Scam Chains
Scam chain letters are messages that appear to come from a legitimate company but that are scams. Usually, they indicate that there is a problem with your account, credit card, etc. and ask for a lot of personal information such as your username and password. Often they point you to a web page to fill in or that has what appears to be a login screen for some organization you belong to. However, logging into the web page gives the scammer your username and password. If you have been scammed, contact your local or federal law enforcement. A very useful link is to Publication 300a at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It describes many of the frauds we see every day and describes what you will really get if you answer them. The IRS has also instituted a fraud and scams page on their website.
AOL Database Corruption Scam  AOL Giveaways Scam  World Currency Cartel  Nigerian 419 Scam	Area Code 809 Scam  Spam Scams  Donations for Cartridges Scam  Black Inheritance Tax Refund Scam  IRS Scam Warning  PayPal System Update Scam

AOL Database Corruption Scam

The following scam directs you to a web page that is not part of AOL. The web page asks you 
to enter your username and password, giving the scam artist access to your account. If you 
ever put your username and password into a page like this, change your AOL password 
immediately and contact AOL security. 

Subject: AOL Database Corruption, Please View!
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: AOL 2.5 for Windows
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Dear Member:

Hello. I am your AOL Technical Representative. Section 56 of our data base 
has lost all Linux functions. When your account logged onto our system, we 
were temporarily able to verify it as a registered user. Approximately 90 
seconds ago, your verification was made void by loss of data in Section 56. 
Now, due to AOL verification protocol, it is mandatory for us to re-verify 
you. 

Please visit http://216.33.20.4/biz3/AOLTech142/index.html for more information.

Regards,
Michelle
Community Action Team
America Online, Inc.

*Have you heard about AOL's newest and easiest to use software: Version 4.0? 
You can upgrade for free at keyword: Upgrade.  With AOL 4.0,  you can send 
multiple files, change screen names without signing off, customize your 
toolbar, and much, much more. Upgrade today!!

AOL Giveaways Scam

This message takes you to a website that looks like AOL but that is just collecting personal 
information from you.

Subject: AOL Giveaways!!!

For our AOL Members.  Thank you for enjoying the best internet service on the 
net.Because we value our customers during our current update members must 
please submittheir information to be eligible for our FREE drawing of cash 
and prizes on November 12,1999.  Winners will be randomly selected and 
notified through email.Best of luck to our Members!Aol Staff  <A
HREF="http://216.33.20.4/az2/tryfree/index.html">CLICK HERE</A>

World Currency Cartel

This scam wants to make you a part of the World Currency Cartel who have this magic 
method for turning $25 into $100. Just send in your $29 (plus $5 postage and handling) 
and just like magic; you will never see it again. There is a real nice explanation of how 
this scam works at http://ga.to/mmf/currency.html

  July  23 , 1999
         
          
  Dear Friend:
          
  This is an extremely IMPORTANT announcement for you!
 
  iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
  iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
                   IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
                   IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
        '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
        '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
               Your Future May Depend on it!!!
  iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
  iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
          
  BUT FIRST, please read the following Editorial Excerpts from some 
  important publications in the United States: 
  
  New York Times:   "In concluding our review of financial organizations
  '''''''''''''''   to effect change in the 90's, special attention should
  be called to 'World Currency Cartel' organization based in California. The
  members of this organization are amassing hundreds of millions of dollars
  in the currency market using a very LEGAL method which has NEVER
  been divulged to the general public. While their purpose is not yet known,
  their presence has most certainly been felt".
    
  NBC Nightly News:   "Members of the World Currency Cartel organization,
  ''''''''''''''''''  who always keep Low Profile of themselves, are some
  of the most powerful and wealthiest people in this hemisphere".
          
  More Excerpts later, but first let us give you this "Important Announcement":
   ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
  We are glad to announce that for the very first time, the World Currency
  Cartel organization will instruct a LIMITED number of people worldwide on
  HOW TO CONVERT $25 INTO ONE HUNDRED OF LEGAL CURRENCY.
          
