Scams like these

.... and, an email this morning:

" .... Hey hottie let's have some fun. Hi, you're funny. You've got cool pics in your profile :)
My friend gave me your email address, I don't know why but I decided to dropyou a line. I'll be in Australia soon ................ "



Okay this is a bit creepy. I had an email this morning from an outlook email address with wording very similar to above. It came in on my main email address but addressed to someone else in my family. There are very few email lists where I use my main email address but with other family member names. I don't have any "profiles" in the family member name and the other family member doesn't have access to my email address.


The scary thing is that one of the few mailing lists I used for this email and the other family member is Woolworths Rewards. Offhand I can think of a couple of other places where the two pieces of info are linked but they're not places that would sell the information.
 
Okay this is a bit creepy. ...
The scary thing is that one of the few mailing lists I used for this email and the other family member is Woolworths Rewards. Offhand I can think of a couple of other places where the two pieces of info are linked but they're not places that would sell the information.

Qantas and Aquire for me...:confused:
 
Qantas and Aquire for me...:confused:

Yes, come to think of it, the Qantas account was set up with the same details at the same time when I signed up other family members to Everyday Rewards.

I've heard about these type of emails but this is the first one I have received like this. I just found it very unusual.
 
Yes, come to think of it, the Qantas account was set up with the same details at the same time when I signed up other family members to Everyday Rewards.

I've heard about these type of emails but this is the first one I have received like this. I just found it very unusual.

The email said there was a photo attached but nothing came through with the email. Does anyone know what the catch or the scam is with these types of emails? The "profiles" with photos that the email talks about don't exist.
 
I keep getting requests for payments of invoices... Except the emails all seem to be sent from the future...

Does someone know what I'm going to do?

Happy wandering

Fred

Don't rush.... pay them in the future.

Pay them tomorrow, you know, the one that never comes.

Reminds me of a sign outside the Irish pub at Kamari Beach on Santorini a few weeks back:

"Free drinks tomorrow"
 
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Okay this is a bit creepy. I had an email this morning from an outlook email address with wording very similar to above. It came in on my main email address but addressed to someone else in my family. There are very few email lists where I use my main email address but with other family member names. I don't have any "profiles" in the family member name and the other family member doesn't have access to my email address.


The scary thing is that one of the few mailing lists I used for this email and the other family member is Woolworths Rewards. Offhand I can think of a couple of other places where the two pieces of info are linked but they're not places that would sell the information.


I received exactly the same email today.
 
You can find out where an email originated (unless the sender is "real good")
The following with an info at nab.com reply to came from:
Received: from server.plik24.com.pl (plik24.com.pl [62.75.153.57])


1 New Successful Payment.

For more information about this payment please see your transaction history Click here

The click through goes to a link on androm dot com, which is apparently a build it yourself and host it website. I didn't bother to find out was built there...


and I don't think I have ever been in a NAB branch office...

Happy wandering

Fred
 
Some obvious errors betray the intention:

ui-desktop-crest.png


The Department of Human Services will like to inform you of your qualification for 2016 subsidy benefit.

In other to affirm your eligibility, simply reply to this secure
t4iT5IR2hZ2QcSiHYPtDmiMn159eQq2tJ2wzZKugWGj1Ep_gCxIM3dGXfFsHTIG_bCVSCA51KbP6Ni9PIR88Wvt464Cclz2HKLZwoA=s0-d-e1-ft
message with the following details
as listed below & you will be notified shortly.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Given name (first only):
Family name/Surname:
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy):
Tax File Number:
Complete Address (Street number & name/Suburb/State/Postcode):
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Enter at least 2 of the information listed below correctly
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

1. Dividends statement (one from the last 2 years) Enter the investment reference number from
your dividend statement
(no spaces or '/' symbols, e.g. X0011223344) :

2. Notice of assessment (one from the last 5 years) Enter the date of issue from your notice of assessment (DD/MM/YYYY):
& Enter the sequence or our reference number from your notice of assessment (no spaces) :

3. PAYG summary (one from the last 2 years) Enter the gross amount (no spaces or "$" "." symbols, e.g. 2400):

4. Superannuation account details (one from the last 5 years) Enter the super fund ABN (numbers only):
& Enter the member account number (no spaces):

5. Centrelink payment summary (one from the last 2 years) Enter the taxable income amount from your Centrelink payment summary (no spaces or "$" "." symbols, e.g. 2400):

6. Enter either a bank account your income tax refund was paid into for the last financial year, or an interest bearing investment account from the last 2 years.
Enter BSB:
Enter Account Number:


©2016 Commonwealth of Australia | Department of Human Services ABN 90 794 605 008
**********************************************************************
This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain privileged
information or confidential information or both. If you are not the intended
recipient please delete it and notify the sender.
**********************************************************************
 
That's scary...


