Don't feel bad for people who send you messages like this: They're not friends stranded overseas. They're spammers who can't even spell their fake name consistently. This message didn't originate from AOL; it came from charter.net. Don't reply, don't be fooled by messages like this.
From: "Paula Jayne Winnig" pjwinning@aol.com
Date: December 30, 2009 3:33:38 AM PST
Subject: Get back to me pls
Reply-To: pjwinning@gmail.com
Hi,
I really don't mean to inconvenience you right now but I made a quick trip to the UK for the holidays, and I lost a bag which contains my passport and credit cards. I know this may sound odd, but it all happened very fast. I've been to the US embassy and they're willing to help me fly without my passport but I just have to pay for my ticket and settle some bills. Right now I'm out of cash plus i can't access my bank without my credit card over here. I have contacted them but they need more verification. I'm just gonna have to plead with you to lend me some funds right now? I'll pay back as soon as I get home. I need to get on the next available flight home.
Please reply as soon as you get this message so I can forward the details as to where to send the funds. You can reach me via the hotel's desk phone if you can, the numbers are, 011447024065511 or 011447024064567 You can also email me via my googlemail, as I can easily access it here pjwinning@gmail.com
I await your response...
Thanks
Paula Jayne Winnig
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Is your name in the central computer?
Here's an example of a really mixed-up scam. Is this about inheritance? Contracts? Lottery winners? It's a muddle. The fact that it's in all caps, of course, makes it even worse. Sorry, the one-line "profile" doesn't add real legitimacy or cancel out all the typos. Nobody should be fooled by such an amateurish effort, but you never know. Don't be fooled, don't reply to any messages like this. Real bankers won't contact you via email about your inheritance.
From: MR.DOMINIGUE STRAUSS-KAHN julioguzman@cable.net.co
Date: 2009/12/18
Subject: LETTER FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. 18/12/2009
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
20 FISKERTON ROAD LINCOLN,LN3 4LA
LONDON-UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +44 7024 044518
GOOD DAY
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE/CONTRACT FUNDS VALUE $12.5MILLION HAS BEEN GAZETTE TO BE RELEASED AT NEW YORK WITH BANK OF AMERICA.
I SAW YOUR NAME (IN THE CENTRAL COMPUTER AMONG THE LIST OF UNPAID BENEFICIARIES, CONTRACTORS, LOTTERY WINNERS,INHERITANCE NEXT OF KIN, THAT WAS ORIGINATED FROM UNITED KINGDOM AMONG THE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES THAT YOUR UNPAID FUND HAS BEEN LOCATED US.
YOUR NAME APPEARED AMONG THE BENEFICIARIES WHO WILL RECEIVE A PART-PAYMENT OF $12.5MILLION HAS BEEN APPROVED ALREADY FOR YOU.
MEANWHILE, A MAN CAME TO OUR OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER AUTHORITY, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.
HERE ARE HIS INFORMATION'S FOR YOU TO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE IF THIS MAN IS TRULY FROM YOU OR NOT SO THAT WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME:
NAME: MR.BROWN JOHNSON
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS MAN IS FROM YOU.
I APOLOGIZE TO YOU ON BEHALF OF IMF (INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND) HTTP://WWW.IMF.ORG/EXTERNAL/NP/EXR/CHRON/MDS.ASP FUTURE TO PAY YOUR FUNDS IN TIME, WHICH ACCORDING TO RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN LONG OVERDUE.
PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY TO ENABLE US FORWARD YOUR INFORMATION TO OUR PAYING BANK IN NEW YORK SO THAT YOUR FUNDS CAN BE TRANSFER YOU WITHIN 48 HOURS.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MR.DOMINIGUE STRAUSS-KAHN
MANAGING DIRECTOR IMF
MY PICTURE AND PROFILE BELOW. YOU CAN COME TO OUR OFFICE.
