My blog has a category called “Hey, Scammers!” for a reason. This category allows me to share swindles and scams and sneaks that criminals and extortionists and griefers will perpetrate upon us. And I try to show clues to alert you that a scam is present.
Such as in the text message I received yesterday.
Let’s see if we can pick up all the subtle clues that scream “big fat scam,” shall we?
Hmm. Phone number of origin has an 856 area code. So this is from somewhere in New Jersey. Interesting. If this were really a Verizon message, wouldn’t it come from a recognized Verizon 1-800 number? I mean, Verizon IS a telecommunications company, aren’t they?
Now let’s look at that hyperlink. Yeah, the first part of the hyperlink says vzwipad – which could be inerpreted as Verizon Wireless iPad – but that’s not the main address of that URL. The main address is BCFOFN.COM, with an alphanumeric substring that looks like someone pounded their fist on the keyboard. Strike TWO.
And our third clue … the urgency of the message. You have a free prize, but you MUST respond by midnight – AND apparently Verizon, a major telecommunications company that can triangulate your telephone’s exact coordinates, somehow hasn’t been able to find you in their previous attempts.
Yep. Big fat classic swindle. You think you’re getting a free iPad? Ha. Click on that link, and you’ll get Ipwned.
And today, we must remain more vigilant than ever against these criminals.
Why?
We don’t have the Federal Consumer Protection Board to help us out. We don’t have someone in government who can legislate against these thugs. Heck, the man in the White House once operated a scam university. That should tell you which side he’s really on – and it isn’t yours.
All I’m saying is … be vigilant, be aware, and don’t be fooled by anything that seems too good to be true.
Fair enough?
Chuck The Writer 
I’ve always believed these idiots take the “lazy man’s path” and waste what they’ve learned because they don’t want 9-5 5-day jobs. The more we put down in prison, the better.
LikeLike
No insults intended; in fact, I’m more likely just exposing my own ignorance, having learned this purely by accident. But FWIW, for anyone else using a desktop PC …
When a suspect email appears in the in box, REST the cursor on the sender and its full email address will appear.
If it reads like a bowl of Alpha-Bits, and you don’t want to see it again, RIGHT-click on the sender. A drop-down box will appear with several options, including “block sender.” Select that and click thru the instructions.
If suspect email entry still remains, single click (check) the box next to it, and delete the entry.
(If I’ve saved just one other unsuspecting old geezer, my mission is complete.)
LikeLike
The second clue is “unfortunately”. The third is “last day you can claim”. The third is “Apple Ipad Pro”. No one is giving away anything these days, and your first notification would never be the final one even if they were. You don’t win contests you don’t enter.
Considering the government of the US these days it is not surprising that the population is easy pickings for grifters and scammers.
LikeLike