Another email scam with a new twist

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Got an email from supposedly Microsoft, saying I signed up "Window's Defender Threat Protection" for $464 USD/year. At first, I figured what they hell did I stupidly click on. But then, the sender was "TestFirstName...". And what US company adds "USD"(- U.S. Dollars) to a bill amount. I does take a minute to see how bogus the email is, but there was a few seconds when I first thought it was real.
 

fuzzybuddy said:
Got an email from supposedly Microsoft, saying I signed up "Window's Defender Threat Protection" for $464 USD/year. At first, I figured what they hell did I stupidly click on. But then, the sender was "TestFirstName...". And what US company adds "USD"(- U.S. Dollars) to a bill amount. I does take a minute to see how bogus the email is, but there was a few seconds when I first thought it was real.
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Microsoft will never contact you. Please don't fall for this.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Got an email from supposedly Microsoft, saying I signed up "Window's Defender Threat Protection" for $464 USD/year. At first, I figured what they hell did I stupidly click on. But then, the sender was "TestFirstName...". And what US company adds "USD"(- U.S. Dollars) to a bill amount. I does take a minute to see how bogus the email is, but there was a few seconds when I first thought it was real.
Click to expand...
I got that one twice this week. I just trash it. At first I tried reporting these emails to the legitimate businesses but it was taking up too much valuable time. I get credit monitoring and my info has been exposed on the dark web so I am extra vigilant. Maybe my response is the only thing between me and havoc, so they aren't getting one.
 
I've had a few supposedly from Microdoft. Even a telephone call years ago telling me I had a virus and to follow his instructions, starting with clicking the START button. I kept him on the line for a good ten minutes saying I couldn't find it before I said "There's a little apple at the top left". He was fuming haha! I haven't use a Microsoft PC since Windows XP over 20 years ago. Oh how I laughed :D
 
This is yet another reason why I don't like emails. In all the years since the Internet was created, based on packet switching, the same as email (in fact, some people think email was the first use of packet switching) and after all the years since the sending of the email as we know it and the launching of the Internet, the Internet has evolved into a global communications network, where as email hasn't really changed all that much. It has only been slightly improved in comparison to the Internet as a whole.

I always tell people the same thing with one minor difference between them.

There is no such thing as a 100% Secure Website Server.

And...

There is no such thing as a 100% Secure Email Server.

There is however, such thing as a 100% Secure Computer. Never plug any kind of RAM based storage device into into it (External USB Hard Drives, for a prime example) other than your own, and you never connect it to the Internet. However, if you do what I do, you can still be moderately safe online.

First, never put real information about yourself anywhere you don't want it to be copied. For example, like many people I use Internet Banking. But I have all of my logins, account names and bank website addresses, bookmarks, etc. stored on an encrypted USB drive, which I plug in when I need it and remove it when I don't.

For that reason, if a hacker does manage to get past my security software, he won't find anything about me, just a "Retired Hippie Guitar Player" who used to play guitar in a blues rock band called The Generic Band, which doesn't exist anymore. There are other bands out there now that use that name, but it wasn't us.

Create a complete Internet Persona. For example, here's mine:

Axel Slingerland
700 Blackbird Roost
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
(928) 774-1414

As you already know, Axel Slingerland was my stage name 30 years ago.
700 Blackbird Roost was an apartment building that I lived in back in 1996, under my real name of course. The address is real, but incomplete.
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 is legit.
(928) 774-1414 is a legit phone number. It's the Cyber Crime office at the Flagstaff Police Department. :)

On websites that ask for more information, for years I said Weedpatch, California was my hometown. Now I live 10 miles north of Weedpatch. I also posted on Fakebook that I lived in Weed, California, in the foothills of Beautiful Mt. Shasta in Siskiyou County. And if you're wondering, yes, I found those names amusing for a pretty obvious reason... 😎
 
Axel Slingerland said:
928) 774-1414 is a legit phone number. It's the Cyber Crime office at the Flagstaff Police Department
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Great post. This is particularly clever.

When I used GoDaddy to host my websites I was required to provide my contact number, which by some crazy law is publicly available to anyone who wants to know a website owners information. Got bombarded with sales calls until I wised up and changed my number to GoDaddy's own help line number. Problem solved.

When I need to enter a phone number but don't care to divulge my real number, I enter a number I had years ago. It was never reactivated so callers just get a recording saying the number isn't in service.

Love your fake Internet persona idea.
 
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