Tuesday 8 June 2010

OMG I've won $1 million USD

Am I rich? No. Stopping singing and dancing now...
This is the e-mail (see below!) that slipped through my sympatico spam filter. Fortunately, my personal settings threw it immediately into my junk folder.

The grammatical errors might have been a give away, but then the spelling errors confirm it! I wonder how many people they suck in?

The latest is a scam (read the full: List of Scams) where a grandmother is phoned by her supposed grandson, claiming he needs money to get out of jail.

You were choosen in the UK award  2010 which was perticipated  may 4th 2010 , and you are to collect the sum of $1,000 000 USD.it means you are one of the five(5) lucky winners. Your winning number is: (CT-222-6747,FGN/P-900-56).

You are informed  to send us this details

NAME IN FULL:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:

AGE:
NATIONALITY:
OCCUPATION:
PHONE:
SEX:


BUYER BEWARE!!!!

See also: Public beware - motor vehicle insurance scam in Ontario

NORTH BAY, ON, May 27 /CNW/ - The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (formerly Phonebusters) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning people who are seeking and obtaining automobile insurance, that fraudsters have been advertising fraudulent insurance premiums in Ontario newspapers and on websites.

4 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. What rubbish people do put on the internet.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Ha ha Jen -- congratulations -- oh oops, never mind!

That grandmother scam is a vicious thing -- it has been around for a while. My mom -- when over 90 --called me once to ask what had happened to our grandson (her great-grandson) and why we or his parents couldn't help him if he needed it. She *insisted* it was him because he had given her his name. Those scammers are clever -- I guess they say "Grandma?" and the target says whatever name first comes into her mind...and then they have her hooked.

My mom was smart enough at least not to send $$$. (Or at least she thought we should have first crack at it.) Later the senior citizen complex where she lived ran an article in their newsletter b/c so many people were being called. Pretty easy for the scammers to figure out where vulnerable old people are likely to live.

Sad to think there are so many who fall for this kind of crap. I hope I remember how to check up on stuff like this when I get old and vulnerable (next year ;>)

Grandma K said...

I wonder how the spam is able to get through the blocks.

It is funny to read the "offers" because, as you pointed out, the grammatical errors are so horrendous.

Friko said...

A very common scam this side of the pond too. And all over Europe. I am surprised they didn't ask for your bank details.