PROFILE: I MR. DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN, FROM FRANCE, BEGAN HIS FIVE-YEAR TERM AS IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ON NOVEMBER 1, 2007
From: MR.DOMINIGUE STRAUSS-KAHN julioguzman@cable.net.co
Date: 2009/12/18
Subject: LETTER FROM INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. 18/12/2009
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
20 FISKERTON ROAD LINCOLN,LN3 4LA
LONDON-UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +44 7024 044518
GOOD DAY
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE/CONTRACT FUNDS VALUE $12.5MILLION HAS BEEN GAZETTE TO BE RELEASED AT NEW YORK WITH BANK OF AMERICA.
I SAW YOUR NAME (IN THE CENTRAL COMPUTER AMONG THE LIST OF UNPAID BENEFICIARIES, CONTRACTORS, LOTTERY WINNERS,INHERITANCE NEXT OF KIN, THAT WAS ORIGINATED FROM UNITED KINGDOM AMONG THE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES THAT YOUR UNPAID FUND HAS BEEN LOCATED US.
YOUR NAME APPEARED AMONG THE BENEFICIARIES WHO WILL RECEIVE A PART-PAYMENT OF $12.5MILLION HAS BEEN APPROVED ALREADY FOR YOU.
MEANWHILE, A MAN CAME TO OUR OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER AUTHORITY, CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.
HERE ARE HIS INFORMATION'S FOR YOU TO CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE IF THIS MAN IS TRULY FROM YOU OR NOT SO THAT WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME:
NAME: MR.BROWN JOHNSON
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK ADDRESS: ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.
PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS MAN IS FROM YOU.
I APOLOGIZE TO YOU ON BEHALF OF IMF (INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND) HTTP://WWW.IMF.ORG/EXTERNAL/NP/EXR/CHRON/MDS.ASP FUTURE TO PAY YOUR FUNDS IN TIME, WHICH ACCORDING TO RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN LONG OVERDUE.
PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY TO ENABLE US FORWARD YOUR INFORMATION TO OUR PAYING BANK IN NEW YORK SO THAT YOUR FUNDS CAN BE TRANSFER YOU WITHIN 48 HOURS.
YOURS SINCERELY,
MR.DOMINIGUE STRAUSS-KAHN
MANAGING DIRECTOR IMF
MY PICTURE AND PROFILE BELOW. YOU CAN COME TO OUR OFFICE.
PROFILE: I MR. DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN, FROM FRANCE, BEGAN HIS FIVE-YEAR TERM AS IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD ON NOVEMBER 1, 2007
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The scammers are getting younger, but the story's an old one
This is a scam. This particular message originated or routed through a server in Russia. Don't respond, don't be fooled, by messages like this.
From: "FROM KELVIN GIDEON" kelvin.g9@optusnet.com.au
Date: December 16, 2009 2:17:15 AM PST
Subject: FROM KELVIN GIDEON
Hello ,
How are you today,i hope you are fine? I am Kelvin Gideon the son of the late Minister of Tourism in Liberia,i am 18 years of age and i am presently at the refugee camp in Ghana,i am contacting you in respect of my two consignment boxes which is already in your country with the diplomat,my foreign beneficiary who was suppose to receive the consignment boxes and invest it for me was so greedy asking for 75% which we agreed on 25% before the boxes left Ghana for your country.
I had to put a stop to the delivery of the boxes to him,please i am contacting you to help me receive my consignment boxes because i have mapped out 35% for you.
I want to inform you that the diplomat has been there for good five days now waiting to hear from my foreign beneficiary to carry out the delivery to and the content of my two consignment boxes is Money $25,000.000.00 ( Twenty Five Million United States Dollars ) which is meant to be invested in a profitable business in your country.
I want you to know that the diplomat does not know the true content of the boxes is containing money so please when contacting him for the delivery to you don't tell him about the content.
I want you to know also that i have paid for the delivery charges which is $8500 ( Eight Thousand Five Hundred United State Dollars ) all you have to do is contact the diplomat.Please help me by receiving the boxes,for as soon as you receive them i will be coming over to join you,so we can start the investment together and i will start living a good life again.
