Category: el telemarketer-o

Looks like the old scammers have new tricks.  This one drives you to click on a link, (http://sitesubmiturl.com/4txGy2fG/index.html) that is really a hidden link to (http://207.210.101.44/showthread.php?t=73a07bcb51f4be71)  That is actually a domestic ip block owned by Global net Access, LLC (GNAXNET)

The webserver it’s attached to seams to be spitting out 403’s now..

Text:

You should check in from 24 hours and up to 60 minutes before your flight (2 hours if you’re flying internationally). After the check-in, all you need to do is print your boarding pass and go to the gate.

Confirmation code: 810227 Check-in online: Online reservation details

Flight 4164 Departure city and time Washington, DC (DCA) 10:00PM Depart date: 4/5/2012

We are committed to protecting your privacy. Your information is kept private and confidential. For information about our privacy policy visit usairways.com. US Airways, 111 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281 , Copyright US Airways , All rights reserved.

The bad guys are limiting themselves here a bit. 

“From x97329@nextel.com

7079553042: Dear H&R Block customer your EmeraldCard has been locked.  Call 7079553042 to unlock it.”

They are hoping that who ever get’s this text message is an H&R Block customer and that they have an EmeraldCard.  So you call back the number and then you have to key in your entire credit card number, expiration date and your PIN. 

The voices are all computer readouts, no actual voice recordings.  the IVR is pretty advanced.  It challenges the number you key with the actual structure of mastercard.  So I threw in a test MC just to see what would happen.  Sure enough they tried to run charges through using the bogus data sent over. 

If your reading this then your part of an audience that is SURELY cleaver enough not to fall for this sort of scam but perhaps someone may “google” that number and be pre-warned of such a silly attempt. 

In the mail bag today:

From: “Barbara Cole”<bcole@go.com>

Subject: Help me please

Date: December 31, 2011 3:06:54 PM CST

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Reply-To: <bcole013@yahoo.co.jp>

I’m Barbara Cole, I’m 15 years old girl I live in Bolton UK before my Dad passed away in a car accident 3 years ago, I now live with my step mother in Warrington, My mother died immediately she gave birth to me. My late Dad Mr.Norman Cole was a big business man in UK before he died in a car accident 2007 I am the only child of my Dad, he died 3 days after the accident, He Will all his life savings to me, I have been trying to collect the funds from the bank but the bank MD CEO refused, he said I should present someone old enough so he can transfer the funds to the person that I can’t be in control of the huge amount of funds because I am still a teenage and it is against the UK law.
I would have told my step mother to assist me in collecting the funds from the bank but she is not a good woman, my Dad warned me about her before he died, now that I live with her I now understand that what my Dad said about her was true, because she don’t give me attention she don’t care if I am alright or not, all she do is to take hard drugs and bring different men to the house. I don’t want to have anything to do with her. If I get her involved in this she will use all the funds to take hard drugs.  All I wish for right now is someone old enough and honest to help me collect my funds from the bank as I am still a teenage and it is against the UK law.  Why I can’t wait until i am 18 years is because what my step mum is doing to me is not fair and i don’t want her to Influence me with her bad life style i just wan’t to live so i can live a better life.
I know we don’t know each other but please I need your help if you can assist me to collect the funds from the bank I will give you 50% out of the funds, Then you will help me invest my 50% until I am 18 and I will be staying with you or you will get somewhere for me to stay until I am 18 years old.
If you agree to help me, I will send you a copy of the Will and my picture so you will know me, and I will send you the contact of the Bank and tell you how much is the funds so you can contact them, and I will inform the bank that you will contact them that you are the person that want to help me.
I will be waiting for your urgent reply so I can send you the contact of the bank and my father’s Will and death certificate.
Please this letter has to be confidential,and I need your 100% trust and loyalty because the lawyer I got involved wanted to made away with the money, so I told the bank not to transfer the funds to him, I already promised to give you half of the funds so please be honest with me.
If you are interested please reply me on my email: bcole013@yahoo.co.jp
Best Regards
Barbara Cole

I got a new car, well a used car but new to me, and in it came an XM receiver.  As little as I listen to the radio, I wasn’t really interested but I do enjoy listening to NPR and the local NPR (KMBH/KHID) do horrible jobs with their local programing.  The chance of listening to a national feed of NPR would be very appealing.  So I went to XM’s site and found this FAQ

How do I activate the SiriusXM radio in a new pre-owned vehicle?

So i clicked and was taken to:

https://listenercare.siriusxm.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3677

that directed me to

https://care.siriusxm.com/oemaccountauthentication_view.action?fromLogin=true

I was prompted to enter my zip code and ESN #

Now this car was bought in a local lot so the chance of having the same zip code as the previous owner is fairly high.  I put in the info and was given this page next..

I was then giving the previous owner’s name, account number and address.

Companies who we chose to do business with should make more effort to ensure that the information we trust with them is protected.  Consumers also need to be aware of what that give out.  I try and always use my post box for an address instead of my home address.  I also give out my google# instead of my home/cell numbers.  Also assigning email addresses that can be tracked to find out who is giving it out helps greatly.