They seem to be getting better at it.

[Plastic Nev]

Who are, and at what? is the question I hear.

Let me explain, I found in my MSN E Mail junk box an interesting mail, I do look in there now and then just in case something that I should look at, has been sent there by the anti-spam filter.

Any way the gist of the mail was- "that it was the umpteenth time that I have asked you to do something about your inheritance, this is the last time I shall contact you to make your claim" etc.

It was very well written and was supposed to have come from a solicitor, incidentally, the only way I could have responded would have been by the reply box, as there was no obvious E Mail address to send a reply to.

 

Ok, so how does this make it an attempted scam?

First point is that no solicitor would likely use only an MSN E mail address to try to contact someone who is a genuine recipient of an inheritance.

Even if only armed with an MSN E Mail address, they would make much effort to try to trace me in order to try to get in touch in a more direct way. My particular E Mail address actually will lead to a direct connection to my postal address, a bit convoluted perhaps, but to a solicitor with the right knowledge, that would be child's play.

Secondly it is general practice for those in the real solicitors business to say words along the lines "Please get in touch with our office as we have some information to your benefit" or similar. They generally do not mention the word inheritance, it is breaking the rules.

Also,

The last point being that nowhere in the original scam mail was my real name used.

So how would they try to extract money or other goodies from me?

Simple, if I had replied to that mail, they would then have direct access to my MSN E Mail address. Being a scam mail, it will have been sent to thousands if not millions of addresses. So they would then have sent me a request for bank account details so they can pay in the so called inheritance. Unfortunately for those who fall for it, that is the opposite of what happens, they clear your account taking everything in it.

Be ever vigilant, and always remember, if it looks too good to be true. then it is.

[Match]

Good Point Plastic Nev, you can never be two vigilant as I found out the other night, after receiving what I thought was a link to a picture from a friend on windows live messenger, turned out to be a nasty little trojan!(Virus that allows access to your computer and passwords). that kindly slipped past my AV software, and then sent it self to everyone on my WLM list. Luckly enough I was able to contact everyone who rieceved it in time to stop it. But the point is you might trust the person with your Life but as in this case it wasn't them sending the link. and for the sake of spending 30 sec's to just ask the person what it was and if they had sent it then it would have saved me doing a complete re-install of my c drive, so here's some simple rules for the less experienced.

O' and just to add I no longer recomend AVG Antivirus!!

Avoid electronic fraud

Keep these simple rules in mind and you'll be better equipped to protect yourself:

• Never send sensitive personal or financial information through email.
  
• Don't follow links in an email asking for sensitive personal or account information, even if it looks like the source is one you know.
  
• Ask questions. If you're suspicious, call the company that the email appears to be from and ask if it's legitimate.
  
• Install anti-virus software on your computer and keep it up-to-date. Anti-virus programs help protect your computer against most viruses, worms, and Trojans that can infect your computer. Most anti-virus software companies provide updates from their websites. Some of the most popular programs are:
  
  • McAfee VirusScan
    
  • Norton AntiVirus
    

   

  [*]Download and use a pop-up blocker from a legitimate source. Some pop-up ads could contain viruses or other harmful software that can record your keystrokes or relay other information to another source.

  [*]Equip your computer with either a software firewall or a hardware firewall. A firewall will allow you to limit unauthorized access to your computer.

  [*]Keep your computer operating system, Web browser, and security settings up-to-date. Security patches and updates are usually available from the software vendors' websites.

  [*]Scan your computer for spyware regularly. Spyware is a computer program which can be installed on personal computers, usually without your permission, which may collect information about your website activity and send it back to another source.

  [*]Only keep your internet connection active when you are using it.

  [*]Turn off your computer when you are not using it.

  [*]Never share your PIN, account number, or password.

  [*]Do not open email attachments unless you can trust the source.

Never access sensitive information from Internet cafes, public libraries, etc.

Original Article

Edited February 1, 2009 by Goku

[Goku]

Hello Match. Please include the links to the original sources when you quote them as otherwise the site might be accused of copyright infringement. Thank you. :)

 

-- Goku

[Match]

Sorry will do in future, but wasn't sure how you felt about post's with links to other sites, thanks for the warning, I'll get round to Introducing myself soon but as for now I think we need to get this thread back on track :)

[shrimply]

They might be getting better but they ain't cracked it yet.

 

Yesterday my internet access was suspended from Lloyds TSB, Halifax, Abbey National and Egg banking.

 

I mean come on, if I had an online account with one of them and wasn't clued up I may have fallen for one email but talk about wasting your time.

[Goku]

I mean come on, if I had an online account with one of them and wasn't clued up I may have fallen for one email but talk about wasting your time.

Not really Shrimply mate. The Email must have been sent to thousands of users and I guarantee that at least 3 must have fallen it and replied back to it. Seems like a small number but then there are thousands of naive people in the world. :(

 

-- Goku

[BeeCeeBee]

Very true Goku, it is a numbers game on a massive scale.

[Match]

Not really Shrimply mate. The Email must have been sent to thousands of users and I guarantee that at least 3 must have fallen it and replied back to it. Seems like a small number but then there are thousands of naive people in the world. :(

 

-- Goku

 

 

Tbh with the use of 'spiders' and 'bots' I think that you can add a multiplier of X100 if not X1000 to your figures I think that the current UK population is about 60million + so that's a lot of targets and as these people are normally from less regulated countries they don't have the legal constraints we have.

[Mara]

And they are becoming more devious with the telephone calls too.

 

Received one from 'our Bank' asked for confirmation of account numbers, etc ... and when I suggested I call back - instant hang up. Using the magic button on the phone of course doesn't work to trace the call as the number has been blocked and it was no surprise when phoning our Credit Union that it had been a scam.

 

That week our local paper had an article about how many people, mostly elderly, that had been scammed. Very sad indeed and as others have said, one simply can't be too careful.

 

But a huge boo and hiss to the nasty people that come up with these things!