How about a 'Scams to beware of' section?

[naomi24]

I've just received this very friendly email from a peculiar looking address.

//Hi there [correct Christian name] how are things? We will be driving down there to your area soon so perhaps we could all go grab something to eat and get everyone together to catchup? I will keep you posted! Talk with you soon. Emily//

No idea what it's all about - but I suspect the sender is up to no good. If it had been sent to anyone who knows an 'Emily' they haven't seen for a while, the chances are they might have responded.

Just a thought.

[vivandorron]

A few years back Viv and I had a similar sort of e/mail from a lady in Mexico who was promising to visit us, during the ensuing few weeks.

I was able to work-out what had brought about such a message.:-

Our niece had been on holiday in Mexico and had sent us an e/mail from an Internet cafe and had not deleted the message which she had sent to us. Consequently, it would have been in the computer for anyone to see and then someone though they would have bit of fun by posting as described.

Ron.

[naomi24]

Oh really? Thanks Ron. That doesn't seem quite so sinister.

[AB Editor]

Yep, it's a good idea. We hope to be able to shift some categories around soon.

[Old_Geezer]

I'd predict the section would rapidly fill up with fake warnings. 99% of the warnings folk I know e-mail me turns out to be false when one Googles it. So few check first.

[naomi24]

You're probably right, OG - but that's the problem. Few do check, so perhaps better forewarned than being duped.

[AB Editor]

I think there would still be value in it O_G - even if it was just so other users could point out that a scam is a fake scam scam.

[DTCwordfan]

And if it stops one ABer from being scammed, then it's worth it. I bet it will be more than one though who benefits.

[vivandorron]

Get cracking then Ed.....I wouldn't want to be the one to suggest that you could be deploying words as something of a scam to keep us quiet on the issue concerned.:-)

Ron.

[maidybaby]

I got exactly the same message from"Emily" including the "catchup" spelling error. I do not think this is innocent in any way and have reported it as a phshng scam

[MASS1961]

I get a lot of junk mail that I mark as phishing scam. The effect? Nothing! I get them again and again.
What should happen when you mark thus?

Sorry for hijacking this thread, it seemed relevant

[maidybaby]

I've no idea but I didn't really know what else to do! - open to suggestions!

[naomi24]

maidybaby, perhaps 'Emily' isn't such a joker after all.

[maidybaby]

Something a little more sinister I fear!

[Jumbo747]

Please don't arrange to meet 'her' and leave your house unattended.........

[jno]

presumably Emily got your given name right because it's part of your email address? If it's not, that does sound a bit spooky.

[naomi24]

jno, yes, indeed. Emily is no fool!

[HowardKennitby]

The problem about such a section is it will give any person ideas about what sort of scams to try.

[naomi24]

Howard, wouldn't they need to have an idea for a scam to do that? I have no idea what Emily is up to.

[maidybaby]

My name is not like my email so my details can't be gleaned from that alone. It would have to be from something I had sent or maybe received. As I recall the images were blocked or there was an attachment perhaps. Obviously I didn't open or unblock them. "Emily" (who should always in bunny rabbit ear speech marks owing to the fact that "Emily" is not a girl who deserves personification but a scam that has identically phished two strangers independently that we know of) is clearly up to no good. Wouldn't dream of arranging a meeting but terrifyingly there are those that would. It only takes for one real person to have a real long-lost friend called Emily, doesn't it?