  We will transact the first conversion for you, after that you can quickly and
  easily do this on your own hundreds or even thousands of times each and
  every month. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS "SECRET FLAW" !
                ==================================
          
  It is even more explosive than we have yet disclosed. While currency does
  fluctuates daily, we can show you HOW TO CONVERT $99 INTO $580 as
  many times as you want. That means, you will be able to CONVERT $99
  American Legal Currency Dollars for $580 OF THE SAME. You can do this
  as many times as you wish, every day, every week, every month. All very
  LEGALLY and effortlessly!
         
  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
  Due to the nature of this rare opportunity, we keep everything  under      
  very Low Profile. We do not advertise anywhere and the information       
  is not available anywhere at all but from us. The reason we are sharing   
  this with you is because we need few people to help us and share the    
  wealth around the world. You are one of the very few people to receive   
  this mail. Therefore, it is very important to emphasize on keeping it very   
  'Low Profile' when you become a member.                                               
  %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
         
  It only takes about 5 to 10 minutes each time you do this. You can do this
  from your home, your office or even while travelling. All you need is an
  access   to a phone line and an address. Best of all, you can do this from
  ANY CITY   ON THIS EARTH!!!
          
  Again, we must reiterate, anyone can do this and the source is Never-Ending.
  For as long as the global financial community continues to use different curr-
  encies with varying exchange rate, this "SECRET FLAW" will exist.
              ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
  As we have said earlier, we will do the first transaction for you and will also 
  show you exactly how to do this on your own over and over again.
          
  The amount of exchange you would do each time is entirely up to you.
  Working just 2 to 10 hours a week, you can soon join the list of Millionaires
  who do  this on a daily  basis  several  times  a day. The transaction is so 
  simple that even a high school kid  can do it!
          
  We at the World Currency Cartel organization would like to see a uniform
  global currency backed by Gold. But, until then, we will allow a LIMITED
  number of individuals worldwide to share in the Unlimited Profits provided
  for by the world currency differentials.
          
  We will espouse no more political views nor will we ask you to do so. We 
  can say  however,  that  our  parent  organization  Wealth Exchange Int.
  benefits greatly by the knowledge being shared as we ourselves along with
  YOU benefit likewise. Your main concern surely will be, how you will benefit.
          
  As soon as you become a member, you can start making transanctions
  from your home, office, by telephone or through the mail  and even while
  travelling. As said earlier, we will do the first transanction for you and 
  will show you exactly how to do this on your own over and over again.
          
  No one can stop you from earning hundreds of thousands and even millions
  of dollars each year for as long as this "SECRET FLAW" exists.
        ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
  Don't  believe us, experience it for yourself!
  ==============================================
 Unlike anyone else, we will
  assure you a great financial freedom and you will add to our quickly growing
  base of supporters and you may join the list of Millionaires being created 
  using the "SECRET FLAW" in the world currency market.
             ===========
          
  DON'T ENVY US, JOIN US TODAY!!!
  iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii           
          
  There is a one time membership fee of only $195.00. BUT, if you reply by
  AUGUST  15 , 1999; which is our company's  2nd  Anniversary date, you
  can join us for only $29 administrative cost. Your important documents, 
  instructions, contact name & addresses, phone numbers and all other  
  pertinent information  will be  mailed  to you immediately. So,  take 
  advantage of our Anniversary date and join us today.
          
  If you are replying  AFTER   AUGUST  15 , 1999;  you must pay $195.00  
  for the membership fee. NO EXCEPTIONS and no more e-mail inquiries 
  please. 
          
  Upon becoming a member, you promise to keep all infos CONFIDENTIAL.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Should you choose to cancell your membership for any reason, you must
  return all documents for a refund within 60 days.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          
   IMPORTANT:
   *****************
   1.....Write your name & mailing address VERY CLEARLY on paper
   2..... Below your address, please write your E-mail address (Optional)
   3..... At the top Left Hand corner, write the word "New Member"
   4..... Attach a CHECK or M.O. for $29 plus $5 for postage & shipping
          (TOTAL = US$ 34.00)
   5..... Please make the Check/M.O. payable to "Wealth Exchange Int."
          and mail it to :
        
                                      WEALTH EXCHANGE INT.
                                      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx;
                                      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                                      BEVERLY  HILLS,
                                      CA 90212.     U.S.A.
          
