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Email Savvy

Email Savvy
Global Global
Administrator:
llmunchkin

On Minti Since: February 22nd

Members: 70
Visits: 1382

Email Savvy


Sharing tips; links; stories; about e-myths and urban legends that do the rounds, as well as ideas about how to deal with nuisance emails and being safe online. Antyhing else from the e-mail world that tickles your funny bone or irks you is also most welcome.

* Starred blogs are emails that have also been posted on Minti as advice articles.

Images:

www.imesoftware.com

animated glitter graphics

 



Blog

21
Jul
Domestic-warrior

Another hacker?

by Domestic-warriorComment Published at 20:4620:462 comments2 comments33 Visits33 VisitsReport

Apparently not according to snopes....


 
 
IF A PERSON CALLED SIMON ASHTON (
SIMON25@HOTMAIL.CO.UK ) CONTACTS YOU THROUGH EMAIL DON'T OPEN THE MESSAGE. DELETE IT BECAUSE HE IS A HACKER!! 

TELL EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ON YOUR LIST ADDS HIM THEN YOU WILL GET HIM ON YOUR LIST. HE WILL FIGURE OUT YOUR ID COMPUTER ADDRESS, SO COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE EVEN IF YOU DONT CARE FOR THEM AND FAST BECAUSE IF HE HACKS THEIR EMAIL HE HACKS YOUR MAIL TOO!!!!!... 

 
Anyone-using Internet mail such as Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL and so on.  This information arrived this morning, Direct from both Microsoft and Norton. Please send it to everybody you know who has access to the Internet. You may receive an apparently harmless e-mail titled   'Mail Server Report' 


If you open either file, a message will appear on your screen saying:  'It is too late now, your life is no longer  beautiful.' 

Subsequently you will LOSE EVERYTHING IN YOUR PC, 
And the person who sent it to you will gain access to your  name, e-mail and password. 

This is a new virus which started to circulate on Saturday afternoon. AOL has already confirmed the severity, and the   anti virus software's are not capable of destroying it 

The virus has been created by a hacker who calls himself  'life owner'. 

PLEASE SEND A COPY OF THIS E-MAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS, And ask them to 
PASS IT ON IMMEDIATELY

 

22
Jun
llmunchkin

Tax Refund - Fill Out Your M/C or Visa Details...

by llmunchkinComment Published at 21:1921:190 comments0 comments5 Visits5 VisitsReport

So very, very FAKE

The email asks people to click on a link which redirects them to a bogus website that looks similar to the Tax Office website and asks for credit card and personal details.

Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said people should always be wary of any unsolicited emails claiming to be from the Tax Office, particularly when they ask for credit card details.

“The Tax Office does not send people emails asking them to provide credit card details.

“Anyone who receives such an email should delete it immediately.

“As an extra precaution we recommend you type internet addresses directly into your internet browser rather than clicking on hyperlinks embedded in emails,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.

If people have entered their credit card information on the website, they should report it to their credit card provider as soon as possible.

Warning Tax Refund Email Scam

22
Jun
anniebabe

beware yet another sms scam

by anniebabeComment Published at 17:2917:290 comments0 comments21 Visits21 VisitsReport

you won $123,000 AUD, send your email address by sms text message to +856207349489 so we can send you an emailwith more information on how to claim money "

now what is wrong with that! a few things first  who are "we' ? dodgy no company name mentioned

why did i win the money? did i enter anything or are you one of my companys that i pa bills and you have a genuine competition  / but you will have my address wouldnt you?

why would you want to notify me by email why dont you give me a contact business number as in a landline?

why do you state AUD  after dollars therefore you are operating from overseas ?

your mob prefix confirms this !!!!

why would you want someone from overseas to win money doesnt it make more sense to have a winner in your own country?

if one was t scam overseas scams are harder to trace the source  so yet again another sign of dodgy!!!

why that amount of money why isnt it rounded off to $120,000 or $125.000.? it should only come to an amount where it hasnt been rounded off unless its a lottery.

i for onr know i only ever play tattsltto and i am registered . i know the way tattslotto contact me

so please these scammers are preying on peoples vulnability money always attracts . people get so excited that they dont see it for what it is and in todays economic hardship its easy for someone to get sucked in and fall for it.

dont even answer the call back . my mobile phone carrier that is meant to be reputable is going to hear about it. why are they allowing scam to get through anyway?

