An email scam

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by clueless1, Feb 9, 2014.

  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2008
    Messages:
    17,778
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Here
    Ratings:
    +19,598
    I was expecting an email that never arrived, so I checked my junk folder.

    In there, I found this:

    Sender shows as "URGENT Notice", title is "ATTN: Important Notification".

    There is a zip file attached.

    I'm actually disappointed and offended by the lack of effort that's gone into this scam. Too many people these days just can't be bothered. They need a swift kick up the behind to try harder. I am actually upset by this, because I can't believe there are people who are so unmotivated in life that they can't even be bothered to pay any attention whatsoever to detail.

    Starting at the top. Nobody has an email address called 'URGENT Notice'. Nobody says 'ATTN: Important Notification'. When its an invoice, they will either give an invoice number, a summary of the item it is for, or some other short but meaningful description.

    Then, even worse, there's the Dear firstname.surname bit. They've obviously got that from my email address, which takes the form firstname.surname@provider.co.uk. If I'd done business with them, they would not have my name in their database as just the first half of my email address. They haven't even bothered to parse it and seperate out the two parts, that's just lazy. Its one line of code to do it in any programming language.

    Then there's the grammar. Its so far beyond wrong that its not even wrong, its become right, in a parallel universe.

    They apologize? How dare they? I never do business with the US. I don't want to risk the crazy import/export duties. Except for things like web hosting, where there are no invoices because you pay up front.

    Still on the subject of apologizing, you don't apologise, or apologize, for threatening legal action. You just state your position as coldly and methodically as you can.

    I'm glad they are sufficiently incompetent as to make it impossible for anyone with any sense to fall for it, but at the same time I'm genuinely gutted that this is what the world has come to. People who can't even be bothered to get the basics right in whatever venture they attempt.
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Jenny namaste

      Jenny namaste Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 11, 2012
      Messages:
      18,581
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      retired- blissfully retired......
      Location:
      Battle, East Sussex
      Ratings:
      +32,569
      Feel better now Clue?
      :heehee: :roflol: :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
      Jenny
       
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • Funny Funny x 1
      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

        Joined:
        Dec 5, 2010
        Messages:
        16,524
        Location:
        Central England on heavy clay soil
        Ratings:
        +28,998
        I get emails from 'Amazon' with an invoice attached for my recent order from senders like 'harry123 @ yahoo.com' and then there's the ones from couriers with information attached about stuff they're delivering that's never been ordered. I've never had any telling me I've won a foreign lottery, from beautiful foreign women wanting money for the air fare to come and marry me, etc., just dodgy ones with attachments.
         
      • shiney

        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jul 3, 2006
        Messages:
        64,880
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired - Last Century!!!
        Location:
        Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +127,068
        Sorry clueless :sad:. I'll try to do it better next time. :doh:
         
        • Funny Funny x 2
        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

          Ratings:
          +0
          • Like Like x 1
          • DIY-Dave

            DIY-Dave Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 9, 2014
            Messages:
            733
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Johannesburg, South Africa
            Ratings:
            +772
            Perhaps they should have got a copy of:

            ForDummies.jpg
             
            • Funny Funny x 2
            • Like Like x 1
            • clueless1

              clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

              Joined:
              Jan 8, 2008
              Messages:
              17,778
              Gender:
              Male
              Location:
              Here
              Ratings:
              +19,598
              I did once, but then I figured I'd enjoy lots of things more than dealing with Barclays. Examples include:
              * Extracting my own eyes using sharpened bamboo canes
              * Disembowelling myself using rusty 6 inch nails (which incidentally, I once nearly did, but that's another story)
              * Poking angry wild animals with a stick
               
              • Funny Funny x 2
              • Palustris

                Palustris Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Oct 23, 2005
                Messages:
                3,737
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                West Midlands
                Ratings:
                +3,233
                The trouble is that if many of the postings on here are anything to go by, then, many people would not realise that the grammar and spelling on the Email ARE incorrect.
                But, then, there are many who do not know the difference between giving an apology and saying one is sorry.
                 
              • clueless1

                clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

                Joined:
                Jan 8, 2008
                Messages:
                17,778
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Here
                Ratings:
                +19,598
                The difference between the grammar on here and the grammar in an email that is purporting to be 'official' is that on here, we are just chatting informally. There is no reason to meticulously check everything before hitting post.

                If you send an email that you want to be taken seriously, then you draft it, proof read it, reword it, check it again, and generally make absolutely sure it is right. You don't just rattle the keyboard then hit send.
                 
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                Joined:
                Jul 3, 2006
                Messages:
                64,880
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired - Last Century!!!
                Location:
                Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                Ratings:
                +127,068

                Aahhh!!!! :ideaIPB: That's what I'm doing wrong. :doh:
                 
                • Funny Funny x 2
                Loading...

                Share This Page

                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                  Dismiss Notice