by Robert Gillis

This gem arrived in my spam folder today, and it was so perfectly, wonderfully, amazingly STUPID that I just had to share this one. Obviously, it’s fraud,  just delete it, but there ARE folks who get taken every year by these scammers, so again, to anyone who doe not understand this fraud: Please be safe and delete it.  You most assuredly have NOT won anything.

From: United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC)
To: undisclosed recipients: ;
Sent: Thu, Mar 18, 2010 6:08 am
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS

[BOB]: The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC)’s web site states the following: “The (UNCC) was created in 1991 as a subsidiary organ of the UN Security Council.

by Robert Gillis

True story: I received this email today; I have not edited it; this is what I got, errors and all:

From: FREE LOTTO CLAIM OFFICER
Sent: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 8:56 am
Subject: Validation Of Your winning Funds

ATTN: Winner,

I am Mr. Richard Smith your claims officer, I wish to Congratulate you, you are a lucky person to have won this lottery. This is a promotional draw which officially launches the new system.

by Robert Gillis
published in the Boston City Paper 10/2007

SCAM: You receive an email from a someone you don’t know claiming you have won a large amount of money in a lottery you have never heard of. He promises you, a total stranger (but a trusted one) all the details to collect your billions. This is a REAL FRAUD which costs its victim THOUSANDS. These scammers will usually ask recipients to wire money from small fees to larger payments of thousand of dollars via Western Union or Moneygram to “cover taxes,” or for a “release fee” or for vague “legal costs.” They also ask for all kinds of personal information, copies of driver’s license, passport, PIN codes, leading to IDENTITY THEFT.

by Robert Gillis
published in the Foxboro Reporter, 1/2006 & 1/2007 and the Boston City Paper, 6/2006 & 1/2007.

Since eBay no longer allows this ad that I have posted for EIGHT YEARS, I invite you to read it here! (They won’t allow it because I’m not selling or buying anything). But since ticket fraud is rampant across eBay and Craigslist, if you are planning to buy tickets to the Super Bowl, PLEASE read this first!

by Robert Gillis
published in the Foxboro Reporter 11/2005 and Boston City Paper, 2006

SCAM: You receive an email from a “wealthy foreigner” (usually someone related to the royal family or something) who needs help moving millions of dollars from his homeland. He promises you, a total stranger (but a trusted one) a hefty percentage of this fortune as a reward for assisting him. This is a REAL FRAUD which costs its victim THOUSANDS.

These scammers will usually ask recipients to wire money from small fees to larger payments of thousand of dollars via Western Union or Moneygram to “cover taxes,” or for a “release fee” or for vague “legal costs.” They also ask for all kinds of personal information, copies of driver’s license, passport, PIN codes, leading to IDENTITY THEFT.