Six Arrests in Phishing Scam
I was pleased to see this article on the BBC web site.
I suspect it might have been the result of one of the two phishing scams aimed at students, that I flagged up earlier in the year.
Both were fairly well designed scams and the success, shows how people are vulnerable, when they are embarking on a new phase in their life.
The perpetrators were caught this time, and hopefully new students will be more careful next year.
Anthony S. Holmes
I have received lots of spam from this guy. All of it was stopped by my ClamWin spam filter and ended up in the Junk Mail folder. But then it was so obviously spam, even a four-year-old could identify it as such.
There was a link to the BBC’s web page. It is from 2006 and talks about a Treasury plan to raid dormant bank accounts, which seems to have died with Gordon Brown’s government.
This was the main part of the message.
Good afternoon to you,
I am sorry for bothering you this early day, but bear it mind that you can never regret this day as I have an interesting profitable business offer for you to participate and share money with me.
Please read more on the under stated link
The English isn’t good too. I like the bit about good afternoon and then apologising for being early in the day.
This man won’t get very far in his career as a spammer. I can’t even work out how they get your money.
Clearing Spam Out of My Blog
Every morning I clear out the spam from this blog. As none of it gets through the spam filter used by WordPress, I do wonder why they bother.
I suspect it must be automatic. But even if it is is, surely programmers have better things to do than create spam. One today, judging by the e-mail address was probably racist, so that in itself says a lot.
But as none gets through, it is a very pointless exercise. It doesn’t even annoy me much, as it takes just two clicks to consign it all to cyber-oblivion.
I suspect my act of deleting them too, is noted by WordPress, who add the sender to their banned list. I won’t say the spammers can’t win, but their chances are getting slimmer by the day. Which is all very good!
Where Is This Spammer?
This was the start of a spam e-mail, I received.
We wish to inform you that the diplomatic agent conveying the consignment box valued the sum of $2.5 Million United States Dollars misplaced your address and he is currently stranded at JFK QUEEN AIRPORT NEW YORK USA now. We required you reconfirm the following information below so that he can deliver your consignment box to you today Because his flight ticket is about to expire.
If you fall for this one, you deserve to be fleeced. Especially as it finishes with.
NOTE : The Diplomatic agent does not know that the content of the consignment box is $2.5 Millions United States Dollars and on no circumstances should you let him know the content. The consignments was moved from here as family treasures, so never allow him to open the box.and the package was registered here by Collins Emma since three moths ago and travel out of this country.
Obviously, as it mentions moths, it is a rather old message. His punctuation isn’t that good either.
Masterseek Business Directory
I’ve had 52 e-mails from a group of spammers called the Masterseek Business Directory in the last 24 hours. They want me to pay $149, so that my web sites go in their business directory. There is an unsubscribe link, but I suspect that using it will just verify that the e-mail address was correct.
There is some more about this group of idiots here. He uses the well known advice concerning barge poles.
I have deleted them all.
A Series of Strange E-Mails
I have received several e-mails like this today.
A quick one time public service announcement about Lung cancer (no further emails will be sent).
Lung cancer is the cancer responsible for the most deaths in both men and women. Over 85% of lung cancers are related to smoking. More than half of the people who are newly diagnosed with lung cancer are former smokers.
Women are also affected greatly by breast and colorectal cancers. Reduce your risk of cancers by not smoking, eating a healthy diet, using sunscreen and getting regular cancer screenings. Take care.
This one had a title of “Info concerning maintaining fitness”.
They don’t appear to be promoting a web site, selling anything or even have any links to other sites. And even the information is sensible.
But why?
All I can think of is that someone is testing some new e-mail software.
Student Finance Agreement
I’ve just recieved an e-mail with the above heading and this message.
Dear Student,
Student Finance Application Year 2011/12-Information RequiredTo assess your application, your student finance agreement needs to be signed and returned back to us . This can be done through “MY ACCOUNT” session of your online account .
Failure to sign and return this to us would mean your next student loan payment and maintenance grant will be delayed.
Thanks for your co-operation.SIGN ON HERE
Yours sincerely,
Student Loan Finance England.
