03-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

If you see the following email:

Hey [user's name],

Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your password has been changed. You can find your new password in attached document.

Do not click the link! Your password will be stolen.

More from the SciTechBlog at CNN

Thanks,

The Facebook Team.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Census Scams

2010-03-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Census forms have been mailed out to be filled out by the population of the US. If you don't send it back, you will likely be contacted by a Cencus worker, who will knock on your door.

You may also get other solicitations, but they are not legitimate.

From the Census Bureau:

‘Phishing’ is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, social security numbers, bank account or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is typically carried out by email and it often directs users to enter sensitive information at a fake web site whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.

Other Scams:

The Census Bureau does NOT conduct the 2010 Census via the Internet

The Census Bureau does not send emails about participating in the 2010 Census

The Census Bureau never:

Asks for your full social security number

Asks for money or a donation

Sends requests on behalf of a political party

Requests PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

How to report scams and bogus Census web sites

If you believe you have been contacted as part of bogus or fraudulent activity falsely representing the Census Bureau:

In Person Scam

Check for a valid Census ID badge

Call your regional office to verify you are in a survey

Email Scams

If you think it is a bogus email, do not reply or click on any links within the email.

Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer

Forward the email or web site URL to the Census Bureau at ITSO.Fraud.Reporting@census.gov.

After you forward the email to us, delete the message. You will not receive a confirmation email after forwarding the information to us. However, the Census Bureau will investigate the information and notify you of its findings.

Mail Scams

Contact the United States Postal Inspection Service”

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Unexpected money from Western Union?

2010-03-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

Don't believe it

There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER NIGERIA, the sum
of 1,000,000.00 USD was credited to file number KTU/9023118308/0324
directed in cash,your email address was tagged the owner. confirm reciept
by sending your name,address,age, phone number to Mr Eddy
James.(Email:transfer_wunionfund1@live.com)

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Classic Nigerian Scam from Daughter of "Car Bomb Victim"

2010-03-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR CIVIL SERVICE,
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.

Our ref: ATM/13470/IDR
Your ref:...Date: 12/03/2010

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

I am The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP,Prime Minister British Government. This
letter is to officially inform you that (ATM Card Number 048000101775550)
has been accredited in your favor. Your Personal Identification Number is
477.

The VISA Card Value is £100,000.00(One Hundred Thousand Great British
Pounds Sterling).

This office will send to you an Visa/ATM CARD that you will use to withdraw
your funds in any ATM MACHINE CENTER or Visa card outlet close to you with
a maximum of £5000 GBP daily.Further more,You will be required to
re-confirm the following information to enable;The Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office. begin in processing of your VISA
CARD.

(1)Full names: (2)Address: (3)Country:(4) City :(5)Phone #:
(6)Age:(7)Occupation: (8) Post Codes: (9)Nationality:

Forward Reply To:

Email: atmcard.dept@info.al
Tel: +44 702 407 3761

TAKE NOTICE: That you are warned to stop further communications with any
other person(s) or office(s) different from the staff of the State for
Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs to avoid hitches in receiving your payment.

Also you will be required to offset the Courier delivery payment of £ 120
Great British Pounds for the immediate delivery of your Visa/ATM card and
it will get to your Residential Address within 24 Hours

Note that it is never in our policy to collect payments from clients but
due to the September 11th 2001 crisis in America, it has become imperative
that large pay out/funds in and out of United Kingdom be notarized from the
source to properly differentiate them from
money-laundry/terrorist-sponsoring and drug-related funds.

Regards,

The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
Prime Minister

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Prime Minister sending a loaded debit card? Not likely

2010-03-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR CIVIL SERVICE,
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.

Our ref: ATM/13470/IDR
Your ref:...Date: 12/03/2010

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

I am The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP,Prime Minister British Government. This
letter is to officially inform you that (ATM Card Number 048000101775550)
has been accredited in your favor. Your Personal Identification Number is
477.

The VISA Card Value is £100,000.00(One Hundred Thousand Great British
Pounds Sterling).

This office will send to you an Visa/ATM CARD that you will use to withdraw
your funds in any ATM MACHINE CENTER or Visa card outlet close to you with
a maximum of £5000 GBP daily.Further more,You will be required to
re-confirm the following information to enable;The Rt Hon David Miliband MP
Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office. begin in processing of your VISA
CARD.