  ( Outside  U.S.A.  Must add  US$10  EXTRA  for  shipping). US$ FUNDS ONLY!
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Funds Must be payable at a bank in USA !
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          
          
  Here are some more Editorial Excerpts:
          
  Wall Street :          "A discreet group of Americans, operating under
  the guise of World Currency Cartel have recently begun making rumbles in the
  world finance market. While at this time, their game is not completely known,
  they certainly be watched by those making major moves in the currency contracts".
          
  Financial Week :    "Watch them, monitor them, extract their knowledge
                       and try to become one of them. That is the soundest 
  financial advice we could give to someone".
          
  National Business Weekly :  "While this reporter has been left in the cold 
                              as to its method of operation, we have been
  able to confirm that World Currency Cartel and its members are literally 
  amassing a great fortune overnight". 

Back to Scam Chains

Nigerian 419 Scam

This scam has been seen in a lot of different forms but they all work the same way. Someone 
in a foreign country (usually Nigeria) has some large amount of money that they need to get 
into or out of the country. Their offer to make you a business partner where you set up a 
legitimate bank account and let them use it to transfer millions of dollars. For this, you get to 
keep 30% of the money plus 5% for expenses. Sounds great, they call you back and want you 
to put $10,000 in the account to get it open and cover some initial expenses and then give them 
access. As soon as you do that, your money disappears and so do your business partners. The 
U.S. Treasury has a good description of these scams (http://www.secretservice.gov/alert419.shtml) including where to report them if you have lost money. 

This link has a large number of variants of the scam message: 419 Scam List.

Here is a real different variant that targets Baptist pastors.

Here is a link to some people who have played along with the scammers to see what they would do: Scam-o-Rama

  Mr. Joseph Adisa
  Tel/Fax: 234 - 1 - 2664409
  Lagos - Nigeria.
 
  ATTN: THE PRESIDENT / CEO

  Dear Sir,
  
  I know this letter will come to you as a surprise but suffice it to say 
  that I got your contact from the Nigerian Export Promostion Council who 
  assured me that you are capable and reliable to assist me in this transaction.  
  Before I go into details, I will first introduce myself to you.  I am 
  Mr. Joseph Abudulkarim Adisa a son to Minister of Works and Housing of the 
  Federal of Nigeria.

  Recently, my father was probed, guilty and sentenced to five (5) years 
  imprisonment by the Federal Government, President Olusegun Obasanjo for some 
  misappropriation while he was in office during the last Military regime of 
  Gen. Abudusalam Abubakar.  Before his ordeal I successfully get hold of a sum 
  money in one of his duplexes.  And since then I have being making arrangement 
  of how to transfer this money which is ($25,500,000.00) Twenty Five, Million 
  five hundred thousand United States dollars to a foreign account.  Now, all 
  my father's account is now under government claim except this one that I 
  contacted my friend's uncle who was a Bank Manager to help me lodge the 
  said amount in a bank account in his bank and fortunately for me he agreed to 
  help me if only I can give him 10% of the whole amount.  I agree with him on 
  this basis and he has since being making all necessary arrangement to remit 
  the amount to a foreign account which I will provide for him.

  This is the reason I contacted you to please help me by providing an account 
  where I will deposit this money. I am soliciting you to please help me for 
  this is the only hope I have since my father have been jailed. I also have 
  intention of coming to your country to reside with you immediately after the 
  remittance of the money for my life is uncomfortable here anymore due to what 
  has happened, because the government go to an extent of throwing us out of our 
  house and locked up the house.  Please help me I promise to give you 30% of 
  the total amount.

  If you are interested in helping me please reach me through the above 
  Telephone/Fax number with the Bank Information where I will lodge the 
  money for this is what I urgently need now.

  Once I get these details, I shall contact the Bank Manager who will smoothly 
  transfer this money into your account within 10 bank working days (He has done 
  the same deal for my cousin once) from the date I receive your reply.  Remember 
  that  I shall come over to your country to collect my own share WHICH I WILL INVEST 
  IN  A LUCRATIVE  BUSINESS based on your advice immediately the money is been
  transferred.

  Your share for this transaction is 30% total sum,  5% for local and international 
  expenses (incurred by you and me).  Note, there is no risk involved at all. Just 
  comply and keep this strictly confidential.  

