Here is a PERFECT example of a phishing attempt where they are trying to gather some of your private information for use elsewhere. I decided I would reply back and see what happens. Read along for the "rest of the story!!!"
From: PEPSI BOTTLING COMPANYPLC [mailto:promo@pepsi.co.uk]
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 4:52 AM
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU ARE A WINNER OF PEPSI COMPANY NEW YEAR PROMOTIONS
PEPSI PROMOTIONS 2009.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual final draws held on the DECEMBER 30th, 2008 PEPSI Company Worldwide Promotion, your email was among the 9 Lucky winners who won £250.000.00POUNDS each on the PEPSI Company.
However the results were released on the JANUARY 9TH, 2009 and your email was attached to ticket number (PSPPR2008) and ballot number
(BN:225182008/20) The online draws was conducted by a random selection of email addresses from an exclusive list of 29,031 E-mail addresses of individuals and corporate bodies picked by an advanced automated random computer search from the internet. However, no tickets were sold but all email addresses were assigned to different ticket numbers for representation and privacy.
The selection process was carried out through random selection in ourcomputerized email selection machine (TOPAZ) from a database of over 290,000 email addresses drawn from all the continents of the world.
This Lottery is approved by the British Gaming Board and also Licensed by the The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR).This lottery is the 3rd of its kind and we intend to sensitize the public.
In other to claim your £250,000.00POUNDS prize winning, which has been deposited in a designated bank. However,you will have to fill the form below and send it to the Promotion manager of The PEPSI Company for verification and then you will be directed to the bank where a cheque of£250,000.00POUNDS has already been deposited in your favour.
NAME:.....................................
AGE:........................................
SEX:........................................
ADDRESS:...............................
EMAIL:....................................
TEL:...................................
MOBILE PHONE:.....................
OCCUPATION:.........................
COMPANY:..............................
COUNTRY:...............................
Please you are advised to complete the form and send it immediately to our Promotion manager through email or fax for prompt collection of your fund from the designated bank.
(CONTACT PROMOTION MANAGER)
Name: Mrs. Patricia Smith
Phone # : +447011150911
E MAIL: pepsiclaimsunit@hotmail.com
You are to keep all lotto information away from the general public especially your ticket number and ballot number. (This is important as a case of double claims will not be entertained).
*Staff of PEPSI Company are not to partake in this Lottery PLEASE BE WARNED*
Accept my hearty congratulations once again!
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Daisy Louis
Here is my first reply using some made up information to see what I would get...
And here is their first reply... Hmmm, they suggest all winnings be kept confidential... OOPS! DON'T READ THIS!!! Also, thought it was interesting that Mrs Smiths signature looks like Carl A. something...
So, I sent this reply... Remember, I am "brian"
From: fantumm@hotmail.com
To: pepsiclaimsunit@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: CONTACT ABBEY NATIONAL BANK FOR TRANSFER DIRECTIVES
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:09:52 -0600
hello mrs smith! i am so excited! pleese tell me that a gift card to me is good! i never won anything and i coold reely use this money to start my life over. i am so tired of stocking produce at walmart.
yours truely
brian
Then I got this email from them... Notice a miss match between statement 1 and statement 2? Also, they want to be certain that I keep this transaction confidential...
So, I sent this:
Then this:
They are hungry for Brian's information! They don't care WHOSE account they get as long as they get an account...
So, I sent this to these scammers.
To which they replied:
So I replied...
Very helpful folks!
-------------------------------
I sent them some bogus account information:
Very interesting!!! Guess they don't give away accounts in England. Also, they want me to pay them to open an account ON TOP OF THE DEPOSIT before they can give me (I MEAN BRIAN) the money...
-----------------------------------
I sent this:
And received this:
Seems to me like they are getting a bit antsy to get Brian's money!!!
I also sent this one to Mrs Smith to be polite.
OOOOO, now it is getting FUN!!! Check out the poorly edited image of my "cheque" at the bottom!!!
