Part 3: Scams Awareness Month - There's Something About Mary!

I have never received so many Scam emails but then again I haven't sold a car via ebay before! One clear mistake is including my email address in the body of the advert, I will be changing that once I have posted this.



As you will see from the previous email the content is very similar to 'Alan's' message but this time instead of a gift for his wife, its a present for 'Mary's' brother in law (the email address is marybasham4real@gmail.com)! One thing you will notice from these scams is that if you reply to the message the subsequent reply is received back to your inbox very quickly.............they must be sat poised.

When I replied to the previous message I simply received an email back advising me to raise an invoice via Paypal, I haven't gone past this stage as the invoice would include my home address and I certainly don't want them to having that!

Don't forget Scams Awareness Month is currently running and you can get some useful tips from the Office of Fair Trading and Consumer Direct.

My previous postings on the scams I have received can be viewed via:

Part 1: Scams Awareness Month - Ebay Scam

Part 2: Scams Awareness Month - I Must Have Victim Written All Over Me!

Scams Awareness Month - I Must Have Victim Written All Over Me!

It is currently Scams Awareness Month and I previously highlighted a scam which I received via email regarding my ebay account and specifically around issues with a credit card (view the article here). So today I received an email regarding a car I am trying to sell (strangely enough its also listed on a popular auction site plus one other site) and here it is...............

Yeh Right!! (Click to enlarge)

Do people actually fall for this crap??!! I presume people do, I haven't seen any figures but I wonder what their success hit rates are. Needless to say the email has been deleted* and the sender a 'Alan James' via omnitelservice@gmail.com has been added to my spam list!

*NB: Although I did reply to the message one last time so lets see what comes back!

Counter Terrorism Publicity Campaign Launched In London Today

"It's probably nothing" but your call could save lives - that's the message of a new (??) counter-terrorism publicity campaign launched by the Metropolitan Police Service today (although is does appear to be a reincarnation of previous campaigns). I do think the message is a good one and at the end of the day the Police can't be everywhere but they really need to step things up a little to fully engage the public and commercial businesses - which after all is what they are trying to achieve at a national level! 

The four week campaign consists of two 40-second radio adverts and three press adverts which will feature on radio stations and in newspapers across London.



Just one piece of information could be vital in helping disrupt
terrorist planning and, in turn, save lives 

Police want people to look out for the unusual - some activity or behaviour which strikes them as not quite right and out of place in their normal day to day lives e.g.:

• Terrorists need storage - Lock-ups, garages and sheds can all be used by terrorists to store equipment. Are you suspicious of anyone renting commercial property?
• Terrorists use chemicals - Do you know someone buying large or unusual quantities of chemicals for no obvious reason?
• Terrorists need funding - Cheque and credit card fraud are ways of generating cash. Have you seen any suspicious transactions?
• Terrorists use multiple identities - Do you know someone with documents in different names for no obvious reason?
•  Terrorists need information - Do you someone taking an interest in security, like CCTV cameras for no obvious reason?
•  Terrorists need transport - If you work in commercial vehicle hire or sales, has a sale or rental made you suspicious?

The radio ads are available here Advert One and Advert Two via Audioboo.

The Spy Next Door, Stealing Your Life For £44

How easy can it be to steal your life? For less than 44 quid is it possible to steal your bank account username, password and bank account security questions? For less than 44 quid is it possible to harvest your credit card details, including your credit card security code and Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode password? Is it possible to read your private Emails and access your Email account? Is it possible to monitor all your private web surfing habits and instant messenger conversations, and obtain your username and passwords for all your websites?

Click here to read the full article via the IT Security Expert's blog by Dave Whitelegg.

Security Institute - Jan/Feb 2011 News

Click the image to view in
Google Docs

Scams Awareness Month - Ebay Scam

I couldn't have planned this better, but as we are in Scams Awareness Month I thought I would advise you of a scam I have received into my email inbox.

I recently received a message from 'eBay' informing me that my account had been suspended due to my credit/debit card being declined. I noticed that the email address for the sender wasn't an 'offical' eBay one, so I of course utilised the best free investigative tool in the modern world.....Google! Apparently this is a well know Phishing scam which has been around for some time.

Needless to say I didn't click on the link and enter my mothers maiden name, along with my bank details and my inside leg measurements!