If Only it Were True

Why do people think we are going to fall for their tricks?

This email appeared today from someone I don't even know.

Who would recommend me as a project manager for such a large project?

Whilst I am capable of co ordinating the odd small building project I would think, if someone was going to recommend me for a job they might at least ask if I was interested first or if I had time????

Dear Sir/Madam,

You have been recommended as a reliable foreign investor and project manager. I am therefore seeking your

cooperation in building a Tourist Hotel or Real Estate in your country. I am sorry if this is not completely in line

with your profession. I need an experienced person like you to assist me set up,develop the project and assume

responsibility of ownership as chairman but will be bringing in profit /distribute profit monthly or annually.I shall

give you more information. Please get back to me immediately on my

private email: jamesibori12@aim.com

Best regards, Gov. James Ibori.

NOW where do I start:

1. I wouldn't be the foreign investor if I was doing something in my own country!

2. What skill set does this person assume I have that is going to be useful for this type of project?

3. Dear sir/madam! If I have been recommended for a task wouldn't you think they would know what gender I am?

At best I am putting this one into the potential scam box and deleting it...So don't get caught!

Not another scam!

Here is the latest scam I have been warned about. Please feel free to pass it on to all your friends.

SCAMwatch is warning the Australian community to beware of death threat spam text messages from scammers pretending to be a hired hitman in order to extort thousands of dollars from their victims.
SCAMwatch and several police and law enforcement agencies across Australia have received reports of text messages warning the recipient that they have been targeted for death- but will be spared if they pay up.
These hoax death threats typically involve SMS text arriving out of the blue from what appears to be an international number. In some cases the number appears to be blocked.
A typical message reads: "Someone paid me to kill you. If you want me to spare you, I'll give you two days to pay $5000. If you inform the police or anybody, you will die, I am monitoring you."
Some of the messages are long and contain all the text, while others are broken up into shorter messages. Also, reports indicate the requested amount can vary from between $1000-$50,000. The scammers also provides payment details and an email address to their victims.
This scam is designed to frighten the recipient and has already snared victims across Australia and in other countries. SCAMwatch urges you to warn your family, friends and colleagues about this scam.
Anyone who has received emails or text messages of this nature should ignore them- don't respond and don't send any money to the scammers.
The scammer may also ask you to provide personal information, including your banking details. SCAMwatch strongly urges you to ignore this request as your identity may be compromised, and you may risk being a victim of identity theft.
If you have received any threats like this, contact SCAMwatch- visit the report a scam page or call the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502. Noting the text and the phone number may assist in any investigations of the scam.
Should you ever be concerned about your physical safety, contact your local police.
Stay one step ahead of the scammers. Explore SCAMwatch for more tips on how to recognise and protect yourself from scams.

I hope this helps someone!

Accommodation Booking Scams

When you are an accommodation operator you are subject to almost every scam on the internet.
Here is an example of the type of email which has been doing the rounds of Australia for a few years now. This one has just been received. What we find is that the wording just changes slightly but the content is basically the same.

I suspect it is a "get rich quick" credit card "scam - scheme" which so many must have been sucked into!
We're tired of it - Do these sorts of scams happen in other countries?
Perhaps you own an accommodation business, do you get these annoying time wasters as well?

From: Franklin Great [mailto:great.grouptravels3@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 2 July 2008 6:48 PM
To: great.grouptravels@yahoo.com
Subject: ACCOMMODATION INQUIRY.


Hello,
I have a reservation request for a group of 4 persons (2 couples)that I
will like to stay with you. Arrival will be August 9th and departure
August 23rd,2008 (2 weeks,flexible dates).If you can accommodate them,
kindly advise on the following points;

1. Total cost for the whole period.This total must include all tax and
service charges if applicable.

2. Do you accept credit cards for prepayments? I am away on another
engagement and can only pay you via credit card transactions.

3. Please advise if you can make payments to a third party on my behalf as
it will facilitate the speedy conclusion of this transaction.

4. In the event that you do not have availability for those dates,please
advise on the following dates in September 2008,September 13th to 27th to
be precise.
Like I mentioned above, preferable payment method will be direct by credit
card deductions.Thank you and looking forward to hearing from soon.

Kind Regards,Franklin Great. You're not serious!
Priory Street,University complex Don't think so!
Coventry CV1 5FB,United Kingdom.
+447045780276 REally! lets try ringing them.
+442070221691 Fax
great_groups@hotmail.com

Just look at the email addresses Did they forget who they were?
Do they have so many email addresses they forgot which one to use? Yahoo and hotmail dead give away!!!!!

The Universities don't know about these people either, when we check!

If you know who is behind these scams let me know we would love to find out if any are rich yet???