Wash your hands!

It’s not that hard, people!

• Wash your hands
• Practice social distancing (even in the checkout line, Fred)
• Don’t make shopping a family affair if you don’t have to
• Stay home if you’re sick
• Stay home if you have been around someone who’s sick
• Stay at home unless you have no choice but to go out
• Thank the medical professionals who are working to save as many of as they can
• Thank the teachers and other educational professionals who are rolling with this and still teaching their students
• Thank the custodians and housekeepers who are making sure spaces are safe and sanitized for all of us

  Thank you for doing your part to keep yourself and others safe

• Make sure your loved ones know they are loved

Take care and be safe.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Pro tip: exclamation point abuse will not make spam seem legit

Spammers and scammers amaze me sometimes.  They are slimy idiots and brilliant at the same time.  They can draw people in like no one else.  Just wow.  Check out this message from (not really) General Abdul Aziz al-Shallal (using the email address test@test.com).   If I was desperate enough, I might believe it and follow up.

—

 

Subject: VERY URGENT!!! (Note:  You know, because all caps and multiple exclamation points mean this is real)

Greetings,

I apologized using this medium to reach you for a transaction/business of this magnitude, but this is due to Confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium. In unfolding this proposal, I want to count on you, as a respected and honest person to handle this project/transaction with sincerity, trust and confidentiality.
Let me use this opportunity to introduce myself briefly to you. I am General Abdul Aziz Jassem al-Shallal. One of the general that defected from the Syrian Army.


My office monitors and controls the affairs of sensitive institutions including some financial post in my country concerned with foreign contract payments as well..
I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of funds moving within banks both on the local and international levels in line to foreigncontracts settlement. I have before me, list of funds which could not be transferred to some nominated accounts as these accounts have beenidentified either as ghost accounts, unclaimed deposits or over-invoiced sum e.t.c. before I defected.


Now listen carefully please. I write to present you to the federal government that you are among the people expecting the funds to betransferred into their accounts. On this note, I wish to have a deal with you as regards to the unpaid certified contract funds.
I have every file before me and the data’s will be changed into your name to enable you receive the fund into your nominated account as thecontractor/beneficiary of the fund amount $20 Million U.S.D.


It is my duty to recommend the transfer of these surplus funds to the  government treasury and reserve accounts as unclaimed deposits. I have the opportunity to write you based on the opportunity that the funds was release to my office which I have made deposit into three countries France , United States and Britain namely.

Among several others, I have decided to remit this sum following my idea that we have a deal/agreement and I am going to do this legally.  (Note:  Nothing about this is legal or legitimate.) 

MY CONDITIONS AS FOLLOWS.

1. You will give me 70% at of the total sum as soon as you confirm the total fund in your designated account. 25% will be for you for while 5% should be set aside for any miscellaneous expenses. (Note:  If nothing else raises your suspicion, this should.)  

2. This transaction must be kept highly secretive as I am still in service to avoid public notice and all correspondence will be strictly by email for security purposes. We will talk on phone partially if any warrant for that.

3. There should be no third parties as most problems associated with fund release are caused by your agents or representative.
If you agree with my conditions, I will intimate you with the procedures to enable me fix your name on the payment schedule instantly to meet the mandate and vital information for you to receive the funds legally from the bank in which country funds has been safely deposited.

I hope you don’t reject this offer as this great opportunity comes but once in one’s entire life.

——-

So many red flags in this one!  Have you received it?

Until next time, peace.

 

Happy birthday, guys!

Happy birthday to my daughter (20 on the 24th), husband (January 26), and baby brother (January 26)!

Photo credit: Idea go

Party on, guys!  Love you all!

Another Mystery Shopper position

Mystery shopping, again.  The reason scammers use this one so often is because there is a little truth in it.  There are mystery shopping gigs, but they don’t pay as handsomely as the scammers suggest.  You might get the overage or a bonus if the shop is urgent, but #$200 per gig?  Nope.

Mystery Shopper (alert@rbs.com) sent me this invitation to apply for a shopping gig and gave several clues to its fraudulent nature.

Subject:  MYSTERY SECRET SHOPPER

Congratulations,

 We are accepting applications from qualified individuals from all-over the
world to become Secret-Shopper. There is no charge to become a shopper and you do not need previous experience.

 After you sign up, you will have access to training materials from us. Should you interested, your wages would be US $200 per assignment. No commitment is made on this job and you would have flexible hours. At least 2 evaluations a week will be assigned to you because this is a part time job and we think this job suits you. We will provide you the money for all of your evaluations.

 Money order/Payment check would be in a certain amount which you would be required to Cash at your Bank, then deduct your salary and have the rest used for the evaluation at the store that would be given to you for evaluations.

 Provide the following information if you interested and we will get back
shortly with an your assignment.

 Name (First,Last):
 Email:
 Address:
 City,State,Zip Code:
 Phone Number:

 We are waiting your good response, Thank you.

 (Candidate from USA & Europe are allowed to apply for this offer)

 Regards,
 James Morgan
 Head of Recruitment
 SS-Network @2014

See that tidbit about cashing a check and deducting your salary?  Yeah, that’s the scam.  You cash a fraudulent check and you end up on the hook.  If the names James Morgan and SS-Network seem familiar, it’s because they are.   Once again, this Head of Recruitment is trying to steal from whoever falls for this.

