Scam e-mail

[schmenke]

I've previously heard of such scams but I think this is the first time that I've actually received this kind of e-mail (link below removed by me)...
I don't even know what PCN Bank is :mark:
Are there people out there stupid enough to actually respond to these? :s


Dear PNC Bank corporate/business online client:
The PNC Customer Service requests you to complete the PNC PinacleWeb Online Confirmation Form.
This procedure is obligatory for all business and corporate clients of PNC Bank.
Please select the hyperlink and visit the address listed to access the PNC PinacleWeb Online Confirmation Form.

http://link_removed/form.jsp (http://link_removed/form.jsp)
Again, thank you for choosing PNC Bank for your business needs. We look forward to working with you.
Please do not respond to this email.
This mail is generated by an automated service.
Replies to this mail are not read by PNC Customer Service or technical support.

[Mark]

The first time you've got one? I get dozens every single day :s

[schmenke]

I receive spam e-mail every now and then, usually limited to something obvious like Viagra :rolleyes: , but this is the first time I've received anything from a bogus bank :s

[Flat.tyres]

just received a Domain Name Expiration Notice from domain registry of america.

how these idiots are still going is beyond me :rolleyes:

[Mark]

just received a Domain Name Expiration Notice from domain registry of america.

how these idiots are still going is beyond me :rolleyes:

I get those through the post all the time too. But they are particularly deceptive, it just looks like an invoice you have to pay, I wonder how many are taken in by it.

[Daniel]

Best way to deal with Spam like this is to follow the electrons from your network port, track down said spammer and remove his/her genitals and shove them down their throat :)

[Drew]

I've previously heard of such scams but I think this is the first time that I've actually received this kind of e-mail (link below removed by me)...
I don't even know what PCN Bank is :mark:
Are there people out there stupid enough to actually respond to these? :s


Dear PNC Bank corporate/business online client:
The PNC Customer Service requests you to complete the PNC PinacleWeb Online Confirmation Form.
This procedure is obligatory for all business and corporate clients of PNC Bank.
Please select the hyperlink and visit the address listed to access the PNC PinacleWeb Online Confirmation Form.

http://link_removed/form.jsp (http://link_removed/form.jsp)
Again, thank you for choosing PNC Bank for your business needs. We look forward to working with you.
Please do not respond to this email.
This mail is generated by an automated service.
Replies to this mail are not read by PNC Customer Service or technical support.


How about PNC bank? :p :

[Dave B]

Sadly if even a fraction of a percent of recipients fall for this, the spammers are raking it in. It amazes me that people still believe these emails, but obviously some do :s

[Spoonbender]

Do you think that anyone ever buys viagra from these spam emails??

If you did they would probably be as supprised as a Jahova's witness being invited in when they knock on your door.

[Mark]

I'm sure some people do. If you send out 5 million emails and someone buys something for £20. That's £19.99 profit for you. It should also come with a free jail sentance, but sadly not!

[schmenke]

When you think about it, if even 0.1% of recepients are actually dumb enough to respond to such an e-mail, that's 500 orders. At £20.00 each that's £10,000 revenue for the effort of just a few strokes ('scuse the pun :s ) of a keyboard :mark:

[Dave B]

Interesting article: http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,2107221,00.html




The numbers may be small, but they add up to enough to make it very profitable for the scammers, according to a paper by Richard Clayton and Tyler Moore at the University of Cambridge. The paper (tinyurl.com/2e6w9j (http://tinyurl.com/2e6w9j)) found that an average phishing site attracts up to 30 user inputs per day before being taken down. Most phishing sites were removed within 48 hours - but the remainder could be hard to eradicate, lasting up to six weeks.
"They only get 10 to 20 people," says Michael Barrett of PayPal. "But if you work on the basis of a couple of hundred bucks per customer, then the bad guy has made four grand for little work."

[Dave B]

I've just had a lovely one sneak through my spam filter. I don't know why, but the way this is written made me laugh:


From: Diego Baird [oceunsdgyp@borsamerciroma.com]
Sent: 27 September 2007 13:45
To:
Subject: Hi my friend!

