[Hidden-tech] Fwd: Inquiry

[Chris Hoogendyk]

Robin,

The message you forwarded is a very routine form of email swindle. Note 
that the only information they have about you is the email address they 
sent the message to. They didn't even address you by name. If you 
respond, you will provide them with more information (including your 
potential gullibility), and, ultimately, they will probably ask you for 
the transfer of a sum of money to "confirm" or "legitimize" your bank 
account reference or to pay for "processing fees", after which they will 
promise to transfer whatever huge sum they are talking about back to 
your account. That transfer will never happen. They just want your money.

Anytime someone presents you with an opportunity to obtain money "for 
free" that is not legitimately yours, you must assume that they will 
also be focused on swindling you.

This also has nothing to do with Virex, your Mac, or the updated 
definitions. I believe Virex would note an attached virus (typically a 
Windows virus) coming in on an email, but I don't think it scans for 
spam. Your email address could have been scraped off a web page, a 
mailing list archives, or scavenged by a virus on an infected PC that 
belonged to someone who had your email address. It is widely understood 
that spammers finance the development of viruses which then incorporate 
spam mailers and address scavengers and join in to bot networks.


---------------

Chris Hoogendyk

-
   O__  ---- Systems Administrator
  c/ /'_ --- Biology & Geology Departments
 (*) \(*) -- 140 Morrill Science Center
~~~~~~~~~~ - University of Massachusetts, Amherst 

<hoogendyk at bio.umass.edu>

--------------- 

Erdös 4




S.R. MacRostie wrote:
> Hi Guys
>
> Just so you know, I updated virus definitions with Virex last weekend 
> on a Mac.  The letter below  is a presentable letter, but I suspect 
> from the email address, it sneaky spam. [and creepy too]
>
>  I have not responded.   What do you think?
>
> Where would this info come from?  My site?  BNI site? ValleyLists? 
>  Online shopping?
>
> Robin MacRostie 
> *Choreo  G R A P H I C  Design**
> **
> *where YOU're the show & tell
>
> 413-549-6403 • 413.461.6655
> choreographicdesign.com
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> *From: *"rmacr at choreographicdesign.com 
>> <mailto:rmacr at choreographicdesign.com>" <norwoodmaria51 at gmail.com 
>> <mailto:norwoodmaria51 at gmail.com>>
>> *Date: *June 18, 2008 5:49:16 PM EDT
>> *To: *rmacr <rmacr at choreographicdesign.com 
>> <mailto:rmacr at choreographicdesign.com>>
>> *Subject: **Inquiry*
>> *Reply-To: *"rmacr at choreographicdesign.com 
>> <mailto:rmacr at choreographicdesign.com>" <norwoodmaria51 at gmail.com 
>> <mailto:norwoodmaria51 at gmail.com>>
>>
>> Hello,  
>>
>> My name is Maria Norwood; I work with the Total Quest Services, a 
>> consulting Firm in London, UK. We are conducting a standard process 
>> investigation involving a client who shares the same name with you 
>> and also the circumstances surrounding investments made by this 
>> client at HSBC Bank Plc. 
>>
>> The HSBC Private Banking client died intestate and nominated no next 
>> of kin to inherit the title over the investments made with HSBC Bank 
>> Plc. The essence of this communication with you is to request that 
>> you provide us information on three issues:
>>
>> 1-Are you aware of any relative/relation having the same surname, 
>> whose last known contact address was Madrid, Spain? 2-Are you aware 
>> of any investment of considerable value made by such a person at the 
>> HSBC Bank Plc.? 3-Can you establish beyond reasonable doubt your 
>> eligibility to assume status of next of kin to the deceased? It is 
>> pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you are familiar 
>> with this personality that we may put an end to this communication 
>> with you and our inquiries surrounding this personality.
>>
>> You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with 
>> more detailed information at this point. PLEASE RESPOND BACK TO MY 
>> PRIVATE AND DIRECT EMAIL ADDRESS; norwoodmaria51 at gmail.com 
>> <mailto:norwoodmaria51 at gmail.com> as soon as possible to afford us 
>> the opportunity to close this investigation.
>> Thank you for accommodating our enquiry.
>>
>> Yours sincerely,
>> Mrs. Maria Norwood
>> Total Quest Services
>> For: HSBC Private Clients.
>>
>> This is a confidential message from Total Quest Services.