My spammers have moved from Russia, through the newly independent former Soviet Republics and Eastern Europe to Germany. I am now getting spam emails in German from Wonderful Maidens looking for der Sex with a Passionate Man.
I'll be interested to see whether they migrate all the way around the world in due course via Wales, Ireland and America, and return to Russia again.
(I actually just typed "ewmails" by mistake, but maybe I should have left that uncorrected.)
New process showing up. It's called Smishing. Here is how Yahoo News describes it:
In “smishing” ― a term that combines “SMS” and “phishing” ― bad actors try to get your personal and banking information through unsolicited text messages on mobile devices. They do it by pretending to be government agencies, companies that you might have done business with, or a package delivery service. They’ll say something to get your urgent attention like a text about a free gift that you have to pay a small “shipping fee” to receive or they will send a warning about suspicious activity on your account.
I have seen a couple of these messages. I just refuse to reply.
They've been around for a few years over here (the UK). There's meant to be a way of reporting them to your phone provider, but since I didn't have a smartphone when they started, I haven't got as far as checking what it is.
We've been getting a lot of persistent phone scammers lately. The phone is beside the computer, so I've bookmarked some music that I feel will improve their dull and boring lives when I am not otherwise too busy. When I played this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2-69S2twMQ for a persistent person claiming to be from the phone company yesterday, he not only found the time to hear it right through twice, he threatened to report me to the police for some unspecified offence. I wished him a nice day and hung up. A simple pleasure.
They've been around for a few years over here (the UK). There's meant to be a way of reporting them to your phone provider, but since I didn't have a smartphone when they started, I haven't got as far as checking what it is.
In the UK (and US) you can report SMS scams/spams by forwarding them to '7726' (works for all operators). If you don't have a smartphone that also forwards the message 'envelope' (sender details), you'll get a followup asking you to text the number that sent you the message.
I was getting persistent calls from my credit card company (the number even came up with the company name attached!!) last week because a suspected fraudulent purchase had been made. I told them I was going to call the company directly, because I suspected them of trying to scam me. The third time they called that day, I think I was talking to the ringleader, and he ended up hanging up on me!!! I finally reached a person at my credit card help line, he affirmed that it was a phishing expedition, and of course I had changed my password by then.
Last week I had a Credit Card company of mine reach out to me too. I ignored it at first, but they were persistent. I even got an email from them. I contacted them through the number listed on the back of the card. Yes, they had flagged two purchases they thought were irregular, out of my spending pattern. They gave me the dollar amounts, but would not tell me which companies they were for. I told them I could not recollect the charges, so they froze the card and are reissuing a new one.
Turns out I did remember the charges later. Now, I have to get back to those companies and settle up with them.
I am an admin on a website about women in history. Despite the fact that every woman we feature is dead, we have a slow but steady stream of men under the impression that we are some sort of dating website. Apparently the fact that e.g. Nurse X's photo is a sepia photo, accompanied by a photo of a War Memorial with her name on it, and her biography ends "died of typhus fever in 1916" isn't enough to convince these men that Nurse X is not looking for a date.
The latest message, however, isn't offering a date, but a marriage spell which does not involve "human blood or sacrifice." The message seems to be aimed at a woman who was, admittedly, not married, but who died in 1912, aged 72.
"I love your city so much I've decided to spend several months in it. Let's meet..."
Welcome to Little Sneezing on the Wold, famed for its annual piglet race and ferret competition. Our best restaurant will serve you a generous portion of fish and chips for under £10, to be eaten wherever you feel like it, if the residents don't object, or a sausage if you prefer. The local pub offers a fine selection of three beers and a choice of local white wine (small glass or large glass) made by our vicar's brother. There's no lack of scenery with a wide array of different fields to look at, and some may even contain pigs, or ferrets. We hope you enjoy your stay at Mrs Trellis's guesthouse, which is full of creature comforts - many guests have remarked on how close the creatures have become in such a short space of time, particularly the very tiny ones. In short, we hope you enjoy your several months here.
"I love your city so much I've decided to spend several months in it. Let's meet..."
Welcome to Little Sneezing on the Wold, famed for its annual piglet race and ferret competition. Our best restaurant will serve you a generous portion of fish and chips for under £10, to be eaten wherever you feel like it, if the residents don't object, or a sausage if you prefer. The local pub offers a fine selection of three beers and a choice of local white wine (small glass or large glass) made by our vicar's brother. There's no lack of scenery with a wide array of different fields to look at, and some may even contain pigs, or ferrets. We hope you enjoy your stay at Mrs Trellis's guesthouse, which is full of creature comforts - many guests have remarked on how close the creatures have become in such a short space of time, particularly the very tiny ones. In short, we hope you enjoy your several months here.
