Other vegan caterers are warned to look out for the following scam message:
‘Subject: Attn: CupCake needed for birthday’.
Having had a ‘vast and extensive’ internet presence for over two decades, we are used to receiving an excess of emails and have developed techniques to cut through the growing mountains of spam (and ‘tofu’ – see our Spamish Inquisition page).
There was something about the general phrasing of following email that rang bells. On closer inspection it was noted that it was not sent to us, but to a list of ‘undisclosed recipients’. Also there was no indication of the location of the supposed event, nor any real world contact info. Finally 550 cakes seemed a large order for a birthday party!
Whilst we would be pleased to consider such an order, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
When we receive emails with enticing offers, a ‘google search’ is the first check to be made. In this case a search for free_smith123@yahoo.com immediately lead to a similar Scam Alert at this tow operators website: http://swtowop.org/Default.aspx?pageId=377107
We therefore recommend that anyone receiving a similar business offer ignore it!
—————————- Original Message —————————-
Subject: Attn: CupCake needed for birthday
From: “Bob Smith”
Date: Sun, October 10, 2010 11:30 am
To: undisclosed recipients:;
————————————————————————–
Hello,
how are you doing, my name is Bob Smith i am sending you this email as a vegan cake baker as i will need cup cake for my Son’s birthday which is coming up on the 29th of October so I will like to place an order for some cup cake with chocolate flavour for 550 individual guest and it will be pickup by a private carrier, also i want you to know that i will be paying with my credit card .
So i will be very happy if you can just get back to me with the total cost plus tax to bake cupcake with chocolate flavour for 550 individual guest, also do get back to me with the type of credit card you do accept so i can get back to you with my credit card for you to charge thru.
Also once again it is a pickup order so a private carrier will come for the pickup.
Please get back to me as soon as possible.
Regards.
NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ABOVE MENTION CAKE SIZE DO GET BACK TO ME WITH THE CAKE THAT YOU THINK WIOLL BE SUITABLE FOR MY SON’S BIRTHDAY
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