Robin, I rarely get real spam through my spam filters, but I often get it forwarded from a relative. To debunk it, I usually search the web for a choice sentence from the msg to find out the story behind the spam. But the general message is that you don't ever get something for nothing, so don't believe anything too good to be true. (Usually I'm just dispelling rumors.) Here's the same email from 2 yrs ago with the names changed. http://www.doshelp.com/scams-fraud/Banking/Berkeley_bank-Scams.htm If you do a search for your email address on google and find some hits, then your email address is 'out there'. Try it. For the good of the public please report the Spam you recieved from the gmail address here. http://mail.google.com/support/bin/request.py?contact_type=abuse_spoofing BTW, there are a few people who actually respond and have interesting, humorous, dialogs with the spammer/con artist. Here's a rather lengthy example. http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=105805 -dave David Ruderman david.ruderman at gmail.com ________________________________ From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net [mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of S.R. MacRostie Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 6:08 PM To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: [Hidden-tech] Fwd: Inquiry 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" <norwoodmaria51 at gmail.com> Date: June 18, 2008 5:49:16 PM EDT To: rmacr <rmacr at choreographicdesign.com> Subject: Inquiry Reply-To: "rmacr at choreographicdesign.com" <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 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.