  Best regards,

  Mr. Joseph A. Adisa.

Area Code 809 Scam

This is a hoax message that describes a real scam. It was ripped of from a 1996 
ScamBusters report and revised with lots of errors added. See the Scambusters 809
report for more information. The real scam works much like the warning, but the 
numbers are wrong. The 809 area code serves the Dominican Republic and thus is an 
overseas call even though you dial it just like a long distance call within the U.S. Some 
numbers in the 809 area are pay per call numbers similar to 900 numbers except that
there are no laws requiring them to tell you before you dial. This does not mean that 
you should never call an 809 number, just know who you are calling first. Other area 
codes to consider are: 

• 242 - Bahamas 
• 284 - British Virgin Islands 
• 787 - Puerto Rico 

  SPECIAL ALERT - DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 This is pretty scary --
  especially given how they try to get you to call.  Be sure you read this 
  & pass it on to all your friends & family so they don't get scammed!

  SCAM: Don't Respond To Emails, Phone Calls, Or  Web Pages which tell you to
  Call An "809" Phone Number. This is a very important issue of  Internet
  ScamBusters! Because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading *extremely*
  quickly - can easily cost you $100 or more, and - is difficult  to avoid
  unless you are aware of it. We'd like to thank Paul Bruemmer and Brian
  Stains for bringing this scam to our attention.  This scam has also been
  identified by the National Fraud Information Center and is costing victims a
  lot of money.  There are lots of different permutations of this scam, but
  HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

  Permutation #1: Internet Based Phone Scam Via Email You receive an email,
  typically with a subject line of "*ALERT*" or "Unpaid account."  The
  message, which is being spammed across the net, says:
  I am writing to give you a final 24hrs to settle your outstanding account..
  If I have not received  the settlement in full, I will commence legal
  proceedings without further  delay.  If you would like to discuss this
  matter to avoid court action, call  Mike Murray at Global Communications on
  at 1-809-496-2700.

  Permutation #2: Phone Or Pager Scam You receive a message on your answering
  machine or your pager which asks you to call a number beginning  with area
  code 809. The reason you're asked to call varies: it can be to  receive
  information about a family member who has been ill, to tell you someone has
  been arrested, died, to let you know you have won a wonderful prize,  etc.
  In each case, you're told to call the 809 number right away.    Since there
  are  so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these
  calls.  If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $25
  per-minute!  Sometimes the person who answers the phone will speak broken
  English and  pretend not to understand you.  Other times, you'll just get a
  long recorded  message. The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone
  as long as possible to increase the charges.  Unfortunately, when you get
  your phone  bill, you'll often be charged more than $100.00.

  HERE'S WHY IT WORKS:  The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin
  Islands (the Bahamas).  The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call"
  number, similar to 900 numbers in the US. Since 809 is not in the US, it  is
  not covered by US regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be
  notified and warned of charges and rates involved when you call a
  "pay-per-call" number. There is also no requirement that the company provide
  a  time period during which you may terminate the call without being
  charged.  Further, whereas many US phones have 900 number blocking to avoid
  these kinds of charges, 900 number blocking will not prevent calls to the
  809 area code.  We recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you
  are asked to call a number with an 809 area code that you  don't recognize,
  investigate further and/or disregard the message.  Be  *very* wary of email
  or calls asking you to call an 809 area code number. it's important to
  prevent becoming a victim of this scam, since trying to fight  the charges
  afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did  actually
  make the call. If you complain, both our local phone company and  your long
  distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most  likely tell
  you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company.
  You'll end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done
  nothing wrong.  Please forward this entire issue of Internet ScamBusters! To
  your friends,  family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam
  so they don't get ripped off.

Spam Scams

Most of us are really tired of all the spam mail (unsolicited commercial e-mail) that we have 
to dig through in order to find our "real" mail. We would like them to go away but many spam 
messages contain a paragraph at the bottom similar to the one listed here. The paragraph 
claims that this is not spam mail if it contains this paragraph. Adding this paragraph is an 
apparent attempt to make them appear to be legitimate advertising instead of the junk mail 
that they really are. They also include an address to send mail to in order to stop receiving 
the messages. However, if you check out the details of the message you see that it is all fake. 

