There is new wave of e-mail scams to send you a virus, or mainly to get your money. It is much more clever than the past ones claiming you won a huge price, or someone is stranded with a huge amount who needs to be transferred momentarily into your account, and all you need is give a few hundred dollars and you soon will be extremely rich.
These new e-mails are very annoying when you own a small business, and outright dangerous for the big companies and the private people. These e-mails claim you owe them money, therefore you need to open the attachment, usually a Zip attachment(it looks like a zipper and says Zip on the side) or even a simple Document. It is advised to never open those. Those e-mails do not have proper identification, namely Name of the corporation or business, address, phone number etc… They do have a person first and last name, but that’s all. And they claim you how them money. A small business owner knows were the money goes, who he owes money to, etc… A big corporation who have different departments ordering merchandise, and other paying the bills might just go ahead and pay without really noticing the extra cash out, or not until a monthly, or yearly check up. Also a private person might feel compelled to open those files, as the wording in those e-mails are somewhat threatening about the person needing to pay now before further action is taken to recover the funds. If you are uncertain about those, the proper thing to do, is probably to Google part of the e-mail, and you will soon see that it is a scam. And again the elderly, who now are more internet savvy than ten or twenty years ago, might feel compelled to open those attachments and pay, specially they start to have difficulty remembering. Ask your love ones to never pay anything without checking with you.
In the first example, you make sure you know the party, BUT don’t open the attachment to find out.
In the second example, if you didn’t buy anything at Macy(or other store, service), you shouldn’t expect a bill. Last time they didn’t gave you credit, you paid cash or with your own credit card. If you do have a credit card from them, it would be through a proper Bill, with the main office, local branch, phone number, etc… And if you called you would actually get a person at that store accounting department. Besides, only in Europe the coma is between the main currency(here Dollars) and the cents. Here in America, it is a period. The coma is only between “Thousands”and “hundreds”: $157.55 or $157,550.00 . But even if the punctuation was accurate, that would not change the fact that you know you don’t owe anything at that store, Corporation, business etc…
Here are examples of how some of those e-mails look like:
1) “Dear Client, We are writing concerning the amount of $5960.74 which was due to be paid on 01.05.2016 and, despite numerous requests for payment, remains outstanding. Details attached to this email. We demand that payment of the full amount be paid to us on or before 10.05.2016. If this account is not resolved by the specified date we reserve the right to commence legal proceedings to recover the debt without further notice to you, and you may be responsible for any associated legal fees or collection costs. If you wish to prevent this, please contact the undersigned as a matter of urgency and settle your account before the above date. Regards,
Jenny Parks Head of Corporate Relation”(+ attachment)
2)
Macy’s Inc
INVOICE DUE DATE BALANCE DUE View invoice
88297 05/05/2016 $157,55 (+ attachment)
Dear Valued Customer,
Here’s your invoice! We appreciate your prompt payment.
Thanks for your business!
Macy’s Inc
3) Internet Service Fee (675437ID) (with a number, name, sounding officia)
Our company has made requested local repairs on your street. You are obligated to pay a fee of $99.00.
More information in the document enclosed.(+ Zip attachment with your name etc… sounding official)
4) You have 1 new message from the network’s administrator.
Please, review the file attached to read it now.(+ Zip attachment with your name etc… sounding official)
So beware and check your facts carefully, and don’t give a dime to anybody because of some e-mail. Even if by regular mail(USPS, …), in writing, always check the facts, ask questions, call and see if it sounds legitimate, ask for it in writing with the date of the purchase, or service, and with whom etc… But first may be Google it, and it will pop out right away that it is a scam, and it will save you time and effort.
By Corinne Copelan, Publisher.
