Dopey email scam - anyone else seen it?

Forums › Off topic › Dopey email scam - anyone else seen it?

geekIT

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#214141 29-Apr-2017 13:38

I've seen some crazy scams but I think this one has to rank with the dorkiest :-)

Just received this email:

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

Dear, [RemovedByMod]@xtra.co.nz

This is automatic letter of information of the Parking Service.

Road cameras have recorded the overspeed of your vehicle. Therefore, you will have to pay the approapiate fine.
_____________________________________________________________

In order to successfully settle the payment obligation, you will have to register the invoice on the official website.

Your fine Invoice ID is IGFEAH

Please submit it here:
https://parking-services.[TLD removed by mod]
_____________________________________________________________

Kindest Regards,

Parking Service

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

Dorky or what? Still, I got a good laugh out of it -

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

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#1772432 29-Apr-2017 13:49

You'd better pay the fine, mate. They seem serious.

Rikkitic

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#1772433 29-Apr-2017 13:51

Why don't I ever get those? The incredible thing is that some people do get sucked in by them.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Dratsab

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#1772468 29-Apr-2017 15:10

I've seen a few people having a good laugh at these on Facebook.

geekIT

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#1772493 29-Apr-2017 16:26

Journeyman:

You'd better pay the fine, mate. They seem serious.

LOL. Yeah, might do that. It's probably only a few rupees.

Re scams, I personally know one guy who got taken in by a similar ruse.

Cost him $500.

But the most astonishing part of the story is that he was, at the time, on the Council of one of Central Otago's best known towns. Which I won't name but rhymes with 'Beam Down'.

And also on that subject, the next time someone with a pronounced Indian accent calls you and says he's from Microsoft and that your computer is chock-full of bugs, DON'T tell him to f*** off, or go boil his head, or go stand on the railway line. Much better to totally waste the guy's time by pretending to be taken in by his bulls*** routine. You don't even need to be sitting at a computer. These dickheads totally hate this sort of treatment because it means that while they're talking to you, they can't be scamming someone else.

I used to employ the abuse option but recently adopted the second method. Last time someone called me, it took him ten minutes to catch on that I was scamming him. He was very, very annoyed. Actually, I haven't had one of those 'Microsoft' calls since.

BTW, you will never, ever get a cold call from Microsoft about mythical problems with your computer. Shucks, it's almost impossible to get any useful information from Microsoft even if you call them.

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

Stu

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#1772511 29-Apr-2017 17:08

From the FUG:

When talking about a company use their real name. We follow the principle that respect must go both ways.

This is being ignored too often.

Have edited the offending post. Please don't do it again.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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michaelmurfy

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#1772527 29-Apr-2017 17:51

That URL is providing Ransomware - see this:

Go to the URL in the OP:

Unsuspecting user downloads the file - interesting, a plain .js file - lets run it:

Oh crap...

I then got "blocked" from the site for asking a question:

Guess the idiot running it doesn't appreciate Taylor.

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freitasm

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#1772530 29-Apr-2017 17:57

geekIT:

BTW, you will never, ever get a cold call from Microsoft about mythical problems with your computer. Shucks, it's almost impossible to get any useful information from Microsoft even if you call them.

Completely unrelated, but this is Off Topic...

People too often complain about the large IT companies. I've only had good services from Microsoft when raising support cases (both for servers and Office 365). I had excellent services from HPE when I raised a support case that needed a RAID cable replacement (for our Geekzone server) and things went very smoothly.

People seem to like complaining about companies but I wonder how many actually ever had to deal with these.

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MackinNZ

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#1772546 29-Apr-2017 18:41

freitasm:

People too often complain about the large IT companies. I've only had good services from Microsoft when raising support cases (both for servers and Office 365). I had excellent services from HPE when I raised a support case that needed a RAID cable replacement (for our Geekzone server) and things went very smoothly.

People seem to like complaining about companies but I wonder how many actually ever had to deal with these.

I completely agree about Microsoft support. I had cause to request support for an Office 365 problem just a few days ago and after placing the request thru the Office 365 admin portal, they called me back within 1/2 an hour and had the problem sorted very quickly. Outstanding support.

geekIT

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#1772559 29-Apr-2017 19:38

michaelmurfy:

That URL is providing Ransomware - see this:

Unsuspecting user downloads the file - interesting, a plain .js file - lets run it:

Oh crap...I then got "blocked" from the site for asking a question:

Guess the idiot running it doesn't appreciate Taylor.

Well done, michaelmurfy!

I wasn't game to try it...just in case :-)

'Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.' Voltaire

'A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.' Edward Abbey

Oblivian

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#1772648 29-Apr-2017 22:34

In my unused Xtra box..

Bit hard to work out what exacty is wanted...

Renovate your accommodation. Say what

Rikkitic

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#1772677 29-Apr-2017 23:24

These people ought to at least learn to speak English.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

tdgeek

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#1772690 30-Apr-2017 01:59

freitasm:

geekIT:

BTW, you will never, ever get a cold call from Microsoft about mythical problems with your computer. Shucks, it's almost impossible to get any useful information from Microsoft even if you call them.

Completely unrelated, but this is Off Topic...

People too often complain about the large IT companies. I've only had good services from Microsoft when raising support cases (both for servers and Office 365). I had excellent services from HPE when I raised a support case that needed a RAID cable replacement (for our Geekzone server) and things went very smoothly.

People seem to like complaining about companies but I wonder how many actually ever had to deal with these.

For every case of less than ideal service there are many many of them with good service.

What I bolded is something I see often, everywhere.

tdgeek

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#1772691 30-Apr-2017 02:01

Rikkitic:

Why don't I ever get those? The incredible thing is that some people do get sucked in by them.

I defend those that get sucked in. Many people are not IT literate, and of these that are kind and trusting, they can get sucked in. Whip out 100,000 scam emails, that net will snag a few.

PhantomNVD

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#1772692 30-Apr-2017 02:31

tdgeek:
Rikkitic:

Why don't I ever get those? The incredible thing is that some people do get sucked in by them.

I defend those that get sucked in. Many people are not IT literate, and of these that are kind and trusting, they can get sucked in. Whip out 100,000 scam emails, that net will snag a few.

Yup, I believe the reported success rate is something like 3%... but 3% for 100,000 is 3,000 so I guess they still make mega moola and scammers continue to play the odds as they win enough to keep motivated. (Beats the hell out of cold calling salesmen too!)

A recent scam IN Whatsapp from my highly literate and somewhat technical (he got an A+ certificate about 15 years back 😆) brother

Have you seen this? Virgin Airlines are celebrating 43 years of existence, and they are giving away 430x£500 vouchers. You can claim one here: http://www.claimvouchers.com/britishairways There are still few of them left! I got mine ❤️❤️

Who would believe they'd dish out £215,000 for a random 'birthday' like 43 anyway 🙄

JayADee

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#1772699 30-Apr-2017 06:53

Oblivian:
In my unused Xtra box..

Bit hard to work out what exacty is wanted...

Renovate your accommodation. Say what

Seems clear to me. Renovate your house or else! Are you sure your significant other didn't send it?

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