Scam Email Warnings Forum/Sticky

raptorman

Can I suggest a forum/sticky thread regarding scam emails. Ideally it would provide examples of typical scams like the 'I am a bank official in Africa and need your help to transfer funds $28,000,000' type of scam, and would also provide hints on dealing with these.

The reason I am suggesting this is because of this thread
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=279861

In particular the post suggesting the OP should "wind up a scammer". (potentially very dangerous)

I think a sticky or forum on this subject would be very useful to newcomers to the site and would also provide a dedicated area to post the latest scams.

What do others think?

mandi

I think its really a good idea Raptor, im never believe scam e-mails are true anyway, but Im sure it will help those who are not sure..

I had an e-mail from Paypal recently asking me to " spend a few mins "updating my account, and apologising for the inconvenience...

Now considering I DONT have a Paypal account..:rolleyes:

raptorman

Thanks mandi, love your avatar by the way, very mesmerizing:)

soolin

We do have a scam email sticky thread on the ebay forum. However, I don't think it is ever read as the first thing someone does if they get a dodgy looking mail is to start a new thread with it. If they were 100% sure they had a phish or a scam then they probably would do what most of us do and just delete it and forget it.

There are some people who can automatically see it is a scam and they would never bother reading a thread. Then there are those that will never see it is a scam, who also wouldn't bother reading the thread as they think the email they have is too 'clever' to be a scam.


Soo

raptorman

Soo, maybe it would be better as a dedicated forum so everyone could post in the same place the latest scams also that way it would be seen by more people and could even be recommended to new members.

It would also mean everyone could see the latest updates from the main forum page.

Just a thought:)

MrsTinks

Whilst I can appreciate that the stuff you want to alert people to is very valid I wonder about MSE having a forum for it? This is really a computer security issue and to be honest the new generation of AV software about to hit the markets (some already have) have increased phising detection and security to block these fake sites. I think other than advising people to have up to date AV software and tell them about basic web security (always type a link in yourself, never click a link in a mail etc) then I'm not sure if this would belong in MSE really? :dunno:

I could be wrong though

Edinburghlass_2

These sort of emails are often posted on the Internet Board and also the Techie Board where experienced users will explain what security to be using etc

Also when any bank one starts the rounds the Credit Card and Banking boards users flag it up.

raptorman

It was just a thought to have these threads all in one place:) so that they are easy to see rather than being dotted all over the forums and as such may get missed.

I know when I first started using the internet I wasn't aware of this kind of scam and have seen many over the years, some were so obvious but some were very convincing.

Like I say it was just a thought:)

MrsTinks

Also worth maybe directing people to Martins article: Scams and shams

TNG

raptorman wrote:

In particular the post suggesting the OP should "wind up a scammer". (potentially very dangerous)

Has there been any cases where it has proved 'dangerous'?

I certainly haven't heard of any.

There are a number of websites dedicated to winding up scammers and TBH if someone gave them the runaround i don't think they would waste time and money exacting revenge. I would have thought that they are too busy extracting money from other stupid people

I am quite prepared to be corrected, i have just not heard of any cases where they 'come after you'.

raptorman

Google found this for clarification of the dangers

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1641875,00.html

Also some very usefull info here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud