My father in law received a personalised letter in the mail, stating that his sister, who was correctly named, had passed away (she's still alive and kicking) and left heaps of money and blah blah blahh - you know the rest. My brother in law also received the same letter, except that the supposed deceased was correctly identified as his aunt.
Where would the scammers have gotten such specific information, including their home addresses?
What country stamp was on the letter?
Don't know, I'll find out.
after a bit of googling I'm thinking access to Ancestry.com, combined the electoral rolls is looking like a pretty good suspect.
Still interested in any other suggestions though please.
The ATO are happy to sell your details off to the lowest bidders too! :s
I would like to come forward anonymously as the Mr Big behind this scam, with a tip discovered on this website detailing that steaming stamps we could remove them with ease. With this newly aquired skill nothing can stand in our way reusing stamps at not cost to our operations here in Nigeria, how you like them apples now hey?
with a tip discovered on this website detailing that steaming stamps we could remove them with ease.
Yeah that though had occurred to me too dannyhc snail mail doesn't necessarily have to cost, but given that these are just two of probable hundreds or thousands that were sent out at the time, I wouldn't mind gettin hold of their source for steamed stamps - I'd never have to subsidise Aust Post again. lol
The ATO are happy to sell your details off to the lowest bidders too! :s
ATO doesn't have enough information, and it's been a few years since FIL lodged a tax return.
This might be a given, but you have reported this to your local state police and/or the AFP haven't you?
And scamwatch.gov.au
you have reported this to your local state police and/or the AFP haven't you?
He WAS told to - shall be definitely following it up to make sure he does.
http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/84861…
"Some scammers will provide a made-up name for your supposed relative. Others will use publicly available family history websites and gather the names of genuine deceased relatives to make the scam seem more convincing."
Ask the question over on an international forum called scamwatchers I cant remember the URL but google knows. If this is a bonafide scam those guys will know, they have seen everything.
If this is a bonafide scam…
Oh, I think we've already ticked that box! ;)
It was posted from Spain. Absolutely terrible english, and although he is a 'solicitor', didn't actually give any valid reason why they should be inclined to split their 4.5 million Euro windfall equally with him.
Looks like this has been happening to other people too and for a while:
http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/74028…
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-04-04/spanish-mail-scam-targ…
They must get enough victims to cover their mailing costs.
It may be cheaper to post junk mail from overseas than from within Oz, due to all the postal arrangements.
Hacked some database? Wow the scammers actually paid for postage? What country stamp was on the letter?