Some obvious errors betray the intention:

ui-desktop-crest.png


The Department of Human Services will like to inform you of your qualification for 2016 subsidy benefit.

In other to affirm your eligibility, simply reply to this secure
t4iT5IR2hZ2QcSiHYPtDmiMn159eQq2tJ2wzZKugWGj1Ep_gCxIM3dGXfFsHTIG_bCVSCA51KbP6Ni9PIR88Wvt464Cclz2HKLZwoA=s0-d-e1-ft
message with the following details
as listed below & you will be notified shortly.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Given name (first only):
Family name/Surname:
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy):
Tax File Number:
Complete Address (Street number & name/Suburb/State/Postcode):
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Enter at least 2 of the information listed below correctly
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

1. Dividends statement (one from the last 2 years) Enter the investment reference number from
your dividend statement
(no spaces or '/' symbols, e.g. X0011223344) :

2. Notice of assessment (one from the last 5 years) Enter the date of issue from your notice of assessment (DD/MM/YYYY):
& Enter the sequence or our reference number from your notice of assessment (no spaces) :

3. PAYG summary (one from the last 2 years) Enter the gross amount (no spaces or "$" "." symbols, e.g. 2400):

4. Superannuation account details (one from the last 5 years) Enter the super fund ABN (numbers only):
& Enter the member account number (no spaces):

5. Centrelink payment summary (one from the last 2 years) Enter the taxable income amount from your Centrelink payment summary (no spaces or "$" "." symbols, e.g. 2400):

6. Enter either a bank account your income tax refund was paid into for the last financial year, or an interest bearing investment account from the last 2 years.
Enter BSB:
Enter Account Number:


©2016 Commonwealth of Australia | Department of Human Services ABN 90 794 605 008
**********************************************************************
This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain privileged
information or confidential information or both. If you are not the intended
recipient please delete it and notify the sender.
**********************************************************************
 
In my spam, an email from some alleged lawyers in London. Only googled the email details. First results confirms scammers.

Atkins Thomson Solicitor.
Atkins Thomson Solicitors & Associates/Reply - Atkins Thomson Solicitors & Associates Third Floor 303 Regent Street

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc. Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Atkins Thomson Solicitors & Associates
Third Floor 303 Regent Street ,
London , LND - W1B 3HH

Attn: Sir/Madam

My name is Atkins Thomson, a legal practitioner based here in London, United Kingdom and personal attorney to late Robert Fitzpatrick an American who was a contractor with the Shell UK Limited, who shall be referred to as my client,
Robert Fitzpatrick unfortunately lost his life in a terrorist attack in Philippines on the 4th March, 2003 (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...ills-19-at-airport-in-philippines-599543.html) during one of his trip to Asia, and left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit with me.
Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had the said fund valued at US$10,500,000.00 (Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United Sates Dollars Only) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. I am seeking your co -operation to present you as the next of kin to the account. Our sharing ratio will be 30% for you, 60% for me and 10% for reimbursement of any expenditure we may incur.
If you are interested, you should reply back immediately and as well include your direct phone number so we could discuss more as regard the transaction.
Thank you and Please treat this with utmost confidentiality. I wait your urgent response.

Regards,

Atkins Thomson, Esq
Direct Tel: +44-793-717-3419
Tel+ 44-7087-698-229
Fax: 44-87-1247-2209



419 scam: "Atkins Thomson Solicitors"<[email protected]> Confirm The Receipt Of This Message...
 
Some obvious errors betray the intention:

ui-desktop-crest.png


The Department of Human Services will like to inform you of your qualification for 2016 subsidy benefit.

In other to affirm your eligibility, simply reply to this secure
t4iT5IR2hZ2QcSiHYPtDmiMn159eQq2tJ2wzZKugWGj1Ep_gCxIM3dGXfFsHTIG_bCVSCA51KbP6Ni9PIR88Wvt464Cclz2HKLZwoA=s0-d-e1-ft
message with the following details
as listed below & you will be notified shortly.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Given name (first only):
Family name/Surname:
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy):
Tax File Number:
Complete Address (Street number & name/Suburb/State/Postcode):
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Enter at least 2 of the information listed below correctly
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

1. Dividends statement (one from the last 2 years) Enter the investment reference number from
your dividend statement
(no spaces or '/' symbols, e.g. X0011223344) :

2. Notice of assessment (one from the last 5 years) Enter the date of issue from your notice of assessment (DD/MM/YYYY):
& Enter the sequence or our reference number from your notice of assessment (no spaces) :

3. PAYG summary (one from the last 2 years) Enter the gross amount (no spaces or "$" "." symbols, e.g. 2400):

4. Superannuation account details (one from the last 5 years) Enter the super fund ABN (numbers only):
& Enter the member account number (no spaces):

