Scam - email received this morning

MouldyOldDough

Forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk

I am trying to figure out - why the gaps in certain words - was it written on (and sent from) a mobile phone ?

"Phone just rings into nothing.

Ok. I don't have much time, so let's get straight to the poin t.

I want to make you an offer that you can refuse, but only once .

He re's what I have:

Your comp lete personal inf ormation: full name, date of birth, home add res s.

Your social se curity number and driver's li cense detai ls.

All your email account login cre dentials, in cluding this accou nt.

Other login details and your private messa ge s.

A multitude of files found on your device s.

Access to your bank acco unt s.

The details of your credit cards: number, exp iry date, and cvv.

I have compiled this entire pac kage into a single folder. I can and intend to do two things with it. It is up to you to decide which one:

I will send this entire package to darknet markets, where other cri minals will buy it.

It is unknown how they will use this infor mation. They may purc hase something illegal in your name, or they may not, but you will definitely not like it.

Or you can buy it from me for a small fee of 600 usd.

C hanging the entire package of documents and data is very ex pe ns ive, very ti me-co nsuming, and unsafe .

I already know that you have just read this text. Do not try to ignore this .

I only accept payment in bitcoins at the exch ange rate at the time of tran sf er.

T ransfer money here (add ress must not contain spaces):

13d PV2W 3XpZ MYNYV QWf dt5nW Wjy8H Qqam2

After payment, I will delete the folder conta ining your data, and you can con tinue living as before or, if you don't trust me, take your time changing all your data. It's more prof itable for me if you pay me. It's easier and better for every one.

This is a unique offer. Take adv antage of it. I will wait for 1 day."

Grumpy_chap

Ignore and delete.

Submitting to the official phishing report was sensible.

They don't have all your details. They just want your $600. They'll also know then that you are gullible and come back for more.

I suspect the spaces in the text are to avoid spam filters

flaneurs_lobster

I suspect the spaces in the text are to avoid spam filters

This is so, also including grammatical or layout errors that would be an automatic "red flag" to most recipients would indicate that any reply is likely to be from someone who is particularly vulnerable or gullible.

mta999

luckily I don't have a social security number

Pollycat

What a load of tosh!

Would anyone really be caught out by this?

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81905901#Comment_81905901

Not you nor I obviously - far too sophisticated and knowledgeable.

But these mailings will be sent to millions of addresses (at a very small cost) and it only takes a tiny number of "marks" to be identified and milked to make the exercise profitable for the scammers.

Unfortunately this means that our inboxes and mail servers are filling up with this crap daily.

oldagetraveller1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81905164#Comment_81905164

Nor I. I don't have a "driver's license" either. I do have a driving licence though

lincroft1710

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81905901#Comment_81905901

Yes, a lot of people would panic at seeing that e-mail

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906378#Comment_81906378

WOW!

That makes me question if some people should be even trusted on t'interweb.

It's really not the fluffy, friendly place a lot of people think it is.

You only have to read some of the complaints about purchases made (usually after clicking on random links on social media sites) from scam Chinese companies.

lincroft1710

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906416#Comment_81906416

"Mrs" L would probably throw a fit, she has done on other less extortionate emails, but fortunately I was able to show her that they were scams. If you think how many millions of people in UK have internet access, there's bound to be a proportion who would not realise that this type of email is a scam. I had one some years ago, but by remaining calm and using logic, worked out it was a scam.

They can appear frightening and are designed to throw the recipient into panic. Those who have knee-jerk reactions are an ideal target, comply with the demand then think about it afterwards.

molerat

On BBC Morning Live today the father of the resident consumer journalist, who is a retired financial journalist, was scammed on a 3 hour phone conversation with "his bank" but managed to recover the situation after contacting his actual bank.