Thought I would have a little fun with Mr Thornton. My reply...
Oh, WHOOPS! My mistake! At least Mr<?> Thornton calls me "my dear"... :)
My reply... I am begging for forgiveness...
Thought I would make it sound like I was already spending my winnings so I sent this...
Hmmm, they have thrown ME a curve ball!!!
So I reply...
SO, Clive sends me these instructions to send them a money gram...
To which I reply...
But still, being the trusting folks we are, "mom" and I go on down to Western Union and sent the 300 pounds. Here's the proof!!!
I found out that if you visit Western Union you might be required to give the answer to a question posed when the sender posts the money, so I sent this just in case...
mr thornton, in case you need the anser to the question, it is cowboy.
brian
I received this... They got my WU
So I replied:
oh thank you for the notice mr thornton! i am rilly getting excited! i cant wate to qwit my job at walmart! this money answers all my prayers!
brian
I received this... What? It was invalid???
So I replied:
mr thornton, srry. i tocked to western union and they told me they are having computer probmes here at the helena terminal. they ashured me the money would be thair soon. please keep checking!
brian
I received this... They can't do anything until they receive my money!!!
So I replied:
mr thornton, it is valid, it just isnt in there computer yet. your wu is claming it is not valid?
brian
I received this... OH! A bit of an explanation about what INVALID means...
So I replied:
mr thornton, i went to have them recompute the payment information but when she asked me why i am sending money to UK she said that it coold be a common scam. is there some way i can prove to her that it is not a common scam? i hope not a scam cause i rilly rilly need the money!
thank you brina
I received this... SHE IS A LIAR AND HER PANTS ARE ON FIRE! Send your money and prove her wrong!!!
So I replied:
mr thornton, i was reeding bak thro my emails from mrs smith (from pepsi) and came acresss this part
This is to inform you that I have recieved your personal details, and your bonded Winning Cheque(Covered by a Hard Insurance Policy) has been deposited with our Intermediary/Affiliate Bank ( Abbey National Bank Plc) for conversion and onwards transfer to you via Bank to Bank Telegraphic Transfer.
it seems like my chek was alredy deposited in a account for transfer, why do i need to opon another account?
brian
I received this... Okay, so it is a deposit only account???
So I replied:
thank you for the explanashun mr thornton, i taked to wu and they sed thair computers are crashed till monday. hope that is not to late.
brian
mr thornton, i am not the smartest guy but coold you tell me how my check will be deposited in my new account if it is in a account that cannot make transfers.
thank you
brian
I received this... Hmmmm???
So I replied:
mr thornton, i think i got it now. it can be dpeosited out of the other account but not transfered? so, the paper check is just sittinging in a box like a lock box for a account prolly in a envelope and that once my payment is cleerd from wu and my new account is created it can be deposited? not transfered? also, i am happy to see bankers in the uk work on saturday but sad for your fambly. i don't have a dad either, he left
brian
Interestinly I did not hear anything further from him until Monday.
When I got up Monday morning, this was waiting for me... A resend of a previous message...!!!
So I replied:
And sent:
I received this... OH OKAY!!!
To push his buttons I replied:
I received this... DANG IT!!!
So I replied:
Then I sent:
I received this... The truth comes out!!!
From: abbeytransfercenter@live.com
To: fantumm@hotmail.com
Subject: YOUR FUNDS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED MY DEAR FRIEND. GREET YOUR MAMA FOR ME
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:51:23 +0000
YOU ARE THE GREATEST FOOL I HAVE EVER SEEN FOR DANCING ALONG EVER SINCE I STARTED MAKING A JEST OF YOU AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR ILLITRACY.
F&^% YOU ILLITRATE BRIAN
I edited the above. He bleeped me AND made a feeble attempt at a "yo mama" slam!!! I must admit the email above gave me a pretty good laugh!!! :) My replies...