October 24, 2007
Phishing Mail?
You have likely seen them before. A letter in the mail that's printed with some sort of security pattern. It looks like a tax document or a check -- you have to rip open the sides to open the letter.
And, to get your attention, scammers use a similar format to get you to open their mail. It sometimes works on me, because if you can't tell from the outside who a letter is from, you really have to open the darn thing in case it is important.
So, I got one of these yesterday. When I opened it, I saw a message inside:
 Congratulations Vict M. Name Our Accounting Department shows that you have been awarded TWO ROUNDTRIP AIRLINE TICKETS TO ANY MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ANYWHERE IN THE CONTINENTAL USA. To claim this special gift, simply call 1-800-296-0095 Flights Fill Quickly. First to Call, First to Fly. Reservation Number DVAC-200 *Our records also indicate if you respond within 72 Hours you will also receive a complimentary 7 Day Rent-A-CAR |
For extra authenticity, it came with this authentically fake boarding pass. (I've changed the name so that nobody else can steal this incredible offer!)
Wow - I'd think that was a real boarding pass if I'd never seen a real one before! Even though I haven't chosen where I'm going, I already have a gate and a seat assignment. That's service!
Funny, considering it's fake, they couldn't put me in first class. But I guess that would seem too far-fetched.
On the back of the boarding pass was more text:
| Reservation Department 76 West Water Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801 This advertising material is being used for the purpose of soliciting the sales of time shares inerests. Please call for complete details of participations, terms and restrictions. |
Ah, so at best this is a solicitation for a timeshare. And -- look -- time shares inerests no less! At worst (and likely) it's an attempt to build a "sucker list" of phone numbers and addresses. If I call the number, they'll know I'm a decent target, because I'm interested.
I wonder if Budget Rent-A-Car and Delta approve of their names and logos being used this way. Notice the little circle near the Delta logo. Looks rather like a trademark symbol, right? Well, it isn't. I blew it up.
It's just a circle with an "x" in it. I have no idea what they think that means.
Hey, Delta and Budget - you out there?
Other people have gotten this mail as well.Of course. I wonder how many bites they get. Anyone else seeing this solicitation?
Posted by James at October 24, 2007 6:57 AM
You always get the fun junk mail first. I wonder if anyone has ever attempted to use that boarding pass at an airport.
Some years ago, thanks to some typically confusing wording in a sweepstakes mailing from American Family Publishers, some people actually flew to Tampa to claim their prizes, not realizing that they hadn't won. (Here)
Posted by: Julie at October 24, 2007 10:44 AMI generally get offers to refinance my house or switch homeowners insurance. Many of them are very aggressive and make it sounds like my current homeowners plan has been cancelled and I need to re-up with them.
Posted by: David Grenier at October 24, 2007 11:11 AMI sometimes get a postcard telling me that the warranty is about to expire on some unspecified appliance. The application form (to extend the warranty) asks me to identify the appliance. I figure, if they don't know which appliance it is, they probably don't know its warranty status either.
I've also received offers related to my car. The offer will correctly list the VIN as if they know something about the car, but then on the application form they'll ask for the make and model. That's pretty funny.
(I've never been tempted by any of these offers, but some of them are fun to read.)
Posted by: Julie at October 24, 2007 11:49 AMSomeone was interested enough in this that they did some legwork on it:
http://hburgnews.com/2007/10/26/junk-mail/
Posted by: James at October 26, 2007 3:27 PM