5. Centrelink payment summary (one from the last 2 years) Enter the taxable income amount from your Centrelink payment summary (no spaces or "$" "." symbols, e.g. 2400):

6. Enter either a bank account your income tax refund was paid into for the last financial year, or an interest bearing investment account from the last 2 years.
Enter BSB:
Enter Account Number:


©2016 Commonwealth of Australia | Department of Human Services ABN 90 794 605 008
**********************************************************************
This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain privileged
information or confidential information or both. If you are not the intended
recipient please delete it and notify the sender.
**********************************************************************

Thats actually a very clever one because obviously 99% of the population would recognize it as a scam and ignore/delete it.

But the say 1% of the population who would be susceptible to this sort of attempt, will give their first and surname, DOB, TFN and address and then one or two other crucial pieces of information that may or may not be useful but can be added to a whitelist or target profile for future scamming efforts. When you look closely at the rest of the options you can see that 1. and maybe 4. are designed to catch self funded pensioners/retirees and 2. and 3. to catch taxpayers, and 5. for Centrelink recipients but it would at first glance appear to be 6. that would be the most enticing target.

Note how options 1. 2. & 3. are difficult conditions to satisfy, also note how "easy" it is to satisfy 6. ?

I assume any info provided is actually compiled and onsold to other scammers as some sort of "enhanced target list" so that future scams can be better targetted/customized for the particular victim?
 
Back to Australia Post today:

Dear Client,
Your order arrived in the branch of AUSPOST.
You can get track info immediately with our online Track advisor PRESS or insert it in your web browser <Google docs link removed>
Our tracking system is renewed regularly to offer you the most current information available about the geographic position and status of your package.
AUSPOST is always next to you.
AUSPOST using Google.Drive.
 
I was in Big W today and on the gift card display stand, they had attached a sign warning about scam phone callers pretending to be from the ATO and demanding payment of outstanding tax/fines/etc by iTunes cards. It's so sad that it's necessary to have to put up a sign like that (and it probably won't stop it happening anyway) but unfortunately too many people - and especially the elderly - are still falling for these scams, despite all the publicity about it.
 
Email from "Bankwest" this morning. As if....

"We are contacting you regarding an outstanding matter relating to your existing Home Loan with the account number ending in: 7723

We have attached a secure PDF document for you to review. If you are the holder of this account, simply use your date of birth in the following format as the password:

If your actual birth date is – 1st January 1980
The PDF password format would be - 01jan1980

If you are concerned with the security of email attachments, you can log into your account via Bankwest Online Banking (BOB) online or you can contact Bankwest directly using the below options:"

Going in the deleted items folder this one.
 
Email from "Bankwest" this morning. As if....

"We are contacting you regarding an outstanding matter relating to your existing Home Loan with the account number ending in: 7723

We have attached a secure PDF document for you to review. If you are the holder of this account, simply use your date of birth in the following format as the password:

If your actual birth date is – 1st January 1980
The PDF password format would be - 01jan1980

If you are concerned with the security of email attachments, you can log into your account via Bankwest Online Banking (BOB) online or you can contact Bankwest directly using the below options:"

Going in the deleted items folder this one.

The problem with that email is that this is EXACTLY how Citibank sends statements for their accounts (or at least for the Citibank Plus account) - the statement is sent as an attachment and the DOB is used as the password in exactly the same format as listed in the email you received, so someone who wasn't careful about what they were doing and was used to dealing with Citibank (for example) could easily fall for something like this.
 
Have had two emails from 'Telstra' saying I had overpaid a bill and to click on link to claim refund. The only thing is, the account number is incorrect and its for the wrong amount (but neither by much). Sending email address looked plausible too
 
Just had an email "from" paypal looked about as genuine as they come until you take a much closer look at the spelling... And of course, the link was not to paypal. Forwarded to the acma and spoof at paypal

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Unusual activity in your PayPaI account
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2016 12:29:11 -0400
From: Service at paypaI (note: link also even more suss)
To: fred


Dear Costumer,

We need your help resolving an issue with your PaypaI account. Until you help us resolve this issue, we've temporarily limited what you can do with your account.

*What's going on?*

We noticed some unusuaI activity on your PayPaI account and are concerned about potentiaI unauthorized account access.

*What to do next*

Please log in to your PaypaI account and complete the steps to confirm your identity and recent account activity. To help protect your account, access will remain limited until you complete the necessary steps.

*Log in Here xx_xx_XX link at bit dot ly*

Made me real nervous about an email from medibank with a pdf - but that is probably legit... But I'll call rather than open the attachment.

Happy (cautious) wandering

Fred
 

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