Hoax eMail from Fellow Cruiser (or not)

[jackdale]

BTW - is anyone else getting the phone calls from "Microsoft"? Those guys are persistent even after being told to "F off".

Microsoft Warns of Internet Phone Scam | PCWorld

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Brian in Az

You obviously haven't perused the various forums on the internet.

Well quite the contrary. Have gotten plenty of these myself, most with English that would embarrass a three year old. I agree his is better than most which is what prompted my observation. Still easily identifiable to 99% of the native English speakers but they're getting better.

[four winds]

Originally Posted by jackdale

Your email need not be hacked. They can simply spoof your account by using your name in the "Your Name" box in the account settings.

How they linked you and your friend is another issue.

I agree. This user would have bigger troubles if the account was actually hacked, considering the info in most folks email accounts.

I think one contributing factor is the email address contains the full name of the individual. That opens up an avenue for research by the scammer, like checking for a facebook account and learning who the friends are.

Not a good format for an email account in my opinion.

[anjou]

Ahh, Dear Americans

I have spotted the fatal flaw in the scam email. I understand this detail is a major issue to many of you in the 'Free States'. It concerns free healthcare, which many of you incorrectly believe is a communist plot.

If this mans ill cousin was indeed in the UK, any emergency or life threatening illness requiring immediate surgery, would of course be free, and therefore he wouldnt need to scam you.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

Let your friend know his E-mail was hacked. The only way to stop this is pick a better password.

My wifes has been hacked repeatedly, mine never has. If you pick, phone number, birth date, aniversity, even dog's name. Someone will find it.

Clever passwords, IE "password", or "hello", or your name backwords, are not so clever, if you thought of it, a hacker will too, believe me they are more clever than you, and have more time on their hands.

I have access to password lists, I was shocked at how many were the exact same word.

One of my old, obsolete passwords, H9&98jny*8*^%5hJ(U, try guessing that one.

Now I use even more complicated passwords; numbers, symbols, caps, and small letters. All of my newer passwords are generated by an encryption formula, and translated into ascii.

The only way to stop these guys is use a lock, (password) that works.

And one should have a different password for each and every account right?

And I might remember part of one of those in your example.

And I might store them on a piece of paper. Just one?

And I could store them on the computer. Hidden of course.

I ain't smart enough for that.

That is why millions have a target painted on their backs. We are not as smart as you.

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

I agree that the english is bad and hope it stays that way.

What will they do when they realize english speakers no longer have any money and they will have to start writing them in Chinese and Farsi.

But hey...........about that Make Money While Cruising thing........edit their letters, their income skyrockets, you get lots more than 500 a month. Only need internet access and time.

Cruising - what a life eh.

[SkiprJohn]

Anjou,
Very observant. I hadn't even thought of that. Shows you how ethno-centric I am.
kind regards,

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by anjou

Ahh, Dear Americans

I have spotted the fatal flaw in the scam email. I understand this detail is a major issue to many of you in the 'Free States'. It concerns free healthcare, which many of you incorrectly believe is a communist plot.

If this mans ill cousin was indeed in the UK, any emergency or life threatening illness requiring immediate surgery, would of course be free, and therefore he wouldnt need to scam you.

So if I visit the UK and need surgery it will be free?

I don't think so.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Brian in Az

You obviously haven't perused the various forums on the internet. The grammar and spelling in that spam email was much better than at least 50% of all the posts and threads that I have read over the years.

Unfortunately, because it was much better written than most scams, he will succeed in conning a few people.

I also agree, forward it to the 419 eaters, someone will grab that one to play.

I must be reading from the other 50% of the Internet because the only place I've seen those types of errors, along with the stilted syntax, is in scam emails trying to get money.

[dandrews]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

My friends at ATT, bankamerica, americanexpress, send me nice letters asking for money every month. And if I don't respond in a timely fashion they certainly get insistent.

LOL...we get the same mails...and my they do get insistent. ;-)

Don

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Therapy

So if I visit the UK and need surgery it will be free?

I don't think so.

Don't see why not... everyone else gets it..
some even plan their holidays there for it.....

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Therapy

So if I visit the UK and need surgery it will be free?

I don't think so.

Quite right

National Health Service (NHS) hospital treatment is only free to people who live on a lawful and properly settled basis (‘ordinarily resident’) in the United Kingdom (UK) or who are exempt from charges under the law. If you do not normally live here and you do not meet one of the categories of exemption then you will have to pay for the hospital treatment you receive. This is regardless of whether you are a British citizen or have lived or worked here in the past or have been issued with an HC2 certificate.

Are you visiting the United Kingdom? : Department of Health - Health care

[Mexdon]

Back in September 2011 I made an enquiry about leisurefurl systems to their Los Angeles office and received a reply from a person probably posing as their legitimate representative (identity theft) as his name does appear on one of their links. We had an exchange of mails about the system and then out of the blue I received this on 11th Sept.

Hope you get this on time, sorry I didn't inform you about my trip in Spain for a Program,Am having some difficulties here because i misplaced my wallet on my way to the hotel where my money and other valuable things were kept. presently i have limited access to internet, I will like you to assist me with a loan of 1,600 EUR = $2,300 USD to sort-out my hotel bills and to get myself back home.

I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively, I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with, I'll Refund the back to you as soon as I return, let me know if you can be of any help.I don't have a phone where I can be reached. Please let me know immediately.


Persons real name

I did not respond and have not tried to contact Leisurefurl since....If it was genuine (which I very much doubt) what business ethics to they allow their representatives to use.

[wolfenzee]

I have received e-mails that were not actually sent to my address, can't figure out how I got them.

[hummingway]

Apparently they are using dating services now to scam people as well. They most often pose as military folks and get involved with someone. After a while they find some pretext to ask for money and usually the request is done with formal documentation to back up the story. Some of it is quite sophisticated and in some cases after they have gotten what they can they run a law enforcement scam getting more money to set a trap for the bad guys.

The sad thing is that people can be so vulnerable in that type of situation because they become emotionally invested in the "person" who is scamming them.

[Capt Phil]

I forward them all to the White House... they have all my $. Capt Phil