Please get back to me so that i can give you the contact of the diplomat so you can contact him for him to carry out the delivery to you.
Best Regards,
Kelvin Gideon.
kelv.gideon@live.com
From: "FROM KELVIN GIDEON" kelvin.g9@optusnet.com.au
Date: December 16, 2009 2:17:15 AM PST
Subject: FROM KELVIN GIDEON
Hello ,
How are you today,i hope you are fine? I am Kelvin Gideon the son of the late Minister of Tourism in Liberia,i am 18 years of age and i am presently at the refugee camp in Ghana,i am contacting you in respect of my two consignment boxes which is already in your country with the diplomat,my foreign beneficiary who was suppose to receive the consignment boxes and invest it for me was so greedy asking for 75% which we agreed on 25% before the boxes left Ghana for your country.
I had to put a stop to the delivery of the boxes to him,please i am contacting you to help me receive my consignment boxes because i have mapped out 35% for you.
I want to inform you that the diplomat has been there for good five days now waiting to hear from my foreign beneficiary to carry out the delivery to and the content of my two consignment boxes is Money $25,000.000.00 ( Twenty Five Million United States Dollars ) which is meant to be invested in a profitable business in your country.
I want you to know that the diplomat does not know the true content of the boxes is containing money so please when contacting him for the delivery to you don't tell him about the content.
I want you to know also that i have paid for the delivery charges which is $8500 ( Eight Thousand Five Hundred United State Dollars ) all you have to do is contact the diplomat.Please help me by receiving the boxes,for as soon as you receive them i will be coming over to join you,so we can start the investment together and i will start living a good life again.
Please get back to me so that i can give you the contact of the diplomat so you can contact him for him to carry out the delivery to you.
Best Regards,
Kelvin Gideon.
kelv.gideon@live.com
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Scammers now contacting via Facebook messages
A scam just arrived in my Facebook inbox. It was apparently sent from a Facebook account named Tofa Maxwell. It's unclear how to report such messages to Facebook in any meaningful way. My advice is to simply delete such messages without responding.
Subject: Attention,
Attention,
We act as solicitors and our services were retained by late Alan C. Zeichick, a foreigner who used to work with Shell International Republic of Togo, here in after referred to as our client. We write to notify you that my late client made you a Beneficiary to the bequest sum of FIFTEEN Million one Hundred United States Dollars in the codicil to his will and last testament.
He died at the age of 65. This bequest is to support your activities, humanitarian services, help to the less-privileged and research work.
We are perfecting arrangements to complete the transfer of this inheritance to you. You are required to forward the following details of yours:
1. Full Name:
2. Telephone number:
3. Age:
4. Contact address/Country
5. Occupation:
6. Identification:
7: Email address:
For verification and re-confirmation. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter immediately. For further clarification you can always reach me on my direct phone number.
I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Upon your acceptance to this proposal, I expect your urgent response indicating your full interest in this great transaction to our both mutual trust.
Congratulations! Reply to chambers.guildhall@yahoo.com
Yours sincerely,
TOFA MAXWELL ESQ.
Tel: 00228-922-4588.
Subject: Attention,
Attention,
We act as solicitors and our services were retained by late Alan C. Zeichick, a foreigner who used to work with Shell International Republic of Togo, here in after referred to as our client. We write to notify you that my late client made you a Beneficiary to the bequest sum of FIFTEEN Million one Hundred United States Dollars in the codicil to his will and last testament.
He died at the age of 65. This bequest is to support your activities, humanitarian services, help to the less-privileged and research work.
We are perfecting arrangements to complete the transfer of this inheritance to you. You are required to forward the following details of yours:
1. Full Name:
2. Telephone number:
3. Age:
4. Contact address/Country
5. Occupation:
6. Identification:
7: Email address:
For verification and re-confirmation. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter immediately. For further clarification you can always reach me on my direct phone number.
I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Upon your acceptance to this proposal, I expect your urgent response indicating your full interest in this great transaction to our both mutual trust.
Congratulations! Reply to chambers.guildhall@yahoo.com
Yours sincerely,
TOFA MAXWELL ESQ.
