Spam Letters (& emails)

[Hazel at the Hill]

I know that if you get an email purporting to be from a bank, you should forward it to the fraud dept of that bank which will help them stop these things (at the very least, as we all know, spam email is a pain in the bum, at worst it could con the unwary) BUT who do you report spam post to?

I've just had a letter through from a Mr Guo Li who would like me to have a share of $8.4 million . I was just about to chuck it in the bin where it belongs, but it struck me that these things should be stopped (because not everyone is as switched on as I am! ), but didn't know who to report to/send it to?

[Jelliebabe]

Hi Hazel

Try trading Standards or Crimestoppers

Trading Standards Institute - Home page

Fight crime - Support the charity Crimestoppers - Most Wanted criminals - Call anonymously - Fraud | Crimestoppers UK

Hope this helps!

[Jelliebabe]

Now if I could just have your bank account information etc.... You WILL win a prize!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Thanks for the links, JB - I reported the scam at https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx

Now if I could just have your bank account information etc.... You WILL win a prize!

Now if I'm not taken in by a share of $8.4m, wot makes you think I'm fall for your transpanent ruse!

[arpoet]

Talking of spam and junk emails, here is one of mine on the subject:

Digital Overload
By
Roger Turner

I’ve got this sort of affliction,
And it’s sending my brain cells to mush.
It’s blurring my sense of perception,
And forcing the heartbeat to rush.

It started with unwanted emails,
The sort that you geeks all call spam.
Selling me all kinds of potions,
Guaranteed to make me a better man.

Made up from plants of the jungle,
And a the milk of the female gnat
Mixed with powered rhinoceros horn.
Well, I just had to have some of that!

I sent off my credit card details,
For the site seemed quite safe and secure,
But alas that single transaction,
Ended up with me being poor.

I spent several weeks of waiting,
For the fed-ex man to call.
And I started to have reservation,
That the package would not come at all.

And being bombarded by hundreds of emails,
Inviting me to buy this or that.
And was invited to invest all my savings,
With a Nigerian banker called Pat.

Each day it took many hours,
To reply to the emails they sent,
And I forgot the take out the money,
To pay the old landlord his rent.

But worry for me no longer,
For it seems I have got a surprise.
And as soon as I send them two hundred,
They will start to process my prize.

I just love this digital medium,
For it opened up the whole world to me.
And as soon as I get rid of this virus,
I can order a Pizza for tea.

[Aberdeenplotter]

cut it off at source by subscribing to the mailing preference service.

[Hilary B]

If the letter was of the type all too often originating (or claiming to originate) in Nigeria (which it sounds ike from the description), I would take it to the police.

[ginger ninger]

I'm ticked off with SPAM Text's. There always say that they can get me £3,650 for an accident I've had. They must also have a crystal ball cos I haven't had an accident

[Florence Fennel]

Very amusing Roger!

[Jardiniere]

i've had an e mail from myself trying to sell me (I'm a woman) viagra.
I contacted yahoo but have had no decent response ...i checked where it had come from (by opening the full header section) and it appeared to have come via Brazil.
I'm worried that other people will receive e mails purporting to come from me trying to sell them stuff...anybody had experience of this?