(1)Full names: (2)Address: (3)Country:(4) City :(5)Phone #:
(6)Age:(7)Occupation: (8) Post Codes: (9)Nationality:

Forward Reply To:

Email: atmcard.dept@info.al
Tel: +44 702 407 3761

TAKE NOTICE: That you are warned to stop further communications with any
other person(s) or office(s) different from the staff of the State for
Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs to avoid hitches in receiving your payment.

Also you will be required to offset the Courier delivery payment of £ 120
Great British Pounds for the immediate delivery of your Visa/ATM card and
it will get to your Residential Address within 24 Hours

Note that it is never in our policy to collect payments from clients but
due to the September 11th 2001 crisis in America, it has become imperative
that large pay out/funds in and out of United Kingdom be notarized from the
source to properly differentiate them from
money-laundry/terrorist-sponsoring and drug-related funds.

Regards,

The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
Prime Minister
~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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If you were really a beneficiary, you would have been invited to the funeral

2010-03-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

This Is Our Last Notice To You. We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of US$18,500,000.00 Dollars in the intent of the deceased (name now withheld since this is our second letter to you). We contacted you because you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance since there is no written will. Our legal services aim to provide our private clients with a complete service. We are happy to prepare Wills, set-up and administer Trusts, carry out the Administration Of Estates and prepare and administer Powers Of Attorney. All the papers will be processed in your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance, your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money in your favour. Yours faithfully, Alex Wong

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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ipad Testers Wanted... Don't fall for it.

2010-03-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

I just got an email that said,

TESTERS·WANTED: Test the New Apple iPad

I sacrificially opened the email to find a link that said Please Enable images here.... Uh-uh I thought. This is as far as I go. My Phishy senses were a-tingling.

I thought it would be safer to surf the net for more info on iPad testing. Here is what I found.

Apple iPad scam hits Facebook
A new scam is targeting Facebook users keen to try out Apple's new iPad, due to go officially on sale later this month, and in April for the 3G model.

Facebook Users warned of Apple iPad scam
Thousands in the United Kingdom and USA have already been tricked into signing up for a premium rate mobile phone service when, in truth, they thought they were registering to beta-test Apple's latest product. The Facebook pages have names such as "iPad Researchers Wanted - Get An iPad Early And Keep It!" and "The Mega iPad Giveaway!"

Free iPad: Fake Free Apple iPad Scams to Avoid at All Costs
The iPad will retail for as little as $499.99 (half of the expected price), but some hopeful iPad lovers believe they can get the iPad for less - less as in free. There are many iPad scammers that are using the free iPad scam to fraud and scam consumers.

You have been warned!
~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Beware of Jobs you did not apply for

2010-03-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

... and if they start by calling you beloved.. that's really trouble

Dear Beloved,
How are you.I hope this email will meet you good heaith
My name is Mrs. Maria Bejes I am a dying woman who has decided to donate
what I have to charities through you. You may be wondering why I chose
you.But someone has to be chosen. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed
forcancer about 2 years ago, after the death of my husband who had left me
everything he worked for. I have been touched by the Lord to donate from
what I have inherited from my late husband to charity through you for the
good work of humanity, rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's
hard earned funds inappropriately.

I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the
task is accomplished, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last
wish, due to the fact that I do not want relatives or family members
standing in the way of my last wish. If you ready to carry on this task
reply to: email address:bejesbejesn@aim.com

God bless you and your family.
Mrs.Maria Bejes
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBER ON YOUR REPLY
FOR EASY AND IMMEDIATE COMMUNICATION WITH MY CONSULTANT.Reply me via this
email address:bejesbejesn@aim.com

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Winnings?

2010-03-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

People who play lotteries online might be fooled by this, but you cannot win something you did not enter.

