Anyone else receive this e-mail??
 

:confused: This is the strangest thing and very disturbing because I am such a tenderhearted person! I have no idea where this person could've gotten my address and haven't a clue who they are!!
This is a copy of the e-mail:

From: Swifts
To: bettyerow@aol.com
Subject: Can You Help Save Our Pug ?
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 01:22:55 -0400

We are sending this note out to plead for a life, our 3 yr old Pug named
"Missy" I am a single mother of 3 children and we just
found out our dog has something called granulometous meningoencephalitis
which is fatal unless she receives surgery that is going to cost
$650.00!! I just can't afford it on my meager income. I thought about
getting an extra job, but this would keep me away from my kids
even more than I do now.

Anyway, before I put her to sleep, my brother said I needed to
send an email and plead to people to please send just $1.00, or
whatever you feel like you can and that is why I am doing this.
I am ashamed having to do this, but Missy is my childrens best
friend and losing their dog after losing their father 8 months ago
(divorce) my children will be crused if I have to put her to sleep.

If you can't do this, I totally understand and just ask that you forward
this to some of your friends as maybe they can help us. Thank you
very much.

Our address is:

P.O. Box 5839
Cleveland, TN 37320-5839

The Swift Family

Does anyone have a clue who these people are ... is it a joke?
Thanks!!

In my experience you never know what the money is really for or how these people get the e-mail addresses of others,but I honestly wouldent go for it.Unfortunatey the internet is full of lies and of people who would do anything to get some easy money and beleive me,they know how to make you feel terrible.I got an e-mail a few weeks back where a woman was asking for money to pay her rent.She said she had six kids,no job and was all alone..she gave a pay pal acount and a name etc.Im not saying that it might not be true or that they could really be people in need,but in my opinion the internet is not a place to do this sort of thing.Most of these poeple seem to have a computer,so they arent completely pennyless;) I would never donate to anyone who reaches me via e-mail..try sending an e-mail back to this person.I did that when this woman wrote to me and the e-mail came back because the address was unknown..too fishy for my taste.

I can guarantee you that it's a scam.

Think about it this way...how did she get your email address?

Just ignore the email as it is a scam. Much like those pop-up windows that solicit for a webcam or some other product...all they need is a handful of suckers per day...and they will make lots of $$$. They don't need everyone to buy something...just a handful.

Just ignore this email .

scam
 

Tell her you will donate a dollar to her vet..ask for the number..?

Scam
 

This appears to be a scam especially if she gives a po box. That's pretty sad.

YorkieRose...good idea! LOL

I agree :thumbup:

Ignore it. DON'T EMAIL BACK!!! If you send back a reply, the scammers will know they have a valid email address.

On another forum I go to we had one person from Russia that would come on and ask for money for a surgery to fix his five legged dog. He would give info for a bank in Russia. If you did a search on his name you found out he was all over the net asking for money for various things even a sex change. :confused: What some people will do for money. :(

Thanks!! I thought perhaps that's what is was, but couldn't imagine how in the world they could have my address. The only thing I can figure is that I recently did search for a puppy for my daughter's birthday ... she first wanted a Pug until she discovered Westies! I'm such a sucker for a sad story!!!

I get scams all the time from people saying they need money for this and that...Last year around this time I kept getting a steadily train of emails from folks from other countries, saying their father or brother etc... was a king and their money was in probate and needed a bank account outside their country. If you choose to help them they would give you 10-15%...

I do not answer emails from folks I do not know especially since they can send a return reciept to see if it is a valuble email account.

Sounds really fishy but I liked Pat's idea to ask for the vet's number.

Well first off i have to comment on this since i work out of an IT department. Even when you dont reply to an e-mail they still know its a valid e-mail address. Simply by not getting the mailer-daemon auto response. If they dont get the e-mail rejected back to sender than its a valid e-mail address. As per where they found your e-mail address? LoL Well first off if i were to scam with this e-mail i would check all the forums for dogs since most kind hearted compasionate people towards dogs would be registered with those forums, and most people leave their e-mail addresses public. Simple software programs can be made to just search boards with the same format to look up all public addresses and put them into a nice spreadsheet, or even automate the message to those public profiles. And there are many many more ways than this. Just an example. I hate doing IT security among the 100 things a day i do but it does give me insight on what actually is going on in your computer, even when your on it! Spyware which about 98% of PC users have can easily transmit your information to other companies/solicitors and those who just flat out want to fraud you.

If any of you are intrested i would be more than happy to post a short session on security and the best "FREE" way to protect your PC. ITs probobly the only way i can pay you all back for all the "FREE" yorkie advice i've absorbed!! :thumbup:

Post post this info...before my "Binky" gets solicitations for credit cards in the mail.

