Swine Flu Phishing

Oh
My
Gosh

As if we don't think the scammers have sank low enough (see the post I'm writing next over on This Woman I Am), now people are being targeted in a massive phishing scam.

We got this message at work:

Please be aware of a fraudulent phishing program requesting recipients to register with CDC for swine flu vaccination. Upon clicking on the link, a malicious code will download onto the PC. CDC does not require online registration for H1N1 vaccination. Please do not respond to emails with such requests.

Are you kidding me? That is despicable and a bunch of BULL DROPPINGS!

I went to the CDC website and found a sample of the e-mail you may receive:


My friends, don't ever click on links like that. If you're truly concerned, go directly to the website of the CDC and look for that information. Yes, you'll find what you need to know about this e-mail. It's a scam.

When in doubt, look it up on http://www.snopes.com/. Trust me, it's there.

Don't fall for the BULL DROPPINGS. Lord knows there's enough stuff out there in the real world to mess up your life without being scammed here in the virtual world.

Links:
http://www.cdc.gov/hoaxes_rumors.html
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/phishing/cdcvaccination.asp

And for real information on the H1N1 virus, aka the swine flu:
http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

A Free Computer!

Oh my goodness, did you know that they're giving away free computers if you just forward this e-mail on to eight of your friends?

Yeah.

Right.

A bunch of BULL DROPPINGS! And I really can't believe one of my own co-workers was forwarding this garbage on - at work even! Fortunately, someone sent it to me, asking if it's true.

Of course it's a fake! Check out http://www.snopes.com/: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/ericsson.asp

As my Dad says, "If wishes were horses..."

Horses have their own version of BULL DROPPINGS, you know, they're just more solid and don't splat [much] when they hit the ground.

Think before you forward that e-mail on! And if you have no one to ask, shoot, e-mail it to me and I'll look it up for you. I really, really don't mind.

Beware The New Check Scam

Well here we go again!

The latest scams involve checks.

First, the scammers are using craigslist. So you're trying to sell a car, you get an e-mail offering you full price. They send you a check and you're supposed to wire transfer the extra funds to the "shipper". (There are variations on the theme, they're all bad.)

The super bad news is that the check wasn't any good to start with, it was a fake. So your bank account will be minus the check amount AND you'll owe the bank for the money you transferred to the "shipper".

Bad.

Very bad.

The second scam claims that you've won a prize from "NSW International Lotteries" or another sweepstakes. You'll get an initial check in the mail BUT you're supposed to send in a processing fee for the rest of the prize.

Yes, you guessed right. The first check is fake, but no one will know until AFTER you sent off the "processing fee". So you're screwed again.

In both cases, the check will be from "Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co."

In both cases, the check will be fake.

Even if it's not from Nationwide, it'll still be a fake check, trust me!

If someone tries to suck you into one of these scams, call Nationwide at 1-877-On Your Side® (1-877-669-6877) or make an online report immediately.

DO NOT put the fake check in your bank account!

Don't get sucked into the BULL DROPPINGS!

The vile pool of BS is getting deeper by the day and the scammers are using modern technology against you. Don't let them take your money, be a wise consumer!

AS-IS

Recently there's been a growing trend with people demanding refunds for cars and other items, especially things bought on Craigslist.

Now, Craig Newmark has carefully given many, many warning of the scams out there.

Yet, over in the Legal Forum, there's a continuous stream of posts asking for advice. People buy cars, drive them for a couple of weeks, sometimes a couple of months, and then contact the seller, demanding their money back.

Look, in most states, including California, private party sales are inherently AS-IS. There is no refund if you don't like the deal you got, you found a cheaper car, or the car broke down after you drove the wheels off of it.

There's only a couple of things to remember when selling anything.

First, make sure the buyer does a full inspection of the item. If it's a refrigerator, have it plugged in so it's cold. If it's a stereo, play it. If it's a video game system, show the buyer the whole thing, plug it in, play the game.

If it's a car, tell them whatever you know about it, don't make promises about the condition, do a test drive (bring a friend with you, don't take checks, take payment in cash only, preferably at the DMV so you can transfer the title right then and there).

And remember, in California, you MUST get the vehicle smogged. Plus, if you don't have time to meet at the DMV, you can do the "Release of Liability" form online at www.dmv.ca.gov. Be sure to print out your copy!!

And if a buyer contacts you a week, a month, a year afterward, demanding a refund on a private party sale, tell them the truth, there is NO refund.

As-is is just that, AS-IS -- and that means beware and be aware on both sides of the deal -- buyer and seller!!

Don't fall for the BULL DROPPINGS.

And if they threaten court, tell them, "See you there!" (99 times out of a hundred, they're blowing smoke!)