FROM: GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED LOTTERY PROMOTERS.
82 VICTORIA STREET VICTORIA LONDON SW1 UK.
Tel: +44 702 405 1537
Tel: +44 702 307 7897

NOTIFICATION OF WINNING

We are pleased to inform you of the release, of the recent results of the
FREELOTTO INTERNATIONAL EMAIL PROMOTION PROGRAM held on the 29th
January,2010.You were entered as dependent clients with: Referenace Serial
Number: F2-003-036 and Batch numberFR/45-300-07. Your email address
attached to the ticket number: 4-20-17-52-34-30 that draw the lucky
winning number, which consequently won the Daily Jackpot in the first
category,in four parts. You have been approved for a payment of
$2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State Dollars) in cash credited to file
reference number: TFR/9900034943/JPT. All participants for the online
version were selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer
draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associatons and
co-oporate bodies that are listed online.This email promotion takes place
every month.Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our
European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play
co upon. In view of this, your $2,000,000.00 (Two Million United State
Dollars) would be released to you by our payment office in The London.
*********************************************
To file for your claim, please contact your fudiciary agent immediately
via the email below:
Mr.Richard Smith
(Freelotto Fiduciary Agent)
Email :contactfreelottodpt@y7mail.com
Tel: +44 702 405 1537
Tel: +44 702 307 7897
********************************************
Once again congratulations...
Cordially,
Mr.Robert Hans
Online Co-ordinator
FREE LOTTO EMAIL PROMO
Sweepstakes International Program.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Classic Nigerian Email Scam

2010-03-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

Do people really still fall for this

Dearest,

I am writing following an opportunity in my office here in Allied Irish Bank that will be of immense benefit to both of us. One of our accounts with balance of US$10.6M has been dormant and has not been operated for years.

From my investigations the owner of this account died in testate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with the bank or aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds.

I contact you independently of this investigation, I can place you in position to instruct the firm to release the deposite to you because the amount was mearnt for you to assist the deceased to invest it on a business deal you both signed longtime ago.

Upon receipt of the deposit, I am prepared to share the money with you. Opportunities only come ones in a lifetime. I cannot let this chance pass me by, for once, I have found myself in total control of my destiny.

There is a reward for this project and it is a task well worth undertaking. I have evaluated the risks and the only risk I have here is from you refusing to work with me.

Good fortune has blessed you and I. If you are willing for us to share this together kindly get back to me as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Derek Burke

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Watch your taxi meter

2010-03-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

Being from NY, I know how taxi drivers love to take advantage of people from out of town who don't have knowledge of how much a fare should cost.

Nearly 36,000 taxi drivers overcharged passengers on 1.8 million trips within the city by switching their rates to reflect rides that command higher prices, to places like Kennedy and Newark airports, Long Island and Westchester, the Daily News reported.

Read more:

It looks like technology will be used to stop these actions.
~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

http://www.smellphishy.com/

Lawsuit scam/ possible worm

2010-03-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

I got this email with an attachment that I knew better than trying to open... This is why your "view as html" button is important... never click the download button without first checking it out. Anyway, here is the email: '

Update: I set up this blog so that people can quickly check to see if emails they are sent are legitimate or not. I want to expose the crooks, not the innocent people whose names are used. With that said, I want to direct you to the 28th comment from the law firm whose name is used in the letter below. They are not the perpetrators, but also victims in this scheme.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

March 12, 2010
Crosby & Higgins
(Note: this Lawfirms name is being used, they did not actually send out the letter)
350 Broadway, Suite 300
New York, NY 10013

To Whom It May Concern:

Enclosed is a copy of the lawsuit that I filed against you in court on March 11, 2010.
Currently the Pretrail Conference is scheduled for April 10th, 2010 at
9:30 A.M. in courtroom #33.
The case number is 3485934. The reason the lawsuit was filed was due to a completely inadequate
response from your company for copyright infrigement that our client Lumberton Trading Company is a victim of.
Lumberton Trading Company has proof of multiple Copyright Law violations that they wish to present
in court on April 10th, 2010.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Crosby
Crosby & Higgins LLP~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

How to Avoid Disaster Donation Scams

2010-03-03T07:56:00.000-08:00

Unscrupulous people can take advantage of this generosity(of people wanting to help after major disasters), as seen in the weeks after the 2004 tsunami with reports of rampant donation scams. Criminals tried to capitalize on the disaster by creating fraudulent web sites, addresses, and even paraphernalia for their fabricated charity organizations. Read more of this ehow.com article

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

False rumors circulating regarding free flights to Haiti

2010-01-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

People who could have been actually helping the plight in Haiti spent time circulating rumors on Twitter... Well meaning people help them spread.

Twitter was buzzing Thursday morning with news that several airlines are flying doctors and nurses to Haiti free of charge to help with relief efforts there in the wake of Tuesday's devastating earthquake.

