Posted By Hilary Charlton
I have seen this one too but through someone else's mailbox not remotely connected with IOSH. I think it is relatively random as most of these things are.

Hilary

Posted By Bill Hambelton
As an aid to getting rid of junk mail from my freeserve account, I started a new hotmail account less than a week ago. I havent sent any emails yet, or given anyone the address, however I have recieved about 15 junk emails so far.

I am afraid it is just a plague of the times, and people will just have to become more net savvy and delete it.

Bill

Posted By Dave Raymond
I get the same email all the time, just with slight deviations but all meaning the same thing.

You give them your bank details, and they strip you account clean!!!

The more your email address is available on the internet the more you will receive these messages. I advertise on alot of websites, and recieve on average about 20 dodgy emails a day.

So I file them at the same place as yourself.

Posted By Paul Bellis
http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/419.htm

http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/

For those interested these web sites tell you all about it - its amazing how far and for how long this one has run!

Posted By Hilary Charlton
I had a look at the link provided by Paul Bellis and it is quite incredible how naive some people are - it's so obviously a scam, all the replies you have had to this e-mail have shown that obviously we have our heads screwed on correctly.

I find it hard to believe and extremely worrying that so many people have been taken in - glad to see at least that schools are now teaching ICT - let's hope there is some measure of caution taught along with the practical. I always tell my kids that they never put their name on the computer for anything unless I have checked it out first, normally it is quite a reputable site run by Sky or BBC or one of the other TV links but I still check it every time just in case.

Hilary

Posted By Lance Morgan
This one has been going for a couple of years with slight alterations. It is a complete fraud and as already directed should just be deleted on site without opening it.

Posted By Ian Stone
I have received this email a couple of times. Got a variation last week, this one involved a Ugandon princess who needed to get out, if I could send them my account details they would put the money in there so I could buy her and her sisters a house to live in, I could then keep a percentage, and come a visit them!!!

I was tempted for a while, you know, all this money in my account, a gratefull princess and her sisters, but then deleted it!!

Posted By Andy Beveridge
Having suffered the same flood of emails, I was pointed to Mailwasher. Its free to download (but you can send a donation) and it does a great job of filtering all my mail with very little effort on my part.

Its at www dot mailwasher dot net if anyone is interested.

...and this is not a set up to get your money either!!

Hope this helps someone.

Regards
Andy

Posted By Linda Westrupp
This spam also seems to be targetting local government officers and various warnings have been issued about them.
The newest problem e-mail I have experienced recently is people looking for 'pen-pals' who claim that they have found my address posted on a site asking for such people (which I haven't)
Anyone else had this one?
Linda

Posted By Ken Urquhart
Paul and all other respondents,

I must be older than I think (know) I am.

In the "Olden Days" even before Gas powered computing, when e-mails and the World Wide Web were not even twinkles of embrionic ideas in the minds of technologies thinkers, the same Nigerian SCAM was operated on Faxes - except it sent people bills for entries in Trade and Business Directories and again naiveity prevailed and many fell for it and paid the bills for non existent directory entries.
As other contributors have pointed out, if you get e-mails with uncertain addresses or unrecognised names and especially .exe attachments or extensions, delete them immediately.
If it is a genuine message and important enough I find that the sender will in most cases follow up the communication and lack of response.
I currently live and work in Hong Kong and every morning on my office Computer I get some 15 to 20 Spam e-mails per day, everything from Bresat Enhancement to get Rich quick home networking Scams, mostly from USA.
(All this junk e-mail despite the fact that my Company are Asias and Hong Kongs major telecoms services provider and "it" and "e-commerce provider").
Our in house tehno wizards also struggle to contain this Spam issue despite the most sophisticated of Fire Walls etc.
On my personal Home e-mail address I get around 5 to 10 Spam e-mails per day.

One of the current SPAM or nuisance e-mails going the rounds is one purported to be from British Airways. It claims to offer a free return flight between Hong Kong (HKG) and London Heathrow (LHR) on BA if you simply pass the e-mail on to 5 other persons. So far about 4000 souls are reported to have contacted BA in Hong Kong to claim there free flights - It's a SCAM.
There is NO such thing as a FREE LUNCH!!!!!

On a serious Business Safety and Security aspect there is a real need for businesses and organistions of all types and sizes to set up Computing use and e-mail Risk Management systems.
Some organistions have such systems but there are many who do not.

These SPAM e-mails etc can be serious business and communication disrupters.
When the system jams up, when the service providers servers get choked and freeze, when your entire system crashes and you can't get to information or communicate - How good are your business continuity plans?
Can your organisation still function?
What are the implications for Computer control systems related to major operational and control mechanisims for industrial and production processes,signalling,sewerage and water pumping, emergeny services communication etc etc.
I know some of these issues are not directly related to SPAM e-mails but I do believe that many orgnisations do need to seriously and regularly review there "it' and "computer technology confidentiality" and "operating systems" and the implications in relation to the safety of the business or operation.
Many organisations also need to clearly define best and acceptable practises for "it" and "e-commerce actions" by there personnel and to clearly define what is and what is not acceptable behaviour and material content on e-mail etc systems.

I will be interested to see others comments views on this topic.
Regards.
Ken Urquhart

Posted By Steve Wood
you mean........ it's not genuine?!!!! Heck....Just got to call the bank.......

Posted By Eric Burt
Paul

Talk about co-incidence. I was telling my wife all about the Nigerian scam (the story about the reverse scam in Dubai highlighted in this thread was brilliant _ I hope it's true!!) when we switched the telly on and there was a programme on BBC 2 about it!!!

Some pople have lost £ 130 000, and many others have lost lesser sums.

Eric

Posted By Gavin Gibson
Interesting, because i have also recently received scam emails to get money out of Nigeria. Maybe somebody is taking the email addresses off of this site?

Posted By Eric Burt
Jason

It's gratifying to see that you are using the principles of risk transfer which you learnt on your risk management course.

When undertaking high risk activities, it is always wise to use a competent contractor to carry out activities on your behalf, although I personally feel that the price of £20 000 is a little high. Have you shopped around for quotes?

The HSE has produced a document called "How to choose a Contractor" which you may find helpful, however you must remember that although you can outsource hazardous activities, you still retain responsibility.

You may wish to read up on R v Swan Hunters in respect of this responsibility.

In terms of marrying the princess, you will note that the theme of this year's European Week of Health and Safety is "Dangerous Substances - Handle with Care" and the Action Pack for this week is now available.

Are you planning the wedding week commencing 13th October by any chance? If so, you may wish to inform the HSE of your contribution to this week and you (and your new wife) may well be in line for an award from them.

Rather you than me....!!


Eric