Be safe.

 

Devin, try again! Another day, another scam.

So much, spam, so little time.  Let me know if you haven’t seen this one before.  It’s a new contact person with the same old ‘we hope your greed or desperation makes you contact us’ kind of thing.

—

From:  Devin Stoutenborough (vvdstoutenborough@mdeca.org)

Subject:  (none)

Good day to you,
I am a banker with China Guangfa Bank. I am sincerely Sorry for bugging into your privacy, it’s due to a business deal, l am the Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director of China Guangfa Bank in Hong Kong. I want to present you as the owner of 49.5 million US dollars In my bank since i am the only one aware of the funds due to my investigations. Please grant me the benefit of doubt and hear me out. I need you to signify your interest by replying to this email: jameshk77@rogers.com
James Morrow.

—

Benefit of doubt my butt.  James, Devin, or whoever you are, you’re scum.

Be safe and smart, people.

 

Spammers make me giggle

You know, I don’t know many people who couldn’t use and extra few dollars.  I don’t think I know anyone who’d fall for offers like these.

Li Zoahang (zzaohangz@kimo.com) wants my help –

I’m Li Zaohang, and I work with Bank of China.
I need your assistance in moving a sum of $28.370 Million Dollars from my Bank.
Kindly get back if interested.

Wow, really?  Sad attempt at scamming.  Where’s the imagination?  The enticement?  Sorry, throwing a huge dollar amount at me isn’t enough reason for me to consider giving you my information or breaking the law.

Michael McNeill (ppc@snru.ac.th) went with the tried and true soldier stationed abroad approach –

I am Sgt. Michael McNeill, a US Marine Sgt. Serving in the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. I am presently in Afghanistan. I have summoned up courage to contact you for an assistance to evacuate some cash eighteen million dollars (18,000,000.00) to the States or any safe country.

SOURCE OF MONEY:
Some money in various currencies was discovered and concealed in barrels with piles of weapons and ammunition at a location near one of the Taliban Caves during a rescue operation and it was agreed by all party present that the money will be shared among us.

I will provide you with more details upon the receipt of your response.

Respectfully,
Sgt. Michael McNeill
United States Marine Corps.
Afghanistan

Sigh.  We all know that looting is a possibility in any wartime, but yeah, no thanks.

Gillian and Adrian Bayford (info@usa.net) want to just give me money.  With the Google Management Team’s approval –

We are Gillian and Adrian Bayford. My wife and I won the biggest Euro Millions lottery prize of £148 Million GBP and we just commenced our Charity Donation and we will be giving out a cash donation of £1,500,000.00 GBP  to 5 lucky individuals and 10 charity organizations from any part of the world. To verify the genuineness of this email, check this web page; http://news.sky.com/story/972395/148-6m-euromillions-jackpot-winners-named Your email address was submitted to my wife and I by the Google Management Team and you are therefore approved £1,500,000.00 GBP

Congratulations & Happy Celebrations in Advance.

Oy.

So, what goodies have you received this week?

Ultimate Blog Challenge is almost over

What happened to October?  It feels like it just started.

I decided to take part in the Ultimate Blog Challenge to help me get back on track and post more often.  I’ve learned a few things about myself.    

• Yes, I can post 31 posts in as many days.  Some days were post-free, but I made up for them.
• 31 posts in 31 days may be too much for me on a regular basis.  Between work and other blogs, my brain shuts down and my creativity wanes.
• I need to keep a notebook handy so I can jot down ideas.  I used to do it regularly and feel out of habit.
• I really need a pain remedy that doesn’t knock me out.  But I already knew that.

Another good thing about the challenge was the challengers.  I found new blogs to follow and enjoy them. I’ll keep reading into November and beyond.

Did you participate?  What did you learn?

About my work – freelance food writer

People ask me about what I do from home, so I figured I’d share with a little more detail.  First up. food and freelancing. 

I love food.    I love eating, cooking, reading about, and playing with food.  I collect cookbooks and menus.  I love finding new twists on favorite recipes.  I love seeing the look on a loved one’s face when they enjoy something I prepared for them.

I wanted to find a way to do what I love and make money with it.  While searching for a new telecommuting position, I stumbled across a listing for Examiner.com.  I always wanted to write, so I decided to take the plunge.  After all, I had nothing to lose. They liked me, so I became Charleston SC’s Vegetarian Examiner.  I get to play with food more and write about it,

Homemade veggie soup – vegan, quick, and cheap. A standard in cooler months.

From Crazy Sexy Kitchen – a yummy salad of almonds, sunflower seeds, and veggies.

Chickpea Burgers from Grilling Vegan Style. Loved them and so did the omni hubby.

 

If you want to try your hand at writing, consider becoming an Examiner, too.

Finding my passion and finding a way to make it part of how I make my living was important to me.  It’s standard advice for those looking for the right business.  Or anyone looking for peace.  Find your bliss and embrace it.

What’s your passion?

For you

I know you’re scared.

You may feel alone.

Know that even when I’m away from you, I’m by your side.

We all are.  We love you.  We have your back.