Facing Foreclosure?

Listen, you're going to get a lot of messages via e-mail, phone, mail, radio and TV about modifying your mortgage.

YES, you should try to modify your mortgage.

But listen up, my city newsletter says loan-modification companies CANNOT CHARGE AN ADVANCE FEE FOR THEIR SERVICES if your lender has issued a notice of default against you!!!

So that stuff you're getting from those companies is a bunch of BULL DROPPINGS!

What you need to do is contact your mortgage company and ASK for a loan modification. That generally puts the foreclosure on hold for a couple of months while they go through the process. And trust me, it's well worth it, I did it myself and IT DIDN'T COST ME A PENNY!

Don't be scammed by job loss and foreclosure, you do have options.

And listen carefully, if you do lose your house, it's not the end of the world.

I can personally tell you that three years after the discharge of your bankruptcy, you will qualify as a first time homebuyer and be able to buy again. And now that you've survived the mortgage meltdown, you'll be a better consumer and homeowner.

Remember, there is NO need for drastic measures. If you lose your job and your house, it's only a momentary setback on your road of life.

It's not the end of the world.

I can tell you this because I personally know a few people who are actually on their THIRD house, and I myself lost a house in the 90s. And three years and two months after the discharge of my bankruptcy, I bought another house.

Don't let the scammers and BSers and drama suck you down with BULL DROPPINGS! You will come out of this mess in a way better space, just give it all time to evolve, it's gonna be OK!

You Have The Right...

A deep voice on the radio, warm, friendly, "The credit card companies don't want you to know that you have the right to cut your bills in half..."

Or something like that, I'm writing from memory.

Yeah, that warm and fuzzy voice is telling you to use their services to cut your bill in half.

Can't you smell the BULL DROPPINGS just oozing out of the speakers?

I can.

These guys will take your money, claim to negotiate a settlement with the credit card companies, you'll send a check to them every month and maybe they really will pay the bills. Maybe. Late if at all.

It's all a huge scam that will ruin your credit.

And they may not pay any of your bills. Some of these outfits take your money and run, leaving you with huge problems with your creditors. Trust me, collection agencies DO NOT CARE that you were scammed, they just want the money.

If you really are in trouble, call Consumer Credit Counselors. They're a "for real" non-profit that can help you make a payment plan to pay your bills within a set period of time. And if they can't help you, they'll be honest about it and tell you.

Unlike that friendly voice on the radio...

The Property Tax Assessment Scam

Did you get a really official looking letter in the mail, telling you that you MUST send in $$ ASAP to have your property taxes lowered?

I sure hope you didn't send in a check, because the whole thing is BULL DROPPINGS.

Yes, it's been on the news and all over the Internet, but my co-worker's mom actually sent in a check. Luckily, she heard on the news that it was all a scam, so she was able to stop payment on the check before it reached the scammers. (Whew!!)

I'm telling you, people can't stay ahead of the scams -- mail, phone, e-mail, Internet, it's just too much. Even knowledgeable people are getting scammed.

Listen, if you want your property to be reassessed, then you should contact your local assessor's office, over at the county building. They'll do it for free.

Got A Text Message From Your Bank?

Oh dear, did you get a text message from your bank, telling you to call an 800 number right away?

Hon, it's just another scam.

My credit union actually has fliers posted, warning customers to NOT respond to these text messages. It's just another variation on the phishing schemes that too many people fall for.

If you get an urgent text message from your bank, do yourself a huge favor. DON'T call that phone number that's so conveniently provided in the body of the text. Don't hit reply either. Instead, call your bank on the regular number and let them know what's happening. They may actually ask you to come in, or may tell you to ignore and delete the message.

In any case, don't fall for the BULL DROPPINGS! Never, ever give your personal bank information to anyone. If it really was the bank, they'd have all your info!!

Be smart in the New Year!

Are We Out Of Tin Foil Yet?

Are we out of tin foil yet?

You know, the stuff people use for those silly tin foil hats?

I am so tired of the conspiracy theorists that I actually wrote about them in my other blog, the one I use for my political rantings, www.wobbling-down-the-middle.blogspot.com.

Did you know that no matter what you tell a conspiracy theorist, no matter how many hard facts you provide, you can't convince them that the rantings of their conspiracy of the month are a bunch of BULL DROPPINGS?

In fact, you'll just be considered a part of the great conspiracy?

Amazing...

Look, when someone you know starts ranting and raving about Obama, about the upcoming riots, about the dissolving of the Second Amendment of the Constitution, just roll your eyes and send them to www.snopes.com.

Yeah, I know, they won't read it. And if they do, they won't believe it.

But at least you tried...

I don't think we'll ever run out of tin foil for those silly hats. Darn it all.