You know where I live, don't you? Except the 'wide array of fields' are now lakes. 'a large population of water fowl a feature'. Roads adequate if you have a 4 x 4. Local shop now out of mince pies.
A few weeks ago I posted a two line response on an obituary website about a cousin who had just died. Normally, that's the end of it with these things, but now I get an e-mail every few days inviting me to take out a subscription and encouraging me to write more obituaries. I mean... What do they want? Wouldn't you be suspicious of a serial obituary writer? I have five more cousins to go and none of them looks like a candidate for an obit in the near future. I hope the unsubscribe function works.
Probably one of the least convincing pieces of spam I've seen is a WhatsApp message purportedly from our company director, who for some reason is writing partly in Spanish to let us know he's stranded in Portugal, and could we send him some money for his fare home please.
I got this one this morning. I don't see what could possibly be wrong and I will be applying for this position immediately:
From: The Illuminati
Subject line: Join the Illuminati
Greetings, from the illuminati world elite empire, Are you a business Man/woman,
politician, musician, student, employee.
Do you strive to expand your knowledge to achieve personal growth, Do you want to be rich?, need protection, be powerful and famous.
if YES!. Then you can achieve your dreams by being a member of the great illuminati empire,
Once you are a member all your dreams and heart desire can be fully accomplish.
With this brief summary, If you are interested to become a member of the great illuminati then get back to us for more information about joining the illuminati.
kindly reply us back on our direct recruitment email only at: infoilluminati003@gmail.com
Please note, Kindly make sure all your response are send directly to the email stated above only at: infoilluminati003@gmail.com
For more instructions on our membership process.
Note: We don't support dirty game, It's a brotherhood of peace, a great group of illumination Lighting.
The illuminati
"Secret society"? Hardly! They're recruiting, and apparently they're impressed with me and want me to join!
I may have to take a leave of absence from Ship Hosting if my Illuminati duties become too onerous. I really don't know what the meeting schedule is like.
"Hello, this is Barclays writing to let you know your last transaction for £846.96 is about to be processed. If you do not recognize this payment please click this link..."
"Hello, this is HSBC..."
"Hello, this is Lloyds..."
"Hello, this is TSB..."
That's one week's worth. Let's see what next week brings.
Ah, @RockyRoger, I tend to feel the same way!! - about myself that is. I've had a couple of call on one phone puporting to be from the South American river company. Husband had one to landline from a company inquiring about our previous home address. That made for a quick and easy shutdown!
I recently had a book published, and I have been contacted repeatedly by companies wanting me to hire them to market the book. (There is someone marketing it, thank you.)
I recently had a book published, and I have been contacted repeatedly by companies wanting me to hire them to market the book. (There is someone marketing it, thank you.)
Hmm. Does that mean that the Book is (hopefully) potentially a best-seller? Or (more likely) that the importunate companies see you as a Mug (which I'm sure you are NOT)?
The message below is appearing on the opening page of Safari on my mac. Is it spam, or should I believe it and click on the "resecure your account" link?
My inclination with odd messages is always to assume spam, but have not got one like this before.
Compromised Password
The password to your “paypal.com” account has appeared in a data leak, putting your account at high risk of compromise. Safari can help you resecure your account.
Followed the link given by BroJames, followed the instructions for the compromised password and made the necessary change - plus dealt with a few less serious, but advisable password changes. All now safe & secure.
Thanks to all who advised to change passwords.
Having once looked at a tapestry kit, I understand why my FB feed offers me all manner of fabric crafts. Ditto frocks and kitchen gadgets. But a torrent of busty young women wearing little more than dental floss?
I'm sure I've met Dental Floss' in my last visit for a tooth check up. She's an oral hygenist.
I seem to be getting a lot of ads on my YouTube page from attractive but lonely females who uphold traditional family values, and are looking for mature male company...
Not sure about the family values bit, but I'm 73. Will I do?
The lassies I'm seeing don't seem to be looking for anyone in particular. They just want me to know that it's hot on Copacabana Beach, which is why they're wearing 3 postage stamps and 2 pieces of string.