(read full article)

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Paypal scam: Don't click the link!

2010-01-07T21:11:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest paypal scheme. Never click a link on such an email no matter how urgently you may want to and how real it may seem. Open a new window and check out your email account instead. My main clue that this was fake... it went to the wrong email account. My Paypal emails go to a different email address. The email included the lifted paypal logo but it was a bit fuzzy. If you were to actually click the link, it woudl take you to sign in page that looks like paypal, but it set up to steal your paypal account information.

This email confirms that you have sent an eBay payment of $795.55USD tolcharlestodd.43@yahoo.com for an eBay item using PayPal.
Payment Details
Transaction ID:
3H8UYF7440ODHZ447
Item Price:
$795.55USD
Total:
$795.55USD
Order Description:
ELEGANT GUCCI WATCH
Item/Product Number:
(248637441952)
Note: If you haven't authorized this charge ,click the link below to dispute transaction and get full refund (deleted link )(Encrypted Link ) *SSL connection: PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information in transit from your computer to ours using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available)
Item Information
eBay User ID:
lcharlestodd43
Name:
Charles Todd III
Address:
504 Osage Drive
City:
Leander, TX 78641
State:
United StatesImportant Note: Cheryl Blake has provided an Unconfirmed Address. If you are planning on shipping items to Cheryl Blake, please check the Transaction Details page of this payment to find out whether you will be covered by the PayPal Seller Protection Policy.
If your email program has problems with hypertext links, then you may also confirm your email address by logging into your PayPal account at. On your My Account page you will find a "Confirm Your Email Address" link. Click on this link and enter the following confirmation number:9853-7412-5233-8856-1227 Thank you for using PayPal!
FOR INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS ONLY
Commissions and Fees incurred by sender: $0.00Rate of Exchange: The above exchange rate includes a 2.5% spread above the wholesale exchange rate at which PayPal obtains foreign currency, and the spread is retained by PayPal. If and when the Recipient chooses to withdraw these funds from the PayPal System, and if the withdrawal involves acurrency conversion, the Recipient will convert the funds at the applicable currency exchange rate at the time of the withdrawal, and the Recipient may incur a withdrawal fee.RIGHT TO REFUNDYou, the customer, are entitled to a refund of the money to be transmitted as a result of this agreement if PayPal does not forward the money received from you within 10 days of the date of its receipt, or does not give instructions committing an equivalent amount of money to the person designated by you within 10 days of the date of the receipt of the funds from you unless otherwise instructed by you.
Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response.
PayPal Email id. 87HH3R0

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Be Cautious About Giving Informaton to Census Workers

2010-01-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Census is in progress. There will be scammers who try to take advantage of this. Here is a warning from the Better Business Bureau:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a hand held device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice.

Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

** Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information.

Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL

THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS..

Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Skype phish message

2009-12-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

I have been getting the following message through my skype account:

URGENT SYSTEM SCAN NOTIFICATION ! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY !!

http://www.updatezv.org/

For the link to become active, please click on 'Add to contacts' skype button or type it in manually into your web browser !

FULL DETAILS OF SCAN RESULT BELOW
****************************************

WINDOWS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

ATTENTION ! Security Center has detected
malware on your computer !

Affected Software:

Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Impact of Vulnerability: Remote Code Execution / Virus Infection /
Unexpected shutdowns

Recommendation: Users running vulnerable version should install a repair utility immediately

Your system IS affected, download the patch from the address below !
Failure to do so may result in severe computer malfunction.

http://www.updatezv.org/

For the link to become active, please click on 'Add to contacts' skype button or type it in manually into your web browser!

I googled it and found the following as well as other warnings:

this is a spam message.

Messages stating you to have security issues and suggesting you to go to some security site are 99% fake.

Please ingore the message and report it in Skype as abuse.

We will then act on this user.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Phishy Ebay Email

2009-12-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

If you get an email that looks like this:

Dear member,

eBay member, has indicated that they already paid for #160339521812.

Review payment details (deleted link)

Thank you,

eBay

The first thing you have to do is notice the problems with it.
1. Dear member.... Ebay will always use your actual membername.
2. Ebay would never write such a short letter.
3. Right click on the link and click properties... this will tell you the link leads to somewhere other than Ebay.
4. Ebay has a large email footer with lots of disclaimers and such.

