Malware, Scanners and Phishers

November 2013

AFVN Group Conversations

    From:  David Gale

     Date:  November 23, 2013

Subject:  Malware and Scammers and Phish, oh my"

Ken, How could you turn down this valuable offer?  What a line!  Western Union is a tip off too! (I lost on a W U payment on ebay too!)  I fight with my 89 year old father that bites on stuff like this.  Usually they are going to send him a million dollars if he sends them $400!    I had to let him get burned a couple of times before he understood that I knew something he didn't!!  Now he tells them, I'll give you $800 when you deliver the million!  They say, we can't do that.  Sort of proves the point to him.  But they sound so honest!!!!  In his case, they were calling from Jamaica so we keep blocking the phone numbers.  It is a different world out there today! 
I'm NOT interested in Llamas just in case you wonder!  Not after the one that attacked you! 
Best David


NB:  The lack of spaces between sentences reflects the message as it was received.  Webmaster.


    From:  Ken Kalish

   Dated:  November 23, 2013

Subject:  Malware and Scanners and Phsih oh my!

Friends: 
It isn’t just high-tech criminals who are out to get us.  There are still plenty of the old-fashioned scammers out there.  Witness this exchange I had today with a person who was supposedly interested in buying some llamas: 

Dear Sir/Ma [sic.], 
This is James Bennett I will like to know If you still have the Llamas for sale.Kindly let me know what you have available and price.I will be looking forward to hear from you.Thanks so much. 
Best Regards 
James Bennett 

Good afternoon, James. 
Yes, we do have llamas for placement.  We ask $100 for each one.  Right now I have a pair of sisters and a mother-son pair, as well as some individuals.  Are you looking for herd guards? 
You can call me at 612-819-5823. 
Ken 

And he responded this way: 
Thanks for your reply.I want three in range of $100 each and hope you can get me health certificate. 

So I said: 
I will talk to my vet about a health certificate.  Different states have different requirements, as does Canada.  What is the destination of the llamas? 
Ken 

Then, this arrives: 
Thanks i want all the four. 
Thanks for your reply.I am sending you this email to make final reconfirmation and also to let you know that payment will be made by,(Money Order or Check) and also want to art you on the fact that you will be receiving the (Money Order  or Check) this  week.Regarding the shipping,I have a company that takes care of the pickup of my consignments for me and ship to my destination in anywhere in the U.S.A, you do not worry about shipping,the company will send down a representative to arrange the sales documentation and the pick up from your end for onward transfer to my destination.Note that you will be receiving an overdraft check, which will cover the money for the pickup (pickup and shipping to the final destination) as well as the money to be paid to the company that will take care of the pickup and the documentation with you. So please, as soon as you receive the payment,go and cash it immediately,deduct the money that accrues to you,and send the balance to the Head Office of the company that handles the shipment via Western union  so that it will be more easier for you and for the shipper to get  it quick.The check will be in your name to make it easier for you to receive payment, please reconfirm your details one more time.I will give you the details of the company that will be shipping it as soon as you got the payment.Once the money is received by the agent,the shipping agent will contact you immediately to arrange the documentation as well as the pick up immediately.So in view of the above, here are some of  the details I will need for final issue of the payment to you. 
N.B:I will pay you an extra $50 if you reserve this for me. 
So in view of the above, here are some of the details I will need  for final issuance of the  (check/money order) to you. 
(1)  Full Name 
(2)  Mailing address, no p.o.box  please 
(3)  your direct telephone number 
(4)  acceptance of my offer 
(5)  Final price. 
After which i will give you the details of my shipper.once the above information is given you will be issue...Hope to hear from you immediately 
Best Regard 
James Bennett 

And then, one minute later, I get this response: 
Thanks for your reply.I am sending you this email to make final reconfirmation and also to let you know that payment will be made by,(Money Order or Check) and also want to art you on the fact that you will be receiving the (Money Order  or Check) this  week.Regarding the shipping,I have a company that takes care of the pickup of my consignments for me and ship to my destination in anywhere in the U.S.A, you do not worry about shipping,the company will send down a representative to arrange the sales documentation and the pick up from your end for onward transfer to my destination.Note that you will be receiving an overdraft check, which will cover the money for the pickup (pickup and shipping to the final destination) as well as the money to be paid to the company that will take care of the pickup and the documentation with you. So please, as soon as you receive the payment,go and cash it immediately,deduct the money that accrues to you,and send the balance to the Head Office of the company that handles the shipment via Western union  so that it will be more easier for you and for the shipper to get  it quick.The check will be in your name to make it easier for you to receive payment, please reconfirm your details one more time.I will give you the details of the company that will be shipping it as soon as you got the payment.Once the money is received by the agent,the shipping agent will contact you immediately to arrange the documentation as well as the pick up immediately.So in view of the above, here are some of  the details I will need for final issue of the payment to you. 
N.B:I will pay you an extra $50 if you reserve this for me. 
So in view of the above, here are some of the details I will need  for final issuance of the  (check/money order) to you. 
(1)  Full Name 
(2)  Mailing address, no p.o.box  please 
(3)  your direct telephone number 
(4)  acceptance of my offer 
(5)  Final price. 
After which i will give you the details of my shipper.once the above information is given you will be issue...Hope to hear from you immediately 
Best Regard 
James Bennett 

And I said: 
Yours is an interesting reply.  You did not answer the questions I asked of you, and your generic response speaks of a shipping company and has a number of phishing phrases in it.  Your shipping company will not be allowed to pick up the animals until I have certified where the animals will be delivered, the appropriateness of the transport, and the purpose of the purchase.

Thanks for your interest, but I suspect that we will not be doing business. 
Ken 

To which he sent this lengthy reply: 
Take care..bye bye


​ADDENDUM

I have an 80-year-old Japanese-American friend who lives alone (his wife is deceased and has no children) in Sacramento, CA.  We have been friends for about 35 years or so and usually get together on Skype once a week or so.   This last Spring he was hit with an email scam that promised him $4,000,000 if he would please send them $10,000 so the writer could travel to the U.S. and transfer the larger amount to his account.   Of course, they needed information on his bank account as well.  He fell for it I and it was several tens of thousands of dollars later before another of his friends who lives in Sacramento, the Sacramento Elderly Protection Services office and I could convince him it was a scam and get his credit cards and bank accounts changed.  I have realized for the past year or so that my friend is getting a little senile, but I didn't think he was  that bad!   Jim White (Webmaster)