As it points to a web site in the United States with no contact address, it’s a scam. It also came to one of my trap e-mails, which seem to be passed around by spammers.
Academic Year 2011/12 Payment Access Review Alart
I received a phishing e-mail with this title today. Note how alert is spelled.
This is the body of the e-mail.
This is a message for all students receiving grants and loans from the Students Loan Company. You are required to verify your account information in order to avoid any delay in your loan/grant payments. You can do this by visiting http://www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk/
Yours Sincerely
Student Finance England
Please do not reply to this email as it has been automatically produced from an address which cannot accept incoming mail.****************************** ****************************** ******************* The information from the Student Loans Company Ltd contained in this e-mail is private and privileged. If you have received this e-mail in error be advised that any use is strictly prohibited. Please notify us and delete the message from your computer. You may not copy or forward it or use or disclose its contents to any other person.
As internet communications are capable of data corruption it may be inappropriate to rely on advice or opinions contained in an e-mail without obtaining written confirmation of it. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses, however we do not accept any liability or responsibility for resultant virus infection. Opinions and views expressed in this e-mail are those of the sender and may not reflect the opinions and views of The Student Loans Company Limited.
The Student Loans Company Ltd registered office is at 21 St Thomas Street, Bristol, BS1 6JS and it is registered in England Company No. 02401034, VAT No. 556 4352
Note that the Student Loan Company details are correct, but that the e-mail points to a web site called gankotimata.com, which has these registration details.
Domain Admin (contact@privacyprotect.org)
ID#10760, PO Box 16
Note – All Postal Mails Rejected, visit Privacyprotect.org
Nobby Beach
null,QLD 4218
AU
Tel. +45.36946676
The phone number is actually in Denmark and the website is in Australia. Enough said!
Who is behind this I do not know, but please don’t contact them, unless you want to give them your student finance.
But these scams seem to be getting more and more sophisticated and believable.
The Japanese Are Getting Desperate
I can’t ever remember gettng much span supposedly from Japan. But I got this typical piece yesterday.
I am sorry to encroach into your privacy in this manner, I found your listed in the Trade Centre Chambers of Commerce directory here in Japan, I find it pleasurable to offer you my partnership in business of $40 Million United States Dollars , I only pray at this time that your address is still valid. I want to this solicit your attention to receive this money on my behalf. The purpose of my contacting you is because my status would not permit me to do this alone. When you reply this message, I will send you the full details and more information about myself and the funds.If interested, please reply through my alternate Email:xxx@xxx.com
Mr.Suzuki Takuya Yuki
(Head of Account Dept, Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank, Tokyo, Japan)
After all, the country is in a bit of a mess after the tsunami. But surely things aren’t that bad.
It was a bit of a giveaway that I got umpteen copies and it was headed Good Dey.
Are Fake Job Adverts Returning?
I haven’t seen any for some time, but this one turned up this morning.
Hot Jobs from Reliable and Successful Company Running its business since 2005, Company has several openings for goal-oriented and independent individuals looking for excellent career opportunities.
Requirements
– 25+ years old
– UK citizenship
– No criminal record
– Good credit history
– Basic computer skills
– A proven level of secondary educationWhat we offer
– high and stable income
– exciting career opportunities
– two weeks’ paid holiday a year
– great team to work with
– bonuses and our private employee loyalty programme benefits
– and many other thingsWhat you do is just work from home and get advantage of all these opportunities, as the job we offer requires only a few hours of your time spent on your computer.
You are full of energy, learn fast and seek for best career opportunities? Do contact us at xxx@xxx.com and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
We look forward to welcoming you as a new employee.
Sincerely,
irvine thierry
It was a bit better than most of the previous scams, which are designed to get your bank account details, so you can donate large sums of money to the criminals. It was even sent from what looked like a valid UK e-mail address, although mine was addressed to a man called Fidole Shem, who is definitely not me.
It was also marked by my anti-spam system as spam.
But what was a real giveaway was the low level of paid holidays. I wouldn’t get out of bed for a job like that!
So it went the way of the others and I dispatched it humanely with the delete key.
The Anonymous Widower 