One of the reasons some people won't Google anything is because they are worried they will end up on a counterfeit / phishing / fake website, or a malicious website, or that all the results they see are not applicable to their situation, or the results they really want are several pages deep into the search results.
A lot of websites out there have only basic information, not the deep-knowledge information. I saw that in books about programming thirty years ago, every blasted one of them started out explaining what binary, octal, and hexadecimal numbering was and how to convert between those and the decimal numbering system. I saw it as a way to inflate their page count.
True enough. And doing a search doesn't have to land you on a web site as you pointed out. I spend a lot of time on the interwebs and like you, after reading many, many search results, it is possible to read results and come away with some impressions. The loose search such as I did give me summaries of the sites, and I saw enough to raise concerns; I did not have to visit the sites. Thinking it over, I see that it is easy for me to forget the web can be a creepy place with traps and pitfalls. I have been here for long time, and have security measures in place, and my own rules for safety and conduct. And I know my limits too, that point where I might want to go forward, but sense I am near the edge of the Earth, of what I know, and it is better to back off!
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Todd
I got a similar message as a text message with an embedded picture. Beware!
Never, ever respond to unsolicited emails referencing your winnings, inheritance, free flghts, money owed to IRS, etc. . No reputable source communicates that way. Also, never open links in emails unless you positively KNOW the sender. Even then, scammers have hacked legitimate accounts to send out malware links to infect your computer and steal your information. Best policy. Don't open links in emails. Tell your friends that you don't.
Just delete emails like this. They are either hoaxes or scams. Never respond to anyone you don't recognize, no matter how tempting. If you ever legitimately win any cash prizes, you will receive a certified letter from the company who gave you that prize and if it is over a certain amount, you would be require to sign tax papers, etc.
It wouldn't be done through email. It would be both by phone and snailmail, registered, return signature requested, or hand-delivered by bonded messenger. Don't be worried, just be more cautious next time, it isn't worth the anxiety.
A lame attempt at humor. Too bad that post was from a Troll Spammer back in July. They will never read your bonne mot, much less get it. Your effort to post a naughty word is for naught. Reported.
Actually, "your email address is valid and of value to scammers and thieves" is a myth. I have a special email address I use for scam-baiting (replying to the scum and wasting time) and it has gotten no additional scam messages. It only gets replies.
Ah, but not everyone has set up blind e-mail accounts like you have. Are you one of those contrary types who is compelled to counter-example every little thing in the known world? Someday that compulsion is going to mess you up. Someone will say "Wow, wasn't that the BEST?" And your last words to that person will be "Well, ACTUALLY, that is a myth, MY best was....". And Boom goes the dynamite.
-- The moral the story is simple, but it's true; there are times when a lie is better than the truth.
+1
Zallen
| 1 reply
Here is another one
UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTOR (UNF) OFFICE, LONDON. NAME WILSON BROOKS PHONE = 447452183046 FAX- +442035145900
Dear Beneficiary
The United Nations Foundation (UNF) financial department have investigated through our monitoring Site Light Cable network that your overdue contract Fund/inheritance/Award Winning payment and transaction with both Apex Bank CBN and Commercial banks are genuine. You have the legitimate right to complete your transaction to claim your fund US$4,500,000.00 (Four million Five Hundred united states dollars).Because of so much scam going on in Nigeria. United Nations (UN) have has bilateral memorandum with Federal Express Courier Service in Nigeria to furnish us with their procedures to send this money to you without further complain or delay. We got information from the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Desk that they have loaded your US$4,500,000.00 into ATM CARD and submitted to the Federal Express Courier Service for immediate delivery to your doorstep. You are required to choose one option convenient for you to observe the fee for quick delivery of your parcel containing your ATM CARD, including your due comp
Service Type | Delivery Duration | Charges/Fees ------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------- Premium Express (24 hrs Delivery) Mailing $120.00 00.00 Insurance $80.00 00.00 Vat $20.00 00.00 TOTAL $220.00
$220(Two Hundred And Twenty US Dollars Only). .............................. .............................. .......... Special Express (2 Days) Mailing $90.00 00.00 Insurance $60.00 00.00 Vat $20.00 00.00 TOTAL $170.00 00.00 $170(One Hundred and Seventy US Dollars Only). .............................. .............................. ................ Economy Express (3Days) Mailing $70.00 00.00 Insurance$40.00 00.00 Vat (5%) $20.00 00.00 TOTAL $130.00 00.00 $130 (One Hundred And Thirty US Dollars Only). .............................. .............................. ........ The required form below. Please note that the deadline for claiming your fund should not exceed one week upon the receipt of this email, your fund will be reconcile back to global dormant account for depository use . That is the instruction given to us, take note. We request you reconfirm your mailing address to ensure no error with our record for immediate dispatch of your parcel to you. Only valid residential/ Office address and postal address are certified OK. DELIVERY DESTINATION INFORMATION: ------------------------------ ------------------------------ - Receiver's Name:............................. ................. Address:...................... .............................. ........... Tel/:......................... .............................. ............... Delivery Information/ Parcel Description ------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------- Delivery Terms: .............. .......International Delivery Condition Of Delivery..............Priority Delivery Consignment Note No: ........... MI 49866-2110 Color of Parcel: ..................... Brown. Total Weight: ..........................36.2 kg Total Net Weight: ...................1.7 kg
We are here to protect you from any problem till you receive your package. You can as well get in touch with the FedEx Delivery Company assigned to deliver this financial package to your doorstep. Below is the delivery companies contact information:
Company's Name: Federal Global Express Courier Service. Directors Name: COOPER ANDERSON... Email: cooperandersonfcservice27@gmail.com PHONE- +234 80 89438847
Looking forward to hear from you as soon as you receive this message, you can go ahead and Email us here and ask for WILSON BROOKS, you can call him on this number 447452183046, UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION (UNF) OFFICE LONDON BOARD OF DIRECTOR
Best Regards, Name WILSON BROOKS FROM UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION (UNF) OFFICE LONDON BOARD OF DIRECTOR
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