Fake bills by email

torbrex

I wonder if it might be possible for MSE towers to cover the story of the fake emails that are currently doing the rounds.

They carry the recipients full name and address and look quite genuine in their demand for money as they carry genuine company names and allow for the possibility that your original invoice might have gone missing in the post by including a link to what they say is a copy of the original invoice online.

The link however when clicked on will infect the users computer instantly, locking down access to all your valuable files and folders with a 'Ransomware' virus.

An article included in the coming weeks email and/or an article linked into the website/forum as well would be great.

fermi

Example from this morning -> Received odd email re unknown debtor

and others -> https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5441509

Actionfraud warning: http://actionfraud.police.uk/news/alert-fake-debt-collection-and-council-tax-emails-apr16

torbrex

Yes there have been a number of different threads on sections of the forum, I contributed to one already.

It was the one on the Debt forum that caught my eye, people that use that board are in a vulnerable state of mind anyway and it is those people that might be on edge enough to actually click on the link in the spoof email.

soolin

I agree, I think this is an important story that MSE should highlight.

fierystormcloud

torbrex wrote: »

I wonder if it might be possible for MSE towers to cover the story of the fake emails that are currently doing the rounds.

They carry the recipients full name and address and look quite genuine in their demand for money as they carry genuine company names and allow for the possibility that your original invoice might have gone missing in the post by including a link to what they say is a copy of the original invoice online.

The link however when clicked on will infect the users computer instantly, locking down access to all your valuable files and folders with a 'Ransomware' virus.

An article included in the coming weeks email and/or an article linked into the website/forum as well would be great.

Funny you should post this Torbrex, I haven't had bills via my email, but I have had emails issuing threats. One every day virtually... Saying things like 'you are being sued for the bang you had in your car, respond now!' 'This is a demand for payment for the item you received,' and 'we have a person who is pressing charges against you for fraud, respond NOW.' And similar things.

I even got an email the other day which was supposedly from a cousin in South Wales who I rarely see, but do have internet contact with every month or so...saying 'my dog Scamp has had a serious accident, can you wire me some money towards the treatment? Even £50 will do...' With details of how to wire the money, a place for my bank account number, everything!

Thing is, although these emails didn't have my address on them, as I don't have it anywhere on facebook or twitter or anywhere in my email, they had my exact name, and the name of my cousin, AND the correct name of his dog! So I figured they are spying on my facebook, (and his!), and they know my email address too. It's not even visible on there to anyone! Scary!

The other day, I changed the url on facebook, and changed my name slightly on it. (So from Maria Jones to Maz Jones for instance...) Hopefully, that will stop them finding me again!

Very worrying. As you say Torbrex, with them having so much info, it's easy to see why people are conned.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Morning!

Thanks for the suggestion! We've passed it on to the News Team.

If you spot anything else that would make a good story please do email news @ moneysavingexpert dot com to suggest it.

Thank you!