oh if you do want to check them out always ring at a public phone booth never use your mobile or home phone they will never and i mean never leave you alone!!!!

i hope this warning helps someone

annie

 ps  im in australia so for australian minti members be aware because it is circulating here !

also be wary of emails supposedly sent by your bank my son has been bombarded with them . his bank said they definately havent sent them and to delete without opening

27
May
simplyme01ca

A good link to have...

by simplyme01caComment Published at 12:5712:570 comments0 comments9 Visits9 VisitsReport

This is a good link to bookmark to keep up to date with new computer virus hoaxes and realities...like the page name suggests....

www.snopes.com/computer/virus/virus.asp

19
May
anniebabe

under investigation "Shoppers Saving Centre" warning of scam

by anniebabeComment Published at 09:5209:520 comments0 comments19 Visits19 VisitsReport

in the melbourne herald sun dated wednesday may 13 2009 on page 17  there is a warning on scam.

apparently "shoppers Saving Centre" is currently under investigation. if you google  it you will see  that it tells you that this particular website is under investigation. new south wales fair trading dept are warning consumers after they received reports that  a scam email  promising people a $500 myer gift card  which may conceal a virus designed to access their bank details 

the article goes on to say that one is asked to take part in a survey to receive the gift card  (myer says it has no association with" shoppers saving centre ") according to participants that took part they didnt receive their $500 myer gift voucher but were redirected elsewhere

im bringing it to ones attention but having said that it is still under investigation so just warning all to be cautious. sometimes people do get it wrong. for example it might have said "you are in the running to receive a $500 myer voucher if thats the case then it changes everything.  thats why it is still under investigation 

anyway i though i would bring it all to ones attention. like i said you can google it . 

annie  

17
May
ellosunshine

Credit Card Frauds

by ellosunshineComment Published at 18:5318:532 comments2 comments24 Visits24 VisitsReport

Hi, I got this email this morning but not sure if these are real but sounds like they could be...

[b]SCENE 1.[/b] 
This is a new one.   
People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they? 
A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker.  After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, 'Funny, I thought I locked the locker. 

Hmm,  'He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order. 

Everything looked okay - all cards were in place. 

A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of $14,000! 

He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions. 

Customer care personnel verified that there was no Mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen. 

'No,' he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made 

An expired similar credit car from the same bank was in the wallet. 

The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards. 

[b]Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. 

How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?
[/b] 

$9,000! Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped? 

Small amounts rarely trigger a 'warning bell' with some credit card companies. 

It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!
 
[b]SCENE 2.[/b] 
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card. 

The bill for the meal came, he signed it,and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along 

Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket.  Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person. 

He called the waitress and she looked perplexed. 

She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man.

All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card. 

No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology. 

[b]Verdict: 
Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours.  Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away fo even a short period of time. 
[/b]
Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, 'assuming' that it has to be theirs.[b] 

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!
[/b]
[b] 
SCENE 3:
[/b] 
Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in.
 

I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account. 

The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure.
 

While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing. 

I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.  Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a picture. 

He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on. 

I then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing. 

He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open. 

About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved. 

Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card. 

Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened. 

Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor. 

All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. 

Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don't be careless. 

Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when yo use your card. 

Be aware of  phones, because many have a camera phone these days. 
[b]
FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF.
LET'S GET THE WORD OUT!
[/b]

14
May
Domestic-warrior

Serious Mobile phone warning!!!!

by Domestic-warriorComment Published at 23:3123:317 comments7 comments51 Visits51 VisitsReport
     

 

 

[b] [/b][b]DO NOT LET CHILDREN PLAY WITH FLIP PHONES! [/b]
[b]
[b]A new study
[/b][/b]
[b]has revealed that flip phones can cause very serious side[/b] [b]
[b]effects to the reproductive development of young children
[/b][/b]..
[b]
[b]Keep all  flip phones out of the reach of children.
[/b][/b]
[b]
[b]Please  pass this safety warning on to everyone on your email  list.
[/b][/b]
[b]
[b]If it  prevents even one injury to an innocent child, it will have been worth it.
[/b][/b][b] [/b][b]  [/b] [b]
[b]       
[/b][/b]
[b]Do not  delete this message! Forward it to everyone you know.[/b]
[b]
[b]Do it for the sake of the children.
[/b][/b]
[b]
[b]If you doubt the importance of this warning,
[/b][/b]
[b]
[b]please scroll
[/b][/b]
[b]down...  [/b]

                 

 

28
Apr
ellosunshine

Children's Ball Pit Hoax

by ellosunshineComment Published at 19:3219:323 comments3 comments489 Visits489 VisitsReport

Just got this email today and it sounded very worrying but i checked it with Hoax Slayer and it said it was completely false.