Tel: 00228-922-4588.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
That's no sergeant, that's a scammer
Do you ever get messages like this? You can be assured that no stranger is writing to you, out of the blue, to cut you in on a huge fortune. It's just not going to happen.
I have no idea who really sent this message, but you may be assured that it wasn't a U.S. soldier who found $21 million in Iraq. It's a scammer who is going to use this as bait to lure you in... and then get money or bank-account access from you. Links to random BBC news stories do not make the scammer any more legitimate -- anyone can link to a news story.
Don't be fooled, don't respond to messages like this, even if you feel bad that the fellow's uncle is "late."
From: SGT ANTHONY ORTON info@military.com.org
Date: 2009/12/10
Subject: FROM UNITED STATES SOLDIER
Attention:
How is everything going, I hope great? Though i have not considered this medium to be the best manner to have approached you on this issue being that the internet has been greatly abused over the recent years and is very unsecured for informations of vital importance.
I have decided to take the chance seeing that no other means could have been faster and more efficient than the e-mail. I write to you irrespective of the fact you do not know me, but please do consider this letter as a request from a brother in dire need of assistance.
My name is Anthony Orton (Sgt) an American soldier,I am serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division here in Iraq. As you know we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs, it will come worst now Saddam Hussein was executed.
During one of our rescue Mission we came across a safe that contains the total sum of $21,000,000 (Twenty One Million Us Dollars) that belongs to the revolutionaries, which I believe they use in buying weapons and ammunitions, and it was agreed by all party present that the money will be shared amongst us.
You can go to this web link to read about events that took place here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
Out of the total fund my share was $8,000,000 (Eight Million Us Dollars). I am seeking your assistance to evacuate my share of the money, which is $8,000,000 out of here to you, in as much as you can assure me that my own share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here.
This is no stolen money and there are no dangers involved,as I have from you the Bank where the fund was deposited will contact you for the transafer. why i needed your assistance is becuase my uncle who was a contractor that had the abulity to handle this kind of fund is late.
I shall be compensating you with US$2,500,000 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) on final conclusion of this project, while the rest shall be for me for my investment purposes.
One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter with a third party, should you have reasons to reject this offer, please destroy this e-mail as any leakage of this information will be too bad for me. I do not know for how long we will remain here, and I have survived two suicide bomb attacks, which prompted me to reach out for help because I will be migrating to you to invest and start a new life not as a soldier anymore.
Please if this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly send me an email signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone numbers for quick communication also your home address.
As soon as I receive your e-mail with the information,I will furnish you with full details on when and how the fund shall be deliever to you either by Bank transfer or Bank diplomat and he will make a contact with you before any move.
Waiting for your urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Sgt. Anthony Orton
I have no idea who really sent this message, but you may be assured that it wasn't a U.S. soldier who found $21 million in Iraq. It's a scammer who is going to use this as bait to lure you in... and then get money or bank-account access from you. Links to random BBC news stories do not make the scammer any more legitimate -- anyone can link to a news story.
Don't be fooled, don't respond to messages like this, even if you feel bad that the fellow's uncle is "late."
From: SGT ANTHONY ORTON info@military.com.org
Date: 2009/12/10
Subject: FROM UNITED STATES SOLDIER
Attention:
How is everything going, I hope great? Though i have not considered this medium to be the best manner to have approached you on this issue being that the internet has been greatly abused over the recent years and is very unsecured for informations of vital importance.
I have decided to take the chance seeing that no other means could have been faster and more efficient than the e-mail. I write to you irrespective of the fact you do not know me, but please do consider this letter as a request from a brother in dire need of assistance.
My name is Anthony Orton (Sgt) an American soldier,I am serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division here in Iraq. As you know we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs, it will come worst now Saddam Hussein was executed.
During one of our rescue Mission we came across a safe that contains the total sum of $21,000,000 (Twenty One Million Us Dollars) that belongs to the revolutionaries, which I believe they use in buying weapons and ammunitions, and it was agreed by all party present that the money will be shared amongst us.