Hallo!!
I put my ad to the date cause I want to have serious on a site of
acquaintances.
I have chosen you after searching a lot. I like you greatly so I decided to
write you. I write through the Internet agency that is why my letter will be a
short one. I am 29. I am young but wise already to make a woman happy and
make the house cozy and comfortable. I have never been married before and I
think this is the right moment to do it. I have chosen you cause I liked your
the story you told about yourself. I think the true love comes with time and
what is really important in the relationship is the trust and understanding. I
hope you will reply and i will send you my picture at once.
Please write straight to the address: removed@removed
Your new girlfriend

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.32/1032 - Release Date: 26/09/2007
20:20

[tinchote]

I've previously heard of such scams but I think this is the first time that I've actually received this kind of e-mail (link below removed by me)...
I don't even know what PCN Bank is :mark:
Are there people out there stupid enough to actually respond to these? :s


Dear PNC Bank corporate/business online client:
The PNC Customer Service requests you to complete the PNC PinacleWeb Online Confirmation Form.
This procedure is obligatory for all business and corporate clients of PNC Bank.
Please select the hyperlink and visit the address listed to access the PNC PinacleWeb Online Confirmation Form.

http://link_removed/form.jsp (http://link_removed/form.jsp)
Again, thank you for choosing PNC Bank for your business needs. We look forward to working with you.
Please do not respond to this email.
This mail is generated by an automated service.
Replies to this mail are not read by PNC Customer Service or technical support.


I've received many times similar emails regarding RBC, CIBC, BMO, etc. And also Ebay and Paypal. And if you click on the link they send it opens a web page that looks exactly like the bank's (and in fact most links point to the real pages). If you happen to enter your info in this fake page, you can bet they will quickly empty your account.

[Daniel]

I've received many times similar emails regarding RBC, CIBC, BMO, etc. And also Ebay and Paypal. And if you click on the link they send it opens a web page that looks exactly like the bank's (and in fact most links point to the real pages). If you happen to enter your info in this fake page, you can bet they will quickly empty your account.

If you use IE7 though you'll quickly find out it's a phishing site :D I like entering false details with nasty messages for them :-P

[Hondo]

It's too bad there isn't a way to trigger a massive voltage spike back down the line to the sender to melt down the machine. Same thing with sales calls on the telephone.

[martinbalmer]

If you use IE7 though you'll quickly find out it's a phishing site :D I like entering false details with nasty messages for them :-P

I have this theory that if we all click the links (safety issues aside from following dodgy links) and fill out a load fictitious but convincing looking details in the boxes, these scammers would have so much rubbish to filter through that they'd have to work much much harder for their money... :p :

[J4MIE]

I am so fed up of spam that I couldn't tell you the last time I used email for email :s

[Daniel]

I have this theory that if we all click the links (safety issues aside from following dodgy links) and fill out a load fictitious but convincing looking details in the boxes, these scammers would have so much rubbish to filter through that they'd have to work much much harder for their money... :p :
Well I once lead one of those nigerian scam emailers on :D

[RaceFanStan]

A word of warning ...
if you click the link that a scam/spam person/company sends you ...
it sometimes can identify your email address as being active ...
then your email box could be bombarded with spam !!!!! :eek:

Be careful clicking links of sources you don't recognize. :s

[Mark]

And also make sure your email client is set up not to automatically open images.
For me spam got so bad that I had to lock down outlook in such a way that if the email is not from a pre approved address it will automatically get binned.

[ChrisS]

The simplest way to find out if such emails are true or not (especialy from banks and similar) is open a new browser window, type your Bank's URL and log-in if what the email was asking was true you will be asked again when you log in to the website

[Dave B]

The simplest way to find out if such emails are true or not (especialy from banks and similar) is open a new browser window, type your Bank's URL and log-in if what the email was asking was true you will be asked again when you log in to the website
You don't even need to do that: my bank only send emails to a dedicated address which only they and I know, and always quote my full name.

Even then, I never follow any links.

Any other emails don't get a second look. Strange that my junk email folder gets filled with emails from all manner of banks who I've never dealt with :rolleyes:

[J4MIE]

My bank never sends emails. Keeps it simple enough really.

Since I deleted my junk email folder on Friday (6 days ago), I now have 1240 in there.

:angryfire

[schmenke]

My bank never sends emails...

Neither does mine, now that I think about it :mark:

[tinchote]

Neither does mine, now that I think about it :mark:

My banks do send emails. In both cases, there is never a link in the email. Simple enough.

[Ian McC]

I've just had a lovely one sneak through my spam filter. I don't know why, but the way this is written made me laugh:

You been on russianbrides.com again Dave? :p :

[LotusElise]

I used to get illustrated Viagra spam ads at my old job. Even though I'm a girl with a really obvious female name.

[tinchote]

I used to get illustrated Viagra spam ads at my old job. Even though I'm a girl with a really obvious female name.


It's certainly cheaper for them to send the emails to everybody rather than filtering in any way.

Besides, you could have wanted it for your boyfriend/husband/whatever ;)

[Daniel]

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/09/28/burmese-unrest-spread-malware this is so sad :mark: Idiots trying to cause pain for people on the back of the turmoil in Burma.