What do you think of my banner?

I've been messing with a banner for this blog, what do you think of this one? I have been told that the text is too dull, not at all eye catching so that the viewer looses interest before they read it. I take all criticisms, good - bad - ugly - just as long as they are toward the banner and/or blog and not toward me.

So, what'cha' think?

Oh goodie! How much you want to bet I win?

Got this in the e-mail a little while ago.

Do you have the winning $5000 cell phone number?

Is your number the winner.

(Link disabled by CyberCat)

Yup, that's all it said and the whole thing was a link to a website. Anyone want to take a bet that the link is not for a legitimate contest? I did not even have to look and see that it went to an e-mail I have not used in 6 years that I know for a fact was sold to multiple lists mailing out XXX and worse e-mails.

It really lowers my confidence in them when they get my e-mail off spam lists.

Such eagerness, they must really need my help... or at least my identity.

These guys are desperate. I got three copies of this one right after the other. They can't wait to steal my identity.

***COMPANY ULGENT REPLY***

attention please
we are searching for reliable persons/companies whocan act as a RECEIVING PAYMENTS AGENT who will act as medium of reach between our customers and us in their area of locality.Note that, if finally aprroved as ourRepresentative, you are entitled to have 20% of whatever amount you receive from customers who are making payments for outstanding invoices on behalf of the company.If you are interested in being a REPRESENTATIVE AGENT in the abovelocation and your locality, please send your following information via E-mail:(E-mail removed by CyberCat)
mr chimfanis gage

Notice the words without spaces between them, misspellings, improper capitalization, and other signs of very poor typing - not to mention cutting from one e-mail into another.

They were also in such a hurry they forgot to include the "your following information" section of the scam they were copying.

Wait... when did I apply for that?

I have been getting a few of these e-mails. What recent application? I never applied to them. I certainly never gave them the e-mail address that this was sent to. So... exactly how did they get the idea that I would have any interest in providing them with even MORE information?

The subject on the e-mail got me too. For them to send me a RE: it implies that I sent them a e-mail titled 'about the application', do they think I am really so stupid that I don't remember if I sent one or not?

These fellows are fishing for people that are in the process of getting a loan or refinancing a mortgage and hoping they can sucker them into providing information that will allow for identity theft. Don't fall for it.


RE: about the application

Client Update:


We were able to view your credit report and recent application but still need for you to complete our finalization form.

As of today we will be able to lock your refinance in at the rate we promised, but if our finaliztion form IS NOT completed within 24 hours then the rate will come unlocked.


Please remember to confirm details on this secure form:
(URL hidden by CyberCat)


I look forward to conversing with you.


Frances Ledford
Senior Account Manager,
-Lender Alliance Office

Note: The names and companies in these scams are often legitimate and only the link in the URL, which may also look legitimate, is questionable. Please do not hold anything against any company that shows up as part of a scam e-mail. They are, quite often, just as much of a victim as the recipient of the e-mail is. I leave names in these only to make it easier for those looking for these e-mails to locate and identify the scams.

Can you be trusted?

Not long after I started this I get another scam e-mail. Apparently I am to believe that a Lady is going to trust me, someone she never even heard of before, to take her money and distribute it to the needy. Definitely a fishing e-mail looking for people that are looking to scam someone else. I am particularly amused by the apparent clip and save coupon style of these sorts of scams, I guess that maybe they must think I will print copies of it and post it to local bulletin boards for them? ::shakes head::


HOW CAN YOU HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGE WITH MY FUNDS?

MY DEAR FRIEND,

CAN YOU BE TRUSTED TO REACH OUT TO THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN YOUR LOCALITY IF YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT FINANCIALLY?

GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS THIS EMAIL REACHES YOU. AS I WILL GIVE YOU DETAILS ON WHAT TO DO FOR ME.

YOURS SINCERELY,
LADY TORETH HUGHES
My contact email: (e-mail withheld by CyberCat)

.................................................................................................................