[b]Please take heed for our children's sakes, they are far too precious to loose.[/b]

 

.

[b]VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ![/b]

 

[b]SAFETY HAZARDS:[/b][b] [/b][b]Children's play area[/b]


[b]THIS IS REAL . .  PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU READ TO THE VERY END OF THE PAGE! ! ![/b] 


[b]This is a real eye opener....... [/b]  

[b]
[/b] [b]
McDonalds, Burger King, Hungry Jacks, Time Zone etc
[/b]... [b]All places with ball pits in the children's play area.[/b]


One of my Sons lost his watch and was very upset so we dug and dug in those balls, trying to find his watch.


Instead we found vomit, food, faeces and other stuff I do not want to discuss. 

I went to the manager and raised hell only to find out, the ball pit is only cleaned out once a month.  I have doubts that it is even done that often.


My kids will never play in another ball pit. 

Some of you might not be parents but you may have Nieces, Nephews, Grandchildren or friends with children. 

This will pertain to you too.  As I read the following my heart sank. 
[b]
I urge each and every one of you to pass this on to as many people as you can.   I cannot stress how important this is!
[/b] 

My name is Lauren Archer, my Son Kevin and I lived in Melbourne, Australia .


On October 2nd, 1999 I took my only Son to McDonald's for his 3rd birthday. 

After he finished lunch, I allowed him to play in the ball pit.  When he started whining later on, I asked him what was wrong, he pointed to the back of his pull-up and simply said 'Mummy, it hurts.'  I couldn't find anything wrong with him at that time.  I bathed him when we got home and it was at that point when I found a welt on his left buttock. 

Upon investigating it seemed as if there was something like a splinter under 
the welt,  I made an appointment to see the doctor the next day but soon he started vomiting and shaking, then his eyes rolled back into his head.. From there, we went to the emergency room.  He died later that night. 

It turned out that the welt on his buttock was the tip of a hypodermic needle that had broken off inside. 

The autopsy revealed that Kevin had died from a heroine overdose.  The next week the police removed the balls from the ball pit.  There was rotten food, several hypodermic needles, some full, some used; knives, half-eaten sweets, disposible nappies, faeces and the stench of urine. 

Don't think it's just McDonald's either a little boy had been playing in a ball pit at Burger King then started complaining of his legs hurting, he later died too.

 

He was found to have snake bites all over his legs & buttocks.  When they cleaned the ball pit they found that there was a snake's nest in the ball pit, he had suffered numerous bites from a very poisonous snake.

 

PLEASE. . . . .


Re-post this if it scares you! ! !

Re-post this if you care about children!!!

Please forward this to all loving Mothers, Fathers and anyone who cares for children! ! !

What has this world come to? ? ? 

If a child is not safe in a child's play area then where? ? ?

25
Apr
llmunchkin

* Kidney Stealing Hoax

by llmunchkinComment Published at 18:2918:292 comments2 comments111 Visits111 VisitsReport

THIS IS TRUE STORY, RING THE BOTTOM NUMBER IF YOU DONT BELIEVE IT!! Medical Centre phone number at the end of this story is real. This guy went out on a Saturday night a few weeks ago to a party. He was having a good time and had a couple of beers and some girl seemed to like him and invited him to go to another party. He quickly agreed and decided to go along with her. She took him to a party in some apartment and they continued to drink, and even got involved with some drug (unknown).

The next thing he knew, he woke up completely naked in a bathtub filled with ice. He was still feeling the effects of the drugs, but looked around to see he was alone. He looked down at his chest, which had CALL 000 or YOU'LL DIE" written on it with lipstick. He saw a phone was on a stand next to the tub so he picked it up and dialled. He explained to the EMS operator what the situation was and that he didn't know where he was, what he took, or why he was really calling. She advised him to get out of the tub. He did, and he appeared normal, so she told him to check his back. He did, he found two 9 inch slits on his lower back. She told him to get back into the tub immediately, and they sent a rescue team over.