• U.S. bill S.1618 is the anti-slamming act not spamming. That is, it is the act that deals 

with telephone service providers switching you to a different carrier without your 
permission. This has nothing to do with spam. 
• Title III is that part of U.S. law that deals with equal access to government buildings 

and such for people with disabilities. Again, this has nothing to do with spam mail. 

What can you do? Nothing at the moment other than dumping the mail in the trash though 
there are bills pending in congress and in some state legislatures that are going to attempt to 
deal with the spam issue. Visit the www.spamlaws.com website to see what current laws are 
enacted or pending. 

This message is sent in compliance with the new email bill section 301. 
Under Bill S.1618 TITLE III passed by the 105th U.S. Congress this 
message cannot be considered Spam as long as we include the way to be 
removed, Paragraph (a)(c) of S.1618. Further transmissions to you by the 
sender of this email may be stopped at no cost to you by sending a request 
to be removed to xxx@xxx.com . 

Donations for Cartridges Scam

This one was really odd. The e-mail message below directs people to send their old printer 
cartridges to an address in Fairfax, VA. A link on the page opens a full screen ad that tells 
you how they are going to donate a dollar to the Families of Freedom Scholarship fund 
(a real fund) for every old inkjet cartridge you send them. The instructions tell you to be 
sure you have your return address and e-mail address on the package so they can be sure 
to give you credit for donating to the fund. Initially, this sounded like a business trying to 
generate a mailing list of people who have printers and need to buy printer cartridges. 

However, when I looked at the web page you were directed to, it came from a site in Taiwan 
and its contents were hidden. It turns out that it links to the actual web pages at a site in 
San Diego, CA. I tried finding the company, and there is a company that manufactures IQ 
Inkjet cartridges, but it is in the Philippines and has no information on its website about any 
donations for cartridges. I searched for the address in the e-mail and found, not an office 
building, but a truck rental and storage yard. When I called the storage yard, they said that 
there was no such business located there and that they would really appreciate it if people 
would not send their old printer cartridges to that address. 

I still don't know what they were really trying to accomplish but if you get this message, don't 
pass it on. 

Subject: Don't throw out your empty inkjet cartridges. Now you can help..........

 
Help us raise $1 million for the Families of Freedom Scholarship fund by 
sending us your trash! 

Every day, over one million empty inkjet cartridges are thrown out, ending up 
in our landfills. Now, if you send us your empty inkjet cartridges instead of 
throwing them away, we will donate money to a great charity that is trying to 
raise $100 million dollars to aid families affected by the terrorist attack of 
September 11, 2001. 

Several weeks ago, President Bill Clinton and Bob Dole announced their 
involvement in a project called the Families of Freedom fund. The goal of the 
fund is to raise $100 million in order to establish scholarship money for the 
children of those tragically killed in the terrorist attacks. 

IQ Inkjets is trying to help. 

For every empty inkjet cartridge you send to us, we donate $1 to the fund. With 
your help, we will collect one million empty cartridges in the next six months 
and donate $1 million to the fund. We are proud to be a part of this great charity 
drive and thank you for your efforts in helping us. 

Please CLICK HERE to go to our collection website and send us your empty inkjet 
cartridges.  Or, you can send your empties to: 

IQ Inkjet Products
Suite 1009
2944 Prosperity Avenue
Fairfax, VA  22031 

Thanks for your support.  We look forward to receiving your empty cartridges soon.

Black Inheritance Tax Refund Scam

Fraudulent tax preparers have been running a "Black Inheritance Tax" or "Slavery Reparation" 
scams, claiming that you can get money from the government if your ancestors were slaves. 
They charge you $100 to help you apply for the credit. There is no such tax refund, in fact, there 
is no Federal Inheritance Tax to get a refund from. At the Federal level it is called an Estate Tax. 
Applying for the false credit and scamming others into applying for it can get you in deep trouble. 
See the IRS Warning and Congresswoman Johnson's statement about this scam for more details. 

Subject:    FW: FW: Tax Refund (Please send to everyone you can!) 

