Do people really fall for this sort of stuff? I have to assume they do, or I wouldn't keep getting it.
From today's spam folder:
From: "Roxanne Brewster" BethanyhuffBower@rottentomatoes.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 07:58:41 -0600
To: jay@thompsonsrealty.com
Subject: Re: Thank you, we are ready to lend you some cash. URGENT MESSAGE!Your Credit does not matter to us!
If you have your own business and wish IMMEDIATE ready money to spend ANY way you like or need Extra money to give the business A boost or want A low interest loan - NO STRINGS ATTACHED, here is our deal we can offer you TONIGHT (hurry, this offer will expire NOW):
$41,000+ loan
Hurry, when best deal is gone, it is gone. Simply Call Us…
Don't worry about Approval, your your Credit report will not disqualify You!
Call Us Free on 877-542-xxxx (Jay's note: I xxxx'ed out the number, in case someone stops reading here and picks up the phone…)
Here's your first clue this is stoopid…. never get a loan from someone whose email address ends in "rottentomatoes.com". Heck, that's more unprofessional than a @AOL.com address… (I suspect it doesn't even work, or was hijacked from the true address owner).
Second clue: It's a "reply" email. Of course I never contacted them, so why are they replying? Is this supposed to make me think, "Oh Happy Day! Rotten Tomatoes has finally gotten back to me on my loan request!! Look honey, we can go to Disneyland now!"
Third clue: "Your Credit does not matter to us!" Of course your credit matters. At least to a legit lender.
Fourth clue: "here is our deal we can offer you TONIGHT (hurry, this offer will expire NOW)". Um, if it's expired NOW, then isn't it…. well…. already expired?
Fifth clue: "your your Credit report will not disqualify You!" See clue #4. And never never do do business business with a "professional" that can't proofread an URGENT MESSAGE. (Ditto if they have a problem with how to capitalize words)
Seriously folks. Don't fall for this sort of crap. No legitimate lender will give you a "$41,000+" loan regardless of your credit, no strings attached on an offer that expires NOW. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Maurice (TheCaymanHost) 07.30.07 at 11:59 am
Your post is spot-on about the stupidity aspect but as you say in your post “from today’s spam folder”, was it already flagged as spam?
If it was it means that the spammer has already been identified as such, but if it wasn’t, the best way to help report these kind of idiots is to send a report via http://www.spamcop.net
Sure, it’s another job to do, and I already have SpamArrest installed on my domains but for those that get through, I take the time to report them. The way I see it, if you want to cause the spammers grief, even if ultimately it doesn’t stop the dedicated ones, more people need to actively report the abuse. The good thing about Spamcop is that all you need do is copy and paste the full header and the body of the mail and it takes are of ensuring the report reaches the right places. It’s perversely satisfying too;-)
Jay - The Phoenix Real Estate Guy 07.30.07 at 12:04 pm
Maurice - I relegated it to my spam folder (I use Thunderbird that “learns” spam).
I love the perverse thrill of sending it on to spamcop! You’re right, if everyone did that, it would probably help. it will never go away completely, but there is indeed great satisfaction in getting a spammer the boot! Here is my most satisfying moment in the spam wars.
Snoskred 07.31.07 at 11:03 am
Actually this sounds like it could be a Nigerian 419 fake check scam. I’ve made 5 million in fake checks this year from these guys.
They now offer loans as well as jobs that don’t exist, too.
Can you email me the number - it was toll free right? I can call that free from Skype, and check it out, see if it is a Nigerian scammer or not.
Cheers,
Snoskred
Sam Chapman 08.01.07 at 2:46 pm
But Jay, I already took the $41K. I needed it to repay something from another really great email come-on I got!