OH well, I keep getting them from PayPal, and I have NEVER
done business with PayPal!

I don't think the bots are watching Google, tho I'm willing to be
convinced.  It's only the last few days, since I started reading n'
posting again, that I've seen the big increase.  In any event, it's easy
enough to "show all" and scan to see if a legitimate user has sent mail
- tho that did trap me this AM when I received mail from "Julie" who I'd
responded to yesterday here.  This Julie however had something else on
her mind, heh.  Norm

--
"The web has got me caught.  I'd rather have the blues than what I've
got."  <via Nat King Cole>

A couple of months ago, I received a call that claimed to be from one
of the banks I have a credit card from.  The call stated that it was
from the security department, and they were concerned about a
"convenience check" that had just been submitted for payment.  They
gave me a phone number to call back to, and stated that I should have
my credit card number ready when I called.

I was suspicious, and so looked up the number and called back, rather
than calling the number given in the message.  The actual security
department said that they hadn't placed any such call, and that my
account didn't show any recent activity.  Apparently, this call was
from a scammer trying to get my credit card number.

I had come into the room as the answering machine was recording the
call, and so heard the entire message.  When I tried to play it back
for the bank's security person to hear, however, the message ended
after a few seconds, with a beep.  Apparently the scammer had sent a
tone that made the answering machine stop recording, probably making
the machine think that the caller had hung up.

I do that with my phone company as well.

Its starts with "Hello, this is xxxxxx from Telstra, can I speak to Mrs
Victoria Chapman, please"

I reply "Speaking"

"Oh, good <time of day> Mrs Chapman, I"m just calling to make sure you are
getting the most value of your account. Before I start, I just need your
account number and birth date for security reasons"

At that point, I kindly alert them to the fact I have no idea whether they
are who they say they are or not, and would they give their identifying
information to a stranger. Most are quite understanding, and tell me to ring
Telstra back at any time, but some get quite offended. I am failry certain
they *are* from Telstra (or at least, froma  call centre employed by
Telstra) but I really can't be sure, and the last thing I need is my
telephone acount hijacked. I have aleady had one of my credit cards
'hacked' - thankfully the financial provider believed me when I said I had
never bought overseas internet porn in my life, and had no intention of
starting, but I had to change not only cards but *accounts* to get them off
my back. I don't have the time to deal with that sort of thing any more.

Yowie

I get those as well as phishing emails purporting to come from US banks,
whom I'm sure wouldn't open an account for someone living in Burope.

Yes, they *do* think we're either stupid or won't notice their *bad* English
spelling mistakes! Forward your "phishing" emails to eBay or PayPal and I
think the more forwarded the more likely businesses will seek origins of
these emails. BTW, I *really* feel like one of the "in-crowd" now....just
got a long-winded plea for $ assistance (he wants to trust Hopitus w/his big
bucks)
from some dude in Zimbabwe! ROFLMAO @ nerve and idiocy (is there such a
word?) of these guys.