In the spirit of Halloween, I choose unsolicited evil email as my blog topic today. I have HAD IT with these slimy, underhanded, wicked pickpockets trying to use greed or stupidity as their keys to either unlock your wallet or fry your computer.
As much as 90% of incoming email is unwanted. If you don’t run a business or have to respond to constituents as a public servant, this is merely an annoyance for which you can purchase and install dozens of spam filter solutions so you only receive email from a trusted few. But if you need to respond to legitimate queries, this is a major problem forcing you to slog through incoming folders, spam folders, and delete folders looking for precious clues as to the legitimacy of mail.
I admit to having little sympathy for the get rich quick morons who fall for those asinine Nigerian 419 I have millions of dollars I need to transfer into your bank account in exchange for your keeping X% for your troubles scams. If you’re such a knucklehead to fall for this, you deserve your fate. However, I still find it shocking that BILLIONS of dollars (and growing) are raked in by this doofus scheme.
The ones that get my goat are the ones posing as:
- DHL or UPS notices asking for clarification for a package being delivered to you.
- The IRS saying you owe back taxes.
- The FBI saying you have money awaiting you (although this one is a slight variation of the Nigerian scam).
- An e-greeting card from a friend or relative.
- A bank asking you to login and change your password.
- Eastern European women looking for steady, matrimonial relations (OK, this is two rungs down from the Nigerian scam).
- An impassioned plea for donations to victims of natural disasters - there is a special place in hell awaiting these ghouls.
So before you start counting your treats, look first for the trick. You may think you’re safe from harm at home or in your office in front of your computer, but don’t believe it.
BOO !!!
Chris Crawford www.justiceserved.com
Photo credit = Microsoft clip art
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