Seems that summer has brought scammers and spammers out in force.  ScienceDaily.com has a post with info from the FBI about three separate email scams making their way around the ‘Net.

One that has flooded my inbox lately is the egreeting email, in which I’m told I have an e-card or an e-greeting from a friend or a relative. Naturally, if it says the card if from “a friend” or “a relative” or “a mate,” then trash it straight away. Sadly, the malware sent in these spam scams will do damage to the real e-card industry.

Another scam email looks like it’s coming from a US Soldier stationed overseas. These little phishing expeditions are trying get collect your personal info and a bit of your hard earned cash. Unfortunately they’re playing on the heartstrings we have for our overseas troops (of which my son is one). Just pass, though. If you know someone serving overseas, you’ll know that person by name. Don’t be fooled.

 The final FBI warning is about an email that is coming directly from the FBI. Again — if the FBI wanted to contact you, rest assured they’d do it by means other than email.

In other scam news, NewWest.net reported yesterday that some Idaho businesses are receiving invoices from a company called “the Yellow Pages” which is claiming unpaid bills. The rub? This is an Internet company from Canada that is billing people for actual listings, but for listings the companies did not order. The bigger rub? This company has had the gall to send their unpaid invoices to a collection agency.

The cool thing is the Idaho Attorney General has clamped down on this company and restitution has been ordered. If you’ve been a victim of this scam, contact the Idaho Attorney General’s office.

Funny how some businesses have started sending bills for merchandise not ordered.  Example: At the Workplace-Excellence office, we regularly receive “bills” for magazines and newsletters that we didn’t order. The transaction is real — if you pay the bill you start receiving the publication.  It’s just that they send out the invoice even if the publication wasn’t requested.

These companies–for whom I quickly lose respect–obviously figure that if a bill arrives it will get tossed in with all the other bills and get paid. Sly. And in my opinion, too sly. I won’t buy their product, even if I think I might like it.

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