The second thing you have to do is Not Click the Link. If you think there is any validity to such an email, close the email, go to EBay and look at your account to see if there is an issue.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

http://www.smellphishy.com/

When Cancel means Accept you can end up with sypware

2009-11-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

This article is an important must-read:

Sometimes a cancel button isn't a cancel button at all. While it's possible to tell the difference, it's not always easy. At first blush they're very, very similar. In fact, if you saw either one without the other to compare to, you might never even question it.
"It may look like there are "Yes" and "No" buttons, but in fact the page could be authored in such a way that both mean yes ..."

But question it you should, because that's exactly what spyware authors are counting on.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Do not purchase a lottery ticket from a stranger

2009-11-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

A local woman lost 3000 in a lottery ticket scam. She had a couple approach her claiming they had won 50,000 dollars but were illegal immigrants and could not claim the ticket. They talked her out of 3000 dollar in exchange for the bogus lottery ticket.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

If a "proposal" is confidential, it is probably a scam

2009-10-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

You're invited to: CONFIDENCIAL PROPOSAL
By your host: Abdou Wahil

Date: Tuesday October 27, 2009
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (GMT +00:00)
Location: I am .Mr Abdou Wahil. acountant in BANK OF AFRICA .B.O.A OF BURKINA FASO as I want to tranfer the amount of ($6.millions dollars us) to foreign country. if you are interested to receive the fund reply me immidiatly so that i will give you the details of procedure .first i am asuring you that no any risk over it .and your gain will be 30 % of the 6.millions usd .if you will be able to help me for this transaction reply me immidiatly thanks

Notice the multiple typos?... another dead givaway!

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

They fool the best of us

2009-10-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

A phishing scam that claims to be connected to the I.R.S. looks like the real thing. Just ask our own Chris Minor.

"It looked real", said the veteran newswoman. "It didn't look like the Nigerian scam, you know, it looked real. I was hoping it wasn't real but I just wanted to make sure because you don't want to make the I.R.S. mad right?"

The e-mail claimed she had unreported and underreported income to deal with and asked to click on a link. The address even included irs.gov". The site linked to the e-mail was a dead ringer for the official I.R.S. site but it's a phony looking to phish your important information.

Read full story here

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Operation Phish Phry

2009-10-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

In what it is calling Operation Phish Phry, the FBI began arresting 53 people last week on charges of conducting a vast financial fraud based on phishing.

According to a report in The New York Times the arrests were in Southern California, Nevada and North Carolina, while the authorities in Egypt sought to arrest 47 people whom the FBI said were co-conspirators. Read full story here

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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I Never get tired of posting these Nigerian Scams

2009-09-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here's another one from my inbox: (Thought I'd have some fun by making the typos and mispellings BOLD.

Dearest,
My dear I am writing this mail with tears and sadness and pains. I know it will come to you as a suprise since we haven't known or come across each other before, but kindly bear with me at this moment. I have a special reason why I decided to contact you. My situation at hand is miserable but I trust in God and hope you will be of my help. My name is YumnIbrahima Baré 25years old girl and I held from Republic of Niger the daughter of Late General Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara the former President of the Republic of Niger who was ambushed and killed by dissident soldiers at the military airport in the capital, Niamey with his driver and a former Prefect. You can see more detail about my late father here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/9/newsid_2463000/2463927.stm
I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am receiving from my step mother. She planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile I wanted to travel to Europe, but she hide away my international passport and other valuable documents. Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father's File which contained important documents. I am presently staying in the Mission camp in Burkina Faso.

I am seeking for longterm relationship and investment assistance. My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of USD$5.8 Million in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin. I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told me that being a refugee, my status according to the local law does not authorize me to carry out the operation. However, he advised me to provide a trustee who will stand on my
behalf. I had wanted to inform my stepmother about this deposit but I am affraid that she will not offer me anything after the release of the money. Therefore, I decide to seek for your help in transferring the money into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle down with you. I have my fathers death certificate and the account number which I will give you as soon as you indicated your interest to help me.

It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your assitance and the balance shall be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me as have no any idea about foreign investment. Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes.