This goes out to all my friends, family, and everyone in  the African 
American  community. Once you receive this message please write down 
the number and then  pass it along to every African American you know. 
As you my know, all African  Americans living here in the United States 
are descendants of slavery, therefore our government has finally passed
a bill to  pay all descendants back.   The way they are paying us back 
is through a refund  called the, "Black  Inheritance Tax Refund/40 Acres 
and a Mule". When you call this number you'll give  them your name, 
address, and phone number and they'll send you out a packet, which includes 
further details and information on how to receive the refund. I  was 
informed that it will take only two weeks to receive the packet and then  
two weeks to receive the money. Now, if you know our government I bet 
they  are not expecting a lot of people to call for  this refund, and they 
may be  right, because many of us will not be informed of this. Therefore, 
this is why I am  taking it upon myself to pass on this  information, so our 
community will  soon be informed through word-of-mouth about what has  been 
owed to our ancestors all these  years. 

Black Inheritance Tax Refund 
1-800-xxx-xxxx press #3 to direct you to the appropriate line 
open between 7am and 12am (EST) 
 
        West Coast: 4am and 9pm 
 
Expect to wait anywhere from 5mins-25mins 
(There will  not be any music to entertain you while you  wait!) 
  
Ps:  You must be 18 years or older and I'm assuming a legal 
residence of the United States. So, request an application for 
yourself, husband, wife, sister, brother, father, mother, etc,  
or just pass the number along. 
 
I  had this checked out and it is legit. When I called the 
number, the lady said that some people have  already began 
receiving their checks.   She said that President Clinton wrote 
the bill and it has  finally been passed. The IRS will not tell 
you these things, because they don't won't us to be  education 
about our rights. 
 
She  said to make sure you fill the application out accurately 
and completely, because if not the application will  be not be 
processed. 

IRS Scam Warning

This particular warning really did appear on the Michigan Department of Treasury web page 
for about a week. It turns out that after investigating it, the IRS determined it was a joke and 
had no malicious intent. The Michigan Department of Treasury has issued a revised warning.

While this particular scam did not occur, there are plenty of others that are real. Keep in mind 
that you should never give personal and financial information to anyone who calls you up or 
sends you e-mail no matter who they claim they are. Demand identification, including name 
and phone number and then offer to call them back. You can then call their company or agency, 
using a number from the phone book (not one they give you,) and verify their name and phone 
number. Keep in mind that ID cards are easy to fake and would you recognize an IRS ID card if it 
was presented to you? Check first to make sure you know who you are talking to before giving out confidential information. 

Special Alert to the Public
   _____

The Michigan Department of Treasury recently received an alert from the
InternalRevenueService about a fraudulent scam being conducted via E mail
that you should be on the look out for:

Some taxpayers have received an e mail from a non-IRS source indicating
that the taxpayer is under audit and needs to complete a questionnaire
within 48 hours to avoid The assessment of penalties and interest. The e
mail refers to an "e-audit" and references IRS form 1040. The taxpayer is
asked for social security numbers, bank account numbers and other
confidential information. THE IRS DOES NOT CONDUCT E-AUDITS, NOR DOES IT
NOTIFY TAXPAYERS OF A PENDING AUDIT VIA E MAIL. THIS E MAIL IS NOT FROM
THE IRS. Do not provide the requested information - this may be an
identity-theft attempt.

If you receive an e mail of this nature - the source may be the address
blesstheday.com, please contact the Internal Revenue Service office in
your area.

PayPal System Update Scam

Here is another network service scam. This one wants you to go to a website and update 
your PayPal information. If you do, you will have given access to all your online money to 
some scammers to use. The message is in html so you can't immediately see where the 
"click here" link is going to take you. If you hold your mouse pointer over it most browsers 
will display the actual link. In this case, notice that the link is to: 

www.paypal.com@az.ru 

From: "" 
To: 
Subject: Paypal System Update! Confirmation REQUIRED
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 23:24:23

Dear PayPal Customer,

This e-mail is to inform you of a recent update we have made to our
systems.
To avoid service interruption we require that you confirm
your account as soon as possible. Please click here and take a
moment to confirm your
account.

Please follow the following steps:

1.) Click here to confirm your
account. 

2.) Your account will be updated in our system and you may continue using
PayPal services without any interruptions. 

Please note: If you fail to update your account, it will be
'flagged' with restricted status.

Thank you,

The Paypal Staff

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