Scams. Do not fall for this for crying out loud.

[twitchy2.0]

[Just Kill Me]

Oh I got one about my inactive PayPal account. I don't even have a paypal account linked to the email they sent it to.

[twitchy2.0]

I got a bank one too.

[Brookie]

I win/inherit millions every week from several "friends" in Kenya and Nigeria.

[msdeb]

i got the paypal one yesterday. i don't have paypal pal.

[Brookie]

I've gotten the Paypal scam too, and I reported it to them. They're really good about it and are interested in stopping Paypal phishing.

[A*O]

I get PayPal ones (I don't have an account) and lots from Banks I've never had an account with. You can usually spot them because the English is clunky and the wording vague. Anyone who asks for a password via email is a scammer. If you can check the sender's IP (not possible with gmail unfortunately) you will probably find it resolves back to Eastern Europe or West Africa. That should be a Big Clue but unfortunately plenty of people still fall for these scams.

[sprynkles]

Can't tell you how many European lotteries I've won!
You can check the IP address in gmail. You click on the arrow next to the reply button, then click on "show original" and it will show you all the IPs and domains associated with the email.

[Aella]

Will get on it, after I finish sending that nice generous Nigerian man my bank details.

[NoDayButToday]

My grandparents and a few of their friends have started getting those Nigerian scam letters in their normal mail. They don't have a computer at all, but find them in their mailbox with international post marks.

Thankfully they aren't the stupid elderly, they brought the first one they got to the police station. The lady at the desk said thanks for bringing it in, would you like me to shred it or would you like to do it yourself?

They got a call a few weeks later along the lines of you haven't responded yet, don't you want your money? My grandma was like tell you what, you send me a certified check or money order and I'll send you back that money you wanted. No more phone calls-and a few of their friends have had the same experience.

I'd love to know who is selling their information....

[A*O]

My grandma was like tell you what, you send me a certified check or money order and I'll send you back that money you wanted. No more phone calls-and a few of their friends have had the same experience.
.

Trouble is they often DO send the cheque/MO and they are such convincing fakes that the banks don't spot the forgery until the money has been withdrawn and sent to Nigeria or wherever. The bank then goes after the scam victim for a full refund. Just because you pay the cheque in and get the money out doesn't mean it's "cleared". That happens later, sometimes much later, after the money is long gone. It's a very common scam and a lot of people fall for it.

[BBDSP]

When the email starts out along the lines of "You have been recommended to me as a Christian woman of good reputation," etc, it's pretty obvious it's a scam.

[A*O]

And then of course there's the Dying Widow Scam, the Unexpected Inheritance Scam, the Secret Bank Account Scam, the list goes on.

[Lobelia]

Which one is the one from the woman who calls you "darling" & such? Big long story, etc etc.

[A*O]

That would be the Russian Love Scam. "Send me money to come and visit you and I will be your wife and love you forever" etc etc These Love Scams are particularly cruel as they target lonely, vulnerable men desperate for love who will do almost anything to have "Natasha" come and take care of them.