Thanking you alot in anticipation of your quick response. I will send you my photos in my next email.
Yours Sincerely
Yumn Ibrahima Baré

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Fake Google scams

2009-09-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

They put "Google" in the email to get you to click.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Google Subscriber,Your e-mail has emerged as a winner of £500,000.00 GBP (Five hundred thousand British Pounds) in our on-going Google Promotion. Your Winning details are as follows: Computer Generated Profile Numbers (CGPN):7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number: 00869575733664, Serial numbers:/BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41(12). Contact Mr Graham Benfield, for more details through the contact below:Mr Graham Benfield,Email: winners.g.promotion2009@ gmail. comSincerely,Mr. Silvia Fabiana B. de M. Negrini
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

http://www.smellphishy.com

Students beware of scholarhip offers

2009-09-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the September 2009 10K Scholarship Drawing.
http://centralstreetmedia.com/73/573073.htm?2x4k7-1v3/3i8a/1a6

You can use your winnings for yourself, family members or a friend.

Use it to pay for living expenses, books, tution, computer equipment, even pay off old school loans

Register Now
http://centralstreetmedia.com/73/573073.htm?3q3q4-8u7/6k7a/7j4

(Notice the word tuition is spelled wrong)

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Ebay Unpaid Item Dispute

2009-09-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, so if you get an email from EBay and it says someone is claiming you didn't pay for an item, or that they did pay for an item that you say they didn't... don't click the link. They are phishing for your EBay passwords so they can get into your account and scam other people. Here is an example of one such email.

Dear member,

eBay member, has indicated that they already paid for #160339521812.

Review payment details (link deleted)

Thank you,
eBay

If you right click you can see the url in the link is not eBay. You will also notice it says "Dear Member".... That you give-away right there! You can also check the so called Item number... I did and found it was non existent.

Don't fall for it.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

College Campus Software Scam

2009-09-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

Don't purchase any materials for class that the professor didn't personally tell you to purchase. If it is not on the syllabus or come from the professors own mouth, then you probably don't need it.

Several students in introductory-level chemistry and math courses were approached after classes Wednesday by an eBay scam artist handing out flyers for required course materials.

Full story here

Get Texbooks for Less

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Don

2009-09-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

Attn,

I am Mr. William Woods a private loan lender, I am willing to lend out loans with the interest rate of 3%, I offer loan to all categories of people ,firms, companies, all kinds of business organizations, private individuals and real estate investors with the minimum amount of $10,000.00 USD to $1,000,000,000.00USD, I give out loans at very cheap and moderate rates. I am a certified, registered and legit lender. You can contact me immediately if you are interested in getting a loan,contact me for more information about the loan process, process like the loan terms and conditions and how the loan will be transferred to you.if interested below and contact me with this Email:www.williamwoodsfinancial@live.cn.com

Best Regards
Mr.William Woods

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

IRS scam warning

2009-09-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

Not every letter from the IRS is from the IRS

"So far this year, the IRS has identified nearly 1,400 unique phishing sites that use the IRS logo or otherwise purport to come from the IRS," the agency said.

full story here

Suggested reading: Scam-Proof Your Life: 377 Smart Ways to Protect You & Your Family from Ripoffs, Bogus Deals & Other Consumer Headaches (AARP)

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Colleges Targeted by Phishers

2009-09-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

South Carolina FBI is warning students and staff to beware of emails that trick people into taking over their email accounts.

David A. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in South Carolina, advises college students and staff members in South Carolina to be cautious of a recurring phishing scam.

College students and staff members could receive “phishing” emails requesting their user ID and password information in relation to a server repair. Do not respond. This “phishing” scam is allowing spammers to generate massive volumes of spam e-mail utilizing those responders’ user names and passwords, which would result in blockage from aol.com, yahoo.com and numerous other e-mail accounts.

Remember, no legitimate company will ask you for your user ID and email account.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

C&F bank customers targeted

2009-09-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

There seems to be an epidemic. C&F bank are also being hit by phishing scams to steal sensitive information from customers.

C&F Bank notified its customers last week to be alert for scammers trying to access bank account information. The scam artists reportedly sent out text messages to a large number of Sprint and Verizon cell phone numbers, claiming the recipients' ATM cards had been suspended. The message asked C&F Bank customers to call a phone number, where they were then asked for their account numbers.

