Hello, 99.9% of the time, I delete "junk" mail, but wanted to ask you what you thought of this one. I have not opened it yet. I'm a little bit curious (eensy bit nosy)...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dell Computer Testing"
To:
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 2:04 AM
Subject: DellT Laptop Confirmation #333e-832G
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DellT Laptop Giveaway #333e-832G
To: Member #123456 Email: person@isp.net
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To receive your gift, please click on or cut and paste:
http://www.congenerical.com/dell/
We have been trying to reach you in order to deliver your DellT Laptop.
http://www.congenerical.com/dell/ Please verify your shipping address.
Your DellT Laptop is yours just for answering a short survey and following instructions on our website.
http://www.congenerical.com/dell/
Please visit our website.
Thank you and ENJOY!
Sincerely,
July Harris - Customer Service
To stop these emails simply visit:
http://www.congenerical.com/dell/?o=p07746879803qn&gy=njqc3b7e6f707b4sp&r=pm77d6c7970817nv&ko=n67535756c7b3m&rw=hj46d7c6a72347i&g=mra7768746f687c7azhl&pu=iisn
Dell Information Giveaways
732 S. 11th Street #181
Niles, MI 49120
Why is it called a TV "set" when you only get one?
No. No. No. No. No. You can call Dell to be 100% certain, but this has every hallmark of being a way to either:
a) get information from you to hijack your identity/finances or
b) draw you in to participate in a survey at which time they'll say sorry wrong answer too bad or
c) have fine print where you actually have to buy something in order to get the "free" laptop or
d) get you to click on a link which then downloads crap to your computer for any number of evil reasons.
I have had a few dealings with Dell myself and find them very professional, knowledgeable, and usually pretty darned efficient. There is no way their PR dept would be this crappy with an email.
Aside from my sense of their reputation, though, I'm seeing three things that stand out as typical warning flags in any form of spam:
1. The email address is not from Dell. It's from vando.plumassary.com. I don't even have to look that up to know it's not Dell. I did, however, look it up to see if it's even a valid company, and it is NOT. This leads me to believe it isn't even the email addy you'd be replying to - which means malevolence right there, since there's also no "reply-to" listed.
2. "We have been trying to reach you" and "Member #..." are two tactics to make you think it's legit and very important. Most companies do not address customers in this manner. (I've yet to see one that does. Remember that I order a LOT online.)
3. The subject says "DellT" laptop while the FROM line says Dell Computer Testing. First, if it's about surveys, why is from Dell Computer Testing at another company's email address, and second, what the heck is a DellT laptop? There is no such model from Dell and if there were, it would be Dell 1000T or somesuch, or Latitude T, not DellT. And if it's a brand with a similar name, then they boo-booed on the company's "computer testing" name. Also, what is this, you're getting a free laptop for testing purposes? See, none of it is truly connected in any clear way which lends doubt to the validity.
4. Finally, do they want you to answer a survey and then verify your shipping address? If so, they should be listing the steps very clearly as any good business would:
---- example ----
We are offering a free laptop to a select number of previous customers who answer a brief survey. If you are interested, please follow the steps below.
To receive your free laptop, please do the following:
1. Click this link: www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2. Answer the brief survey.
3. Verify your shipping address is correct.
4. We will send the laptop within xxx number of weeks.
If you have any questions, please call 1-800-www-dell and mention reference number xxxxxxx. Thank you for choosing Dell, and enjoy your free gift for helping us serve our customers' needs better.
---- end example ----
Or something to that effect. Clear, concise, and with a legit way to contact the company directly, providing enough information for you to thoroughly check into the email's claim.
Word to the wise: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. By the way, 1-800-www-dell is Dell's main number. It's etched upon my heart. :)
Oh yeah, and one last thing: I seldom, if ever, reply to emails lacking proper English. Most legitimate companies will use proper English with their English-speaking customers. When I see something start with "Sir/Madam, I regret to inform you that we offer you sum of approximately $1000000 (million) pounds of currency to be had upon calling of us" I think, "Hahaha, very funny" and click "delete." Sometimes I actually read through the whole thing just for kicks, it's so blatantly obvious... So, for all you good companies out there: Make sure you use proper english because if you start falling into this "whole world can't read and write anymore" BS, I /will not/ buy from you. Ever. You will be labeled as a wannabe scam artist.
I hope this answers your question, person@isp.com. Keep 'em coming...