The lassies I'm seeing don't seem to be looking for anyone in particular. They just want me to know that it's hot on Copacabana Beach, which is why they're wearing 3 postage stamps and 2 pieces of string.
Hmm. Do you think they might welcome some mature company? I could do with a long, cool drink... 🥂
Several years ago I went through a spell of getting Hot, gay, Christian men want to meet YOU!
I had no idea why a hot gay Christian man would want to meet a middle aged married woman. I concluded that perhaps they were hoping I might knit them a nice cardigan as they seemed sorely in need of some clothes.
Comments
I'll be interested to see whether they migrate all the way around the world in due course via Wales, Ireland and America, and return to Russia again.
(I actually just typed "ewmails" by mistake, but maybe I should have left that uncorrected.)
Needles to say, I have not clicked on the link...
I have seen a couple of these messages. I just refuse to reply.
I don't get them very often, so just delete.
Oh yes. Talk to me about Intellectual Property Policy and Data Protection. Woohoo.
Well done...!
In the UK (and US) you can report SMS scams/spams by forwarding them to '7726' (works for all operators). If you don't have a smartphone that also forwards the message 'envelope' (sender details), you'll get a followup asking you to text the number that sent you the message.
Turns out I did remember the charges later. Now, I have to get back to those companies and settle up with them.
The latest message, however, isn't offering a date, but a marriage spell which does not involve "human blood or sacrifice." The message seems to be aimed at a woman who was, admittedly, not married, but who died in 1912, aged 72.
Well, perhaps unlike in Tom Lehrer's anecdote, these ones never achieved their lifetime ambition of being appointer coroner.
🤣🤣😂
Why thank you. Usually I get "Ew! Go away!"
Welcome to Little Sneezing on the Wold, famed for its annual piglet race and ferret competition. Our best restaurant will serve you a generous portion of fish and chips for under £10, to be eaten wherever you feel like it, if the residents don't object, or a sausage if you prefer. The local pub offers a fine selection of three beers and a choice of local white wine (small glass or large glass) made by our vicar's brother. There's no lack of scenery with a wide array of different fields to look at, and some may even contain pigs, or ferrets. We hope you enjoy your stay at Mrs Trellis's guesthouse, which is full of creature comforts - many guests have remarked on how close the creatures have become in such a short space of time, particularly the very tiny ones. In short, we hope you enjoy your several months here.
You know where I live, don't you? Except the 'wide array of fields' are now lakes. 'a large population of water fowl a feature'. Roads adequate if you have a 4 x 4. Local shop now out of mince pies.
Is that our Piglet?
I am now fantasising about having a bank account with that amount in it in the first place.
"Secret society"? Hardly! They're recruiting, and apparently they're impressed with me and want me to join!
I may have to take a leave of absence from Ship Hosting if my Illuminati duties become too onerous. I really don't know what the meeting schedule is like.
I'm sure they will. We all have the address now.
I am so tempted to message that address and tell them I'm very interested in joining, just to see what the follow-up is.
No doubt any follow-up will involve your bank details...
"Hello, this is HSBC..."
"Hello, this is Lloyds..."
"Hello, this is TSB..."
That's one week's worth. Let's see what next week brings.
Hmm. Does that mean that the Book is (hopefully) potentially a best-seller? Or (more likely) that the importunate companies see you as a Mug (which I'm sure you are NOT)?
I don't manage anybody.
My inclination with odd messages is always to assume spam, but have not got one like this before.
Compromised Password
The password to your “paypal.com” account has appeared in a data leak, putting your account at high risk of compromise. Safari can help you resecure your account.
Yes, I wondered that, but suppose it's no longer possible to access the PayPal account directly?
I'm afraid I steer clear of any links in an unsolicited email, no matter how plausible it may seem, but I'm a SOD (Suspicious Old Devil).
I will look a bit closer into it.
Thanks to all who advised to change passwords.
I'm sure I've met Dental Floss' in my last visit for a tooth check up. She's an oral hygenist.
I seem to be getting a lot of ads on my YouTube page from attractive but lonely females who uphold traditional family values, and are looking for mature male company...
Not sure about the family values bit, but I'm 73. Will I do?
Hmm. Do you think they might welcome some mature company? I could do with a long, cool drink...
I had no idea why a hot gay Christian man would want to meet a middle aged married woman. I concluded that perhaps they were hoping I might knit them a nice cardigan as they seemed sorely in need of some clothes.