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It's Saturday, and the Phishermen are Out!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

Here they come again ... as if they'd ever gone away.

I've been refreshingly free from phishing attempts in the past few weeks, but Man, girl, and a fishthe break is over.

Today I've gotten two phone calls claiming to be from Microsoft - and wanting to take control of my computer so they could "fix" something. Oh - I'll bet they'd "fix" it alright!

Then a few minutes ago I received this email:

A Link has been sent to you that needs online verification
on your Bank Of America account Due to Invalid login 
attempts.

We earnestly ask you to visit the link below to start the 
procedure of confirmation on customers data. To get 
started, please click the link below: 

(a bit.ly link was inserted here) 

Sincerely, Customers Support Service BOA MemberServices Team

P.S. The link in this message will be expire within 24 Hours. You have to update your 
account information.

I can think of several fishermen whom I love dearly - but I can do without 
the Phishermen!

Comments (28)
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Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Marte, I live in Microsoft's backyard, half my clients work there.  I just ask the person which building they are in and if they know,...... I can rattle off several names any employee would be familiar with, even if they are not in that department. It usually stops the conversation. 

Feb 16, 2013 08:49 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Yup...Sounds legit to me.  Who would want to mess your computer up?  Just about everyone!!!

Feb 16, 2013 10:07 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

It's amazing how the Pfishermen are so imaginative and can make it look so real. Golf has less hazards

Feb 16, 2013 11:31 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Phishing is the telemarketing of the Net without question. Nice post.

Feb 16, 2013 11:35 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Marte...

Some of the attempts are pretty lame, but some of those calls can be a little more convincing. You really need to be careful.

Feb 16, 2013 12:29 PM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Marte, unfortunately, some people actually fall for this stuff.

Feb 16, 2013 01:34 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Pamela - that delete button is a wonderful little invention!

Dan - I have a feeling this guy wouldn't have known what you were talking about. Judging from the voice, he was not in this country, let alone at Microsoft.

William - Right. Nobody is that mean.

Ed - Sometimes they DO make it look real, but other times their word choices are a dead give-away.

For instance: "earnestly ask you" and "Customers support."

Laura - yes, telemarketing, but a bit more dangerous. These folks are after your account numbers.

Richard - I figure that if I didn't ask them to call - I don't need to talk to them. If something was actually important, the company would send a postal letter.

Tammie - and that's what's so sad about it.

Maybe I'm just paying more attention today - but I've gotten several more "phishy" emails since I wrote this post.

Here's one that came in just a few minutes ago:

Hello

I am Dario Roberto Santos, President MP DO Brazil Ltd. Sao Paulo, Brazil. We are top dealers of your product in the Brasilia market. One of your customers, who is in same line of business with us, recommended your company to me when I met him in trade fear some time ago and I have decided to give your company a trial.


Please for our order samples and all the requirements and specifications, kindly refer to the attachment and unzip or open the zipped folder/file for our order samples. After studying our samples and the specifications, kindly send quotation as listed. Also fill and sign our company’s contract agreement Form attached on the zipped file and send it back to us by fax or email. Most importantly, we will need your guarantee of speedy delivery of this order and again our representative will visit your company/factory for inspection before shipment and final payment.

Feb 16, 2013 02:07 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M
Marte = There are so many of these attempts out there all of the time.
Feb 16, 2013 02:25 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Christine - Like a flood!

Feb 16, 2013 02:28 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Marte - This is so awful.  I can't believe people do this and it's so sad that people fall for it.

Feb 16, 2013 05:43 PM
Carol Zingone
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS
Marte - they have gotten more creative, as more of my office associates have recently clicked on phishing links.
Feb 16, 2013 08:47 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I have not seen a let up, the calls seem to come every day and they manipulate the caller ID. The emails do not seem to stop either, already one today. I have warned every one about the calls and emails and now even texts...

Feb 16, 2013 10:39 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Debbie - You have to wonder why so many are such crooks.

Carol - Yes, more convincing all the time.

Scott - I guess texting gave them one more avenue - sad!

Feb 17, 2013 12:32 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Erica - the scary ones are the ones that appear to be from friends. You have to be on the lookout for tell-tale clues. For instnce, would this client really send you an electronic greeting card?

I had that happen once and was suspicious, so I wrote the client. He said no, that someone was using his email address for a return address and sending links that we did NOT want to open.

Feb 17, 2013 01:21 AM
John J. Woods
Big Dog Press, LLC - Winder, GA
Going where no man has gone before - wouldn't you?

 

   I got those calls from Microsoft, too!  Right from their home office in Nigeria.  I let them fix my computer but then I couldn't use it anymore.  When I called them back they said that they had fixed the original problem but that the new problem must be something else and that they couldn't fix it unless they could access my computer again.  But neither of us can access the computer now so they can't fix the problem.  But they said they had some great deals on reconditioned computers that they HAD fixed.  All they need is my bank account number and password.  Should I trust them for a replacement?  They said it's guaranteed.

 

Feb 17, 2013 03:51 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Marte, I've never received calls but those type of emails are quite common and I don't pay any attention to them.  What I always find amusing is that I get these messages from "companies and banks" that I don't have accounts with...

Feb 17, 2013 04:03 AM
Paul Francis
Francis Group Real Estate - Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Real Estate Agent - Summerlin Homes

You are certainly correct when it comes to that. Great to see that you are still on top of everything.

Feb 17, 2013 04:14 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

John - I have some great oceanfront property for sale here in Idaho - want to buy it cheap?

Silvia - I do too. They're just hoping to hit on people who DO have accounts with those banks.

Paul - We all need to be alert!

Feb 17, 2013 04:34 AM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

Marte,

 It seems to be "open season" for phishing. I bet I get 6 a week. Yup, they want to help us out with our bank accounts (so nice of them) and they do this all from hmmm maybe Nigeria? Cute Post, and when will the Phishing stop?

Feb 20, 2013 12:46 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Dana - I expect it will never stop. Not as long as there are trusting and uninformed people who fall for the scams.

Feb 20, 2013 02:47 AM
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