BS: Letter scam

Subject: BS: Letter scam
From: Cllr
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:18 AM

I did a quick search and I ddn't find a thread on this but I might have missed it, Anyway I thought I would share a letter I recieved this morning with you all. A letter From MEDIA AGE saying we have definalty won a prize then phone number below call costs about £10 pounds this is bogus and a scam it looks very profesional and I just thought I would warn people. Cllr

Subject: RE: BS: Letter scam
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:30 AM

My favorite scam was the computer add that asks you to click on some goofy spot that's moving around. As soon as you click on the ad, the modem is transferred to a location in the Grand Caymans and you started paying $50 per minute to chase the silly spot around with your mouse. My son did that one. The bill was substantial, but I got around paying it.

Subject: RE: BS: Letter scam
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 11:50 AM

Mike, maybe I am being thick here, but I don't understand how that scam could possibly work.

How did you get billed at $50.00 an hour?

Was that a phone bill or a credit card bill?

How could they know your phone no. and/or how could they know your credit card no. just from a mouse click ?

Subject: RE: BS: Letter scam
From: GUEST,Asimov
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 12:08 PM

Worst computer scam I seen was like a virus, as in it was a self down loading/installing phone dialer...that would call long long distance number...It ran up a $25 bill...never paid it tho. I caught it right away and deleted it, but I could see where others might not.

Subject: RE: BS: Letter scam
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 05:17 AM

I dunno how this differs from many scratch-card inserts in many magazines that invite you to see if you have won a prize and ring a premium rate number with the small print informing you calls cost a pound a minute and can take as long as 4 minutes. YOU KNOW they will take longer. If there is a difference it is the professionalism and pervasiveness.

Unless there is a stataury duty to register raffles (which those aren't) &/or prize draws.