You can go to this web link to read about events that took place here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm
Out of the total fund my share was $8,000,000 (Eight Million Us Dollars). I am seeking your assistance to evacuate my share of the money, which is $8,000,000 out of here to you, in as much as you can assure me that my own share will be safe in your care until I complete my service here.
This is no stolen money and there are no dangers involved,as I have from you the Bank where the fund was deposited will contact you for the transafer. why i needed your assistance is becuase my uncle who was a contractor that had the abulity to handle this kind of fund is late.
I shall be compensating you with US$2,500,000 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) on final conclusion of this project, while the rest shall be for me for my investment purposes.
One passionate appeal I will make to you is not to discuss this matter with a third party, should you have reasons to reject this offer, please destroy this e-mail as any leakage of this information will be too bad for me. I do not know for how long we will remain here, and I have survived two suicide bomb attacks, which prompted me to reach out for help because I will be migrating to you to invest and start a new life not as a soldier anymore.
Please if this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly send me an email signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone numbers for quick communication also your home address.
As soon as I receive your e-mail with the information,I will furnish you with full details on when and how the fund shall be deliever to you either by Bank transfer or Bank diplomat and he will make a contact with you before any move.
Waiting for your urgent reply.
Best Regards,
Sgt. Anthony Orton
Friday, December 4, 2009
Federal Bureau Investigation is helping you get Nigerian money… not
This is one of the better-written scams, but a scam it is nonetheless. Read it, enjoy it -- but be fooled and don't respond to such messages. They're all scams.
From: FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION (FBI)
Date: 2009/12/4
Subject: FBI ALERT: Please read this mail carefully
================================================
ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
Contact: +1(866) 414 6977
=================================================
Dear Citizen.
Inline with the "Patriot Act", a statute enacted by the United States Government that President George W. Bush signed into law on October 26, 2001. The Act which increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records; eases restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States; expands the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; has prompted us to contact you in respect of your unclaimed fund.
We the Justice Department of the Federal Bureau of Investigations do hereby inform you that in our bid to fight against the ranging terrorist threat facing the United States of America recently, we have registered your unclaimed fund through a Certified Bank Draft with the DELIVERY SHIPPING COURIER COMPANY in the country of fund origin.
This fund was said to have been held by the Central Bank of Nigeria due to your inability to obtain necessary documents and delivery charges required by the Bank and its affiliates in the past. Thus, we sourced that some unscrupulous agents of the terrorist inclined nations have devoted their time using the opportunity to transfer funds into the USA under the disguise that the fund was meant for you the beneficiaries. However, after our investigations, we discovered that you had no involvement in such evil plan that is why we are contacting you to get the fund out of its position before it implicates you.
Note that all the necessary arrangements for the delivery of your $2,000,000.00 Bank Draft has been completed. In your best interest, you are urged to send the following details to the Courier Agent;
*Full Name:
*Contact Address:
*Current Phone Number:
We have paid for the delivery charges. The only money you have to pay to them is $280 (ONLY) for their Security keeping of your Bank draft, we try to pay for that but they insist that such cost can only be paid once the real beneficiary have contacted the Courier Company for security reason.
You are hereby instructed to contact the Operations Manager with the information below and call him immediately you send him an email:
Name: Mr. John Edward
email: deliveryshipingcompany@gmail.com
Thank you as we look forward to your cooperation on this very crucial matter.
God Bless America!
Regards,
Mrs. Tracy D. Gail
(Secretary)
Office of the Director:
FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
From: FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION (FBI)
Date: 2009/12/4
Subject: FBI ALERT: Please read this mail carefully
================================================
ANTI-TERRORIST AND MONITORY CRIMES DIVISION
FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
Contact: +1(866) 414 6977
=================================================
Dear Citizen.
Inline with the "Patriot Act", a statute enacted by the United States Government that President George W. Bush signed into law on October 26, 2001. The Act which increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records; eases restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States; expands the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; has prompted us to contact you in respect of your unclaimed fund.