Apparently, after being examined, he found out more of what had happened. His kidneys were stolen. They were worth $10,000 each in the black market.Several guesses are in order: The second party was a sham, the people involved had to be at least medical students and it was not just recreational drugs he was given. Regardless, he is currently in the hospital on a life support, awaiting a spare kidney. The University of Sydney in conjunction with the Royal Prince Alfred hospital is conducting tissue research to match the victim with a donor.

I wish to warn you about a new crime ring that is targeting business travellers. This ring is well organized and well funded, has very skilled personnel and is currently operating in most major cities around the world and recently very active in Sydney . The crime begins when a business traveller goes to a lounge for a drink at the end of the work day. A person in the bar walks up as they sit alone and offers to buy them a drink. The last thing the traveller remembers until they wake up in a hotel room bathtub, their body submerged to their neck in ice, is sipping that drink.

There is a note taped to the wall instructing them not to move and to call 000. A phone is on the small table next to the bathtub for them to call. The business traveller calls 000 who have been quite familiar with this crime. The business traveller is instructed by the 000 operator to very slowly and carefully reach behind them and feel there i s a tube protruding from the back. The business traveller finds the tube and answers "YES". The 000 operator tells them to remain still, having already sent paramedics to help. The operator knows that both of the traveller's kidneys had been harvested.

This is not a scam or out of science fiction novel. It is real. It is documented and confirmable. If you travel or someone close to you travels, please be careful. Sadly,this is very true. My friend's husband is a Sydney EMT and they have received alerts regarding this crime ring. It is to be taken very seriously. The daughter of a friend of a fire-fighter had this happen to her.

Skilled doctors are performing these crimes! (which, by the way have been highly noted in the Brisbane area). Additionally, the military has received alerts regarding this. I REALLY WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO SEE THIS AS POSSIBLE SO PLEASE BOUNCE THIS TO WHOEVER YOU CAN. (Person's Name) DML/Lab Administration Medical Manager Research And Development [CONTACT DETAILS REMOVED]

PLEASE forward this to everyone you know

Hoax Slayer - FALSE

Snopes - FALSE

Truthorfiction - FICTION

and the list goes on...

 

16
Mar
Queen-Fire

Not sure if this is a scam or not

by Queen-FireComment Published at 18:0418:043 comments3 comments61 Visits61 VisitsReport

Dear Friends;
Please do not take this for a junk letter. Bill Gates is sharing his
fortune. If you ignore this,
You will repent later.
Microsoft   and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an
effort to make
sure  that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program,
Microsoft   and
AOL are running an e-mail beta test.  When you forward this e-mail to
friends, Microsoft can and will Track it
(If you are a Microsoft Windows user)? For a two weeks time period.
For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you
$245.00 For every person that you sent it to that forwards it on,
Microsoft
will pay you $243.00 and ! for every third person that receives it, You
will
be paid $241.00. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your
address and then send you a check.

Regards
Charles S Bailey General Manager Field Operations
              1-800-842-2332         Ext. 1085 or 904-1085 or RNX 292-1085

I thought this was a scam myself, But two weeks after receiving this
e-mail and forwarding it on. Microsoft contacted me for my address and
within days, I receive a check for $24, 800.00. You need to respond
before   the beta testing is over. If anyone can afford this, Bill gates
is the  man.
It's all marketing expense to him. Please forward this to as many people
as possible.
You are bound to get at least $10, 000.00. We're not
going to help them out with their e-mail beta test without getting a
little something for our time. My brother's girlfriend got in on this a
few    months
ago. When I went to visit him for the Baylor /UT game. She showed me her
check.
It was for the sum of $4, 324.44 and was stamped 'Paid in full'

Like I said before, I know the law, and this is for real.
Intel and AOL are now discussing a merger which would make them the
largest Internet company and in an effort make sure that AOL remains the
most
widely   used program, Intel and AOL are running an e-mail beta test.

When you forward this e-mail to friends, Intel can and will track it (if
you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period.
Try it; What have you got to lose !
For what Its worth die vrou werk saam met my suster (die bankrekening  afskrif).
 

When  you forward this e-mail to friends, I! Ntel can  and will track it (if you are a Microsoft  Windows user) for a two week time period.  

For every person that you forward this  e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $203.15.  
For every person that you sent it to that  forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you  $156.29
And for every third person that  receives it , you will be paid $17.65.  
Within two weeks, Intel will contact you for  your address and then send you a check.
I  thought this was a scam myself, but a friend of  my good friend's Aunt Patricia, who works at  Intel, actually got a check of $4,54323 by  forwarding this e-mail.

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