Thanks, Hercules Dad!! That's so scarry ... I'm one of those idiots who does everything online! I had not even thought about "public profiles" since I only belong to a couple of forums!!

I wouldent
 

I wouldent go for it becuase it looks preety fishy becuse first you dont know this person and maybe its a scam maybe shes just collecting money for her!You never know and I do not think there is such thing as granulometous meningoencephalitis its fake!I wouldent go for it :)

people will do anything for money. honestly we all know a scam when we see one. whom ever sends money is asking for trouble

Grrrrrr
 

Sounds like a BIG FAT scam to me with a PO Bx no less!I'd email them back and ask them to see a copy of the vet records and they could be forged too. So I'd then call 411 and see if that is a real vet and ask them.
There are so many scammers out there! I guess they think we are all sitting around smoking crack and are all stupid.People are just so mean with these scams. If you found out its a scam you could in return call or write the post master in that town. I guess I have to much time on my hands. I'm always hunting down scammers it just pisses me off.

*♥´¨)
¸.·♥ ´¸.·*♥´¨) ¸.♥·*¨)
(¸.·´ (¸ ;.♥·'.♥ Teri
http://www.bowwowcouture.com

www.download.com

First off i would suggest getting two programs. Both from that link. First do a search for Ad-Aware. Make sure you get the free one! Its definatly by far one of the best programs out there for spyware detection and removal. This program basically finds/removes any malicious software. I would recommend updating and running it ATLEAST once per week. I usually run it about every other day. You will be shocked at its first results. This program usually fixes problems of computer slow-down, or time-out issues, due to the programs running in the background. You may not know it but they are there! How do these programs get installed you ask? Just by having an internet connection. Obviouslly the worst places to pick them up is porn sites and warez game sites. But just casual veiwing of the internet can catch spy-ware. They can even send it directly to your computer if you have an open internet connection such as cable, DSL, LAN, etc. Thats where the second program comes into play.

www.download.com

Search for zonealarm. You want the free one again! This is a firewall. It basically protects intrusions in/out of your PC. Its a great program but tends to give those not-so-computer savy people a lil headache. Whenever there is an intrusion it pops up a message that tells who/what program is trying to gain internet access. If this message comes up for no reason when you arent using programs or accessing the internet and you do not recognize the vendor i would always block them. But vice-versa i would always allow it. Or if its that much of a pain just post me a message i would be more than happy to consult you on it.

I could go into detail on both and write up a few pages but ill leave you with this for now. I use both of these programs on my personal PC and have not had problems since. But then im avid about keeping my PC clean. These programs do not take place of anti-virus. Even though i never have to use my anti-virus program because of these i strongly suggest you keep the one you currently are using or go buy one. And again post any questions if you want feedback. I enjoy what i do, so feel free!

I have Ad-Aware and Spybot. Guess I'm going to have to get ZoneAlarm now.

I have it now.....You know a month ago I was locked out of my computer. A hacker got my credit card number and used it to purchase several callings cards, and pre-paid cell phones. I did get my money back, but as I am still filling out some of the legal information...I have found out thru the FBI fraud department, the persons who did this had IP addresses in Vietnam, and in France. So, I had to get a new checking account, a new card, order a few credit reports....

:eek: We recently used our corporate card on a trip [we very seldom ever use it except for equipment, supplies, business travel, etc.] for a few hotels and when we got home I just happened to pull up my account about 6 AM ... noticed a large debit that I didn't remember so I asked Patrick if it was something I had forgotten. Evidently someone had gotten the card information at one of the hotels and ordered almost $1500 worth of car stereos and accessories!! Our bank recovered the money but we want to know who it was and they assure us we will know as soon as they complete their investigation. And we are going to press charges! :mad:

Well, if she has no money, then HOW IN THE WORLD IS SHE ON THE INTERNET?!?!
you have to have money to pay for it yannoo

I'm so sorry Bettyeanne that you have been a target for a scam, especially on such a sensitive subject.

Hopefully this will never happen to you again.

Thanks! I didn't respond but was tempted, of course! I am such a sucker for a sad story! :(

Yes, bettyeanne, please be CAREFUL out there! Just delete any email from anyone you don't recognize! :)

Pretty much all of email spam (such as the message you got) is a scam. So unless you signed up your email for a specific charity, be very wary of any solicitations for money!

I use Ad Aware, spybot and Zone Alarm too. It's sad that we have to but it works.

I get very angry at scammers like the ones everyone seems to be talking about because it makes us trust worthy people feel guilty and sad for thier STORY! At times I wonder why they seem to think they can do this to such nice giving people. I'm glad everyone here is smart enough to know better! :D