We the Justice Department of the Federal Bureau of Investigations do hereby inform you that in our bid to fight against the ranging terrorist threat facing the United States of America recently, we have registered your unclaimed fund through a Certified Bank Draft with the DELIVERY SHIPPING COURIER COMPANY in the country of fund origin.
This fund was said to have been held by the Central Bank of Nigeria due to your inability to obtain necessary documents and delivery charges required by the Bank and its affiliates in the past. Thus, we sourced that some unscrupulous agents of the terrorist inclined nations have devoted their time using the opportunity to transfer funds into the USA under the disguise that the fund was meant for you the beneficiaries. However, after our investigations, we discovered that you had no involvement in such evil plan that is why we are contacting you to get the fund out of its position before it implicates you.
Note that all the necessary arrangements for the delivery of your $2,000,000.00 Bank Draft has been completed. In your best interest, you are urged to send the following details to the Courier Agent;
*Full Name:
*Contact Address:
*Current Phone Number:
We have paid for the delivery charges. The only money you have to pay to them is $280 (ONLY) for their Security keeping of your Bank draft, we try to pay for that but they insist that such cost can only be paid once the real beneficiary have contacted the Courier Company for security reason.
You are hereby instructed to contact the Operations Manager with the information below and call him immediately you send him an email:
Name: Mr. John Edward
email: deliveryshipingcompany@gmail.com
Thank you as we look forward to your cooperation on this very crucial matter.
God Bless America!
Regards,
Mrs. Tracy D. Gail
(Secretary)
Office of the Director:
FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
New scam has hackers or phishers phoning users: Be warned
A good friend — a computer expert — just sent me this account of a strange experience this afternoon. It's scary, especially for those whose "skeptic flag" is turned off. If you get a call like this, at home or at work… don't do what the caller wants. It's undoubtedly not good for you. Here's my friend's account of this episode:
Got a weird phone call just now. Guy with Indian accent who said he was calling to help me with my Windows problems — I don't have any, but he said they were calling 'all' Windows owners to fix problems causing computer to run slowly. He rattled off the name of his company, and after I asked several times I finally got: "Support On Click." The number on my phone readout was 05-247-9749 — and it said "Out of Area." Odd number.
Cautiously, I let him continue. He had me click Start-Run and type in eventvwr, and then click on Applications and tell him how many Error flags I had — well, there were hundreds, just from this past month. He asked for a little info about them, and started a spiel about how many people were having these kinds of problems. It sounded like the canned beginning of a sales pitch.
I finally said I wasn't interested and hung up on him. He called back a minute later but I let it go to voicemail, whereupon he hung up.
Was it a sales pitch to get my credit card? A scammer planning to get me to read him something fatal off my screen? Hacker wanting me to enter some command that would give control to a virus or something? I would have hung on to find out where he was going with this, but he was taking too long. Clearly, he was prepped for inexperienced computer users, so he took forever with his instructions, and I lost patience.
Got a weird phone call just now. Guy with Indian accent who said he was calling to help me with my Windows problems — I don't have any, but he said they were calling 'all' Windows owners to fix problems causing computer to run slowly. He rattled off the name of his company, and after I asked several times I finally got: "Support On Click." The number on my phone readout was 05-247-9749 — and it said "Out of Area." Odd number.
Cautiously, I let him continue. He had me click Start-Run and type in eventvwr, and then click on Applications and tell him how many Error flags I had — well, there were hundreds, just from this past month. He asked for a little info about them, and started a spiel about how many people were having these kinds of problems. It sounded like the canned beginning of a sales pitch.
I finally said I wasn't interested and hung up on him. He called back a minute later but I let it go to voicemail, whereupon he hung up.
Was it a sales pitch to get my credit card? A scammer planning to get me to read him something fatal off my screen? Hacker wanting me to enter some command that would give control to a virus or something? I would have hung on to find out where he was going with this, but he was taking too long. Clearly, he was prepped for inexperienced computer users, so he took forever with his instructions, and I lost patience.
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