Beware.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

PNC Bank Phishing Scam

2009-09-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

PNC Bank is the latest to fall prey to phishing scams. They send customers emails that their accounts have been terminated and try to steal sensitive information from them. Beware.

The (phish) message falsely warns customers that their online banking services have been terminated.

The message includes an Internet link and urges customers to log onto it and supply personal information to resume their online banking services.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Tips for avoiding EBay scams

2009-08-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished filing an ebay auction complaint and paypal refund escalation for a friend. The problem is she was scammed on EBay.

The mistake was to make a purchase of a Rosetta Stone Spanish Software for a price that was unbelievably cheap... at least $100 cheaper than normal.

What she received in the mail was a bootleg copy on a memorex disk that didn't even run!

It's bad enough that it was bootleg... the insult to injury is that it was a bad bootleg! Straight out FRAUD. Fortunately, the person has already been busted and his Ebay and Paypal accounts had been frozen. My friend won't have to go through the extra steps of proving fraud. It is already clear.

So here are my tips for buying from Ebay.

Don't buy something on EBay that is noticeabley way below the price of all other auctions.
Don't buy something on Ebay where the description is off from other descriptions. It said that the program was in one disk where all other packages had several disks and other items.
Check feedback. In this case feedback was low but good so she went for it. Everyone isn't going to have a million feedback points, but if you see other flags, poor feedback should be the final no-go!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Don't click the link

2009-08-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

Emails like this can cause viruses on your computer or they could be phishing for your personal information.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please confirm

We received your request for information from Cash Gifting

Marketing System. Before we begin sending you the information

you requested, we want to be certain we have your permission.

It's free to join only five bucks to get started and it works!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONFIRM BY VISITING THE LINK BELOW

LINK DELETED

Click the link above to give us permission to send you

information. It's fast and easy! If you cannot click the

full URL above, please copy and paste it into your web

browser.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you do not want to confirm, simply ignore this message.

Make it a great day

Jeanette

LINK DELETED

IT'S ONLY FIVE BUCKS

AND IT WORKS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Will Ship Car

2009-08-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

AVOID....AVOID....AVOID...AVOID ANY CAR DEAL THAT IS NOT DONE IN PERSON

You can sidestep would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:

DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on craigslist.
NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

NEVER WIRE MONEY

2009-07-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

There is one main element that many scams, online and otherwise have in common. They ask you to wire them money. NEVER WIRE MONEY for purchases, or ANYTHING. If you follow this rule you will lessen your chances of being scammed

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Easy Google Profits / Google Kit is a scam

2009-07-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

As I was working, I accidentally clicked on a google ad that popped up a window that looked very much like a real online news story. The story reads that a man (whose address was actually in my city... a programming gimmick trick people into believing it is real) was making 4000-7000 a month working for Google. As I neared the bottom of the page, it became clear to me that this was more of an AD than a news story. I began to wonder if it was a scam. A tiny bit of research proved it was. See the following links.

http://www.whydowork.com/forums/easy-google-profits-scam-t23947.html

http://needmoneyblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/need-money-scam-google-home-profits.html

http://www.nichec.com/google-home-business-kit-scam-easy-google-profits-scam/

http://electronplumber.com/the-easy-google-profit-scam/

I irony of it all was that I was exposed to this ad through Google Adsense. It's odd to me that they sell ads to scammers who use their name to exploit others.

Also avoid Google Money Master and coreyhasmoney.com. There are also similar twitter scams.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Victimizing the victim

2009-07-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

I hadn't seen this in a while, but you should know that there are people out there waiting to victimize the victims. They figure if you were dumb enough to fall for the first scam then you would also fall for a scam that promises you to recover. This one however is poorly thought out and communicated, so I doubt no one would fall for it... hopefully.

Good day,
This programme is awarded for all victims who were previously scammed by the internet fraudsters ,
The Financial Commitee of the UN-HABITAT Programme have deposited your
Settlement Check Parcel of $500,000.00 USD with Reference Number UN013-0156/UPS-UN-HABITAT
to the United Parcel Service of Nigeria(UPS)
You are to contact the United Parcel Service of Nigeria (UPS) with
your details for more information.
CONTACT:
E-mail:ups_deliveryunits01@live.com
Tel: +234-7060-516-059
Accept Our regards.
Pathangery Latha
UN-HABITAT Senior Information Officer

PLEASE REPLY TO:ups_deliveryunits01@live.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Beware of facebook, twitter, and MySpace scams

2009-07-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing alot about how scammers target social network sites. Read the article below:

Do you mention your mother's name on facebook, or is she listed as your friend using her full name? Do you exclaim it's my birthday! on your twitter account? Do you talk about the street you lived on in your facebook journals? If you do any of these things, you may be in trouble. read more

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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New BMW, my foot!