MY DEAR FRIEND,

CAN YOU BE TRUSTED TO REACH OUT TO THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN YOUR LOCALITY IF YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT FINANCIALLY?

GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS THIS EMAIL REACHES YOU. AS I WILL GIVE YOU DETAILS ON WHAT TO DO FOR ME.

YOURS SINCERELY,
LADY TORETH HUGHES
My contact email: (e-mail withheld by CyberCat)

......................................................................................................................

MY DEAR FRIEND,

CAN YOU BE TRUSTED TO REACH OUT TO THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN YOUR LOCALITY IF YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT FINANCIALLY?

GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS THIS EMAIL REACHES YOU. AS I WILL GIVE YOU DETAILS ON WHAT TO DO FOR ME.

YOURS SINCERELY,
LADY TORETH HUGHES
My contact email: (e-mail withheld by CyberCat)

Because of the need to remove certain portions of e-mails, such as URLs and e-mail addresses, I have decide to let the stealthy little CyberCat loose to make editing swipes of her paw and change segments. Wherever I have edited things I will note that something was withheld by the CyberCat.

A little Googling for Lady Toreth Hughes will bring up multiple discussions of scams by this persona.

They just want to help... but what are they helping themselves to?

I got this e-mail today and just wanted to pound my head on the keyboard. It initiated a determination to speak out against these sorts of things and so I have created this blog where I can drop stupid e-mails and obvious scams that I am sent.

The following e-mail is an obvious effort at identity theft that seems to want to find someone that does not think Africa has banks. Tugging on heartstrings and trying to make the reader think that there is a way to help someone, then sinking in a hook for the greedy with a "name your own price!" angle that just leaves me shaking my head.

Now, before you think that I am saying anyone that falls for these are stupid, I'm not. There are all sorts of reasons why someone might be taken in by an e-mail like this, which is why I decided to put these online. If I can point out to even one senior citizen or hard working single parent or anyone else that these e-mails are scams and out to rip them off then I will consider my time to be well spent.

As for the e-mail that initiated this...

I want to help

Hello ,
I'm a facilities engineer with an oil company, who has great interest in charity, cos that were i grow up when parents die in gastly motor accident in africa, right now I'm on-shore in one of our facilities (oil rig) which makes me indispensable at the moment, but as it is I have a client who is ready to make a cheque payment for me, so it's a matter of you receiving it on my behalf, cashing the cheque and sending down the remainder to another beneficiary in Africa,Meanwhile you will have 10% for any amount u cash , I would have sent it to the African but they don't have the facility to cash the cheque over there. That's the way it is, send me your mailing address and how you want your name to appear on it. I'll be looking forward to your response as soon as I can get them as time is not on my side. pls get back to me if you can do this with the following info
Name :
address:
city:
state:
zip:
country:
And as a matter of fact how much will you want to be help with
Regards
jenny

Anyone that has to ask you for your personally identifiable information is not worthy of a reply. If they don't know you already they don't need to know what they are asking. If you get this e-mail, or any variation of it, trash it.

Why?

So, what exactly is this blog? Well, it is a place where I can pound my head against the wall and wave e-mails I get in the air and ask "How stupid do they think I am?"

This is a place where I can dump those scams and SPAMs that I get that just leave me wanting to shake my head and toss my computer out the window. I get them, you get them, everyone gets them. A very few actually fall for them. That is why this blog is here. If I can help just one person learn to identify these scams then I will have achieved something and my time will have been well spent.

So, I may not have the most entertaining blog out here, but I'm not trying for entertainment or readership or anything else. I'm just venting and pointing out that I am not as stupid as they think I am.

Will I get an onslaught of people sending me stuff just to prove I can be taken in? Probably. Do I care? No. If you want to SPAM me go for it, my inbox is already so stuffed to the gills with such idiocy that a few more e-mails won't do anything but feed this blog.