In this post I'd like to tell you how I handle spammers and scammers.
Before I tell you about the spam I received, a word of warning. Please, do not copy any of the addresses you find in this post. I left them unlinked for a reason!
I received an email in English and a similar email in Dutch, of someone claiming to have hijacked my webcam and having made a video of me masturbating.
The extortionist demanded that I transfer some BTC to a specified account within 48 hours. If I would fail to do so, the extortionist would send said video to all of my contacts.
I'll keep you posted.
I received an email with a link with a text designed to make it tempting to click on the link. No, I did not just click on the link. So, what did I do? I right-clicked on the link and copied the URL, which I'm not going to give you, for obvious reasons. Then I performed a whois query on the domain name I found, oracoolum.com. This did yield an email address, so I sent a complaint about the email I received.
If the email address in the whois information turns out to be invalid, then I will report it to ICANN.
Next, I reported the email to SpamCop.net using this script which, if you're a macOS user, you're welcome to get. You'll need to take some steps which I included in the comments.
I'll be receiving an inheritance??? Not quite. I received an email with the following content:
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Andrew Richards, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the WILL.
I was made to understand that My Late client Mr. Andrew Richards met with someone who knows and trust you during his business trip before he died.
You were recommended to him as a very honest person who is above board.
I wish to notify you that late Mr. Andrew Richard made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Ten Million Dollars (USD$10,000,000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will.
Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with someone who recommended you to him in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good.
Mr. Andrew Richard until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out.
His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time. Late Mr. Andrew Richard died on the 16th day of February 2015 at the age of 71 years and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this money is to support his Charitable activities (May his soul rest with the Lord) and to help the poor and needy.
Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavour to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant date with your address; direct phone number, age and occupation to enable me send you the copies of the will documents on your name.
Please email me...
I know where this is going! This con artist Mr. Wilford claims to have an inheritance for me. If I would give him the information he asks for, then I would be the victim of identity theft, and possibly not only that. So, I didn't do that.
I received the following reply from Greg Wilford:
Dear Bert Visscher,
Having carried out all the required process as regards the payment of US$10,000,000.00 bequeathed to you by the Late Andrew Richard, we wish to inform you that the court order is issued authorizing the bank to release your funds without delay.
Therefore you are advice to contact the paying bank with the information stated below.
Mr. Randall Jeremy
Account Officer
First National Bank
Email: fnbbank.saafrica@opoczta.pl
Telephone: +27638286379
Fax: +27864515879
Contact the bank immediately for payment with this letter and the court order which is attached to this email.
Please view attached documents.
Regards,
Greg Wilford (Esq)
This was followed by a phone number and a certificate which basically stated the same thing again.
I'll keep you posted.
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