2009-07-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

The BMW Automobile Company, Congratulate you as one of our four (4) Star Prize Winner. You won (750,000.00GBP) and a new BMW X6Drive Car. Contact claims director Mr. George Wesley with the following: Full name/Contact address/Sex/Tel/Occupation/

Age/Country. Name: Mr. George Wesley E-mail:assigned-georgewesley@hotmail.co.uk Phone #: +447045743979/ +447024085691 it is important that you acknowledge your receipt of this correspondence, Send e-MAIL Response to:assigned-georgewesley@hotmail.co.uk

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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Warning: Beware of Jury Duty Scam

2009-07-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Jury Duty Scam Pass this on ! (this was forwarded to my from a church member)

This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below). Please pass this on to everyone in your e-mail address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take those summonses for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.

The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity was just stolen.

The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado . This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system. The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.
Check it out here: http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

And here: http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Don't let your lonely heart get you in trouble

2009-07-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

Meet someone online who begins asking you for money? Don't send it. These are just another version of Nigerian email scams.

Email scams eminating from Nigeria are one of the Internet's best-known swindles. Some offer to deposit considerable sums in your bank account, in exchange for a tiny service; others propose romantic encounters. AFPTV speaks to a victim.

See the story below

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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They didn't even bother to be creative

2009-07-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

Dunhill promotion
show details 6:27 AM (4 hours ago) Reply

Your email ID was awarded (£750,000.00 GBP), in the 2009 Online DUNHILL
Promo

Full Name:
Full Address:
Status:
Occupation:
Country:

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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No one is every going to issue you unclaimed funds from a dead person

2009-07-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

These are priceless:

I am Mark Measday a staff of Natwest Bank Plc,UK. I am the head of the accounts and an account officer to numerous customers of our bank.The sum of (£10.7M), has been floating as unclaimed since 2002 in my bank as all efforts to get across the relatives of our customer who died of Cardiac Arrest in 2002 without a registered nest of kin have hit the stones. If you are interested and capable to handle this transaction, please get back to me quickly on this email (markmeasday1966@yahoo.com.hk) for further details.

...and they have a yahoo email. Not likely at all.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Beware of Craigslist scams

2009-07-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

Craigslist is an excellent place to find great deals and bargains. However, many buyers are scammed through this website.

Watch out for anyone offering to sell you something that they don't want to show you in person. If they want you to wire the money to them and promise to overnight ship it to you, chances are you will never receive it.

Remember, Craigslist deals need to be completed in person and in cash. Also, you should always meet in a public place like the local mall and bring a friend with your for your personal safety.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Don't fall for the sweepstakes email

2009-07-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

I just got this very phishy email:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your e-mail has emerged as a winner of £500,000.00 GBP (Five hundred thousand British
Pounds) in our on-going Google Promotion. Your Winning details are as follows: Computer
Generated Profile Numbers (CGPN):7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number: 00869575733664, Serial
numbers:/BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41(12). Contact Mr Grahams
Benfield, for more details through the contact below:

Mr Grahams Benfield,
Email: agent.grahams.ben02@gmail.com

Sincerely,
Mrs. Sarah William.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These also come in the mail and can look very official. Beware

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Need a job? Don't fall for this scam

2009-07-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

Getting unsolicited emails for work at home jobs? Beware.

Did you get an email offering High pay, that income will generate itself? Did the email have poor grammar and Mispelling. Did they ask for upfront pay or membership fee? Did they request personal information? These are some clues that the "job offer" is a phishing scam for your personal information and money.

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

www.smellphishy.com

Scams offering to help with mortgage

2009-07-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

People promising loan modifications that claim they can help you with their loans... these are most likely scams.

The first red flag is that they will ask you for money.

If you have a problem with your mortgage, the only people that really can help you is the mortgage company.

View the video for more information:

~Feel free to comment on